Official Website of the
Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Welcome New Catholics!
Updated Sept. 1, 2026
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process takes place in parishes year round. The following lists the names of those who took a step (rite) in the process of becoming Catholic and/or those who entered the Church in parishes across Arkansas. For more information, contact the Faith Formation Office at (501) 664-0340.
This list includes those who were unbaptized and received the Rite of Entrance into the catechumenate; the baptized, who received the Rite of Welcoming and became candidates; and those who received the sacraments of initiation and became Catholic.
Testimonials
The following testimonials from new Catholics were featured in Arkansas Catholic during the Easter Season. *Special Note: All references to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process took place before the new translation of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults was implemented in 2025.
Arkansas parishes reported welcoming more than 800 people into the Catholic Church in the past year. Those who were already baptized in another Christian faith were welcomed into the Church throughout the year, as well as on Holy Saturday. The unbaptized were received during Easter Vigil Masses Saturday, April 4, 2026. Learn about our new Catholics in the April 4 issue of Arkansas Catholic.
Arkansas parishes welcomed 668 new Catholics into the Church during Easter Vigil Masses Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Arkansas parishes welcomed 685 new Catholics into the Church during Easter Vigil Masses Saturday, March 30, 2024.
Arkansas parishes welcomed 515 new Catholics into the Church during Easter Vigil Masses Saturday, April 8, 2023.
This year, in a return to a more normal experience, Arkansas parishes welcomed 423 new Catholics into the Church during Easter Vigil Masses on Saturday, April 16, 2022.
Arkansas parishes welcomed 382 new Catholics into the Church from May 2020 through Easter Vigil Masses on Saturday, April 3, 2021.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process was dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Diocese of Little Rock. Entry into the Church was modified because of restrictions and ongoing safety concerns. Therefore, only a few testimonials were gathered this year.
Arkansas parishes welcomed 583 new Catholics into the Church during Easter Vigil Masses Saturday, April 20, 2019.
