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Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
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Happening Now
The following offers the latest information about events and activities happening in the Diocese of Little Rock.
Immaculate Conception is a beautiful gift
Although we celebrate the Immaculate Conception during Advent, the season during which we prepare for the birth of Jesus, this feast is NOT about the conception of Jesus. This can be confusing because the Gospel reading for this holy day focuses on the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary. "The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.'" (Luke 1:30-31) The Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The "immaculate" is not a ... More
Add St. Nicholas Day to Advent traditions
Advent is full of traditions that can make this wonderful season of anticipation lots of fun for kids. At the top of the list is the feast of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6. One of the most popular ways to celebrate St. Nicholas Day is to leave your shoes outside your bedroom door or on the fireplace hearth on the night of Dec. 5 along with a plate of carrots for St. Nicholas' horse. And sometime during the night, St. Nicholas will visit and leave gifts in your shoes. What he gives may vary, but traditionally he gives gold coins or a candy cane to represent his crozier (staff carried by bishops ... More
Take care of retired religious on Dec. 2-3
The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 2-3 in the Diocese of Little Rock. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), the appeal benefits thousands of elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose religious congregations lack adequate retirement funding. Please give to those who have given a lifetime. Last year, Catholics donated $189,587.99 to the collection in Arkansas. The Benedictines of Subiaco Abbey and the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Little Rock received a combined $83,734.29 in financial support made ... More
First Thanksgiving began with the Mass
Thanksgiving, as an American holiday, traces its roots back to 1621 when Gov. Bradford of the Plymouth colony called for a day of public praise and prayer to celebrate the first harvest. But the very first Thanksgiving on American soil took place much earlier; 56 years earlier to be exact, and the highlight of the occasion was a Catholic Mass. The first thing Spanish settlers did when they arrived safely in St. Augustine, Fla., was celebrate Mass in thanksgiving to God on Sept. 8, 1565. "After the Mass, Father Francisco Lopez, the chaplain of the Spanish ships and the first pastor of St. Augustine ... More
Adopting a child is a great work of love
Many in our culture have a negative view of adoption, but St. Pope John Paul II, in an address to adoptive families in the year 2000, made it clear that creating a family through adoption "is in no way inferior to one based on a biological connection. ... Adopting children, regarding and treating them as one's own children, means recognizing that the relationship between parents and children is not measured only by genetic standards. Procreative love is first and foremost a gift of self. There is a form of 'procreation,' which occurs through acceptance, concern and devotion," he explained. ... More
Embrace the Catholic roots of Halloween
Did you know trick-or-treating is Catholic in origin? That is also true for dressing up in costumes and making a jack-o-lantern. If this surprises you, you are not alone. The practice of Halloween has been separated from its Christian roots in the modern world. As a result, some associate Halloween with zombies, vampires, ghosts and the occult. It is especially bad this time of year when we are inundated with disturbing images of darkness and death, leaving Christians to worry if it is wrong to participate in Halloween. Father Steve Grunow, CEO of Word on Fire, explains that Halloween ... More
12 students in spiritual direction formation
After a seven-year absence, the Diocese of Little Rock resumed its School of Spiritual Direction this fall. Twelve students from parishes across Arkansas began taking bilingual classes in September at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. The weekend classes will be offered monthly through May as part of the three-year program. Father Daniel Velasco, pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, was named director of spiritual direction formation in July 2022. According to Arkansas Catholic, he said the purpose of this program is to help people “grow their relationship with ... More
Professional Day: Teachers to be salt, light
The 86th annual Arkansas Catholic Schools Professional Day was held Friday, Sept. 29 at Christ the King School in Little Rock. This year's theme was: “Called to be Salt and Light.” Father Juan Guido, pastor of Christ the King, celebrated Mass at 9 a.m. Twelve priests from across the Diocese of Little Rock concelebrated the Mass assisted by Deacons Danny Hartnedy and Jason Pohlmeier. Catholic speaker Caitie Cataldo delivered the keynote presentation, "Transformed as a Teacher in Christ." Cataldo holds a bachelor's degree in pastoral theology from Marian University. ... More
