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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.
Discern religious life at January retreat
The annual Women's Religious Discernment Retreat will be held Jan. 8-9 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. It is for single women ages 16 to 35 who want to learn about and discern a vocation to the religious life. This free event will include talks by sisters from religious orders serving in Arkansas, time for prayer and reflection and opportunities to speak with the sisters. It is sponsored by the offices of Vocations and Seminarians, Catholic Youth Ministry, Catholic Campus Ministry and the Minister for Religious. The deadline to register is Jan. 4. To attend, download and return to the registration form. For more information, contact Sister Joan Pytlik, DC, at (501) 664-0340, ext. 384. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor addressed a letter to pastors asking them to give a special invitation to women in their parishes to this retreat. The Dec. 15 letter also invited men to attend a similar retreat to discern the priesthood. ... More
Come and see what priesthood is all about
The annual Come and See Retreat will be held Jan. 2-3 for men ages 16 and older at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. Rooted in prayer and to consist of talks, group discussion, vocational videos and personal testimonies by priests and seminarians, this retreat is designed to help participants explore more deeply a possible calling to the diocesan priesthood. The retreat will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 2 and end at 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 3 and be held in Fletcher Hall. Register by completing the registration form and returning it by Dec. 26. The retreat will be provided in English and Spanish. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor addressed a letter to pastors asking them to give a special invitation to men in their parishes to this retreat. The Dec. 15 letter also invited women to attend a similar retreat to discern the religious life. It will be held Jan. 8-9. "As the Year of Consecrated Life draws to a close, I am writing to ask you to make a special effort to call young women and men in your parish to reflect ... More
Marian feasts to offer spiritual insight
The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated Tuesday, Dec. 8. It is a holy day of obligation. This feast acknowledges that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin. "The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person 'in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places' and chose her 'in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love.'" To learn more, visit the Catechism of the Catholic Church (490-493). To find a Mass, go to a parish near you or see Mass times in Arkansas. The Holy Year of Mercy also kicks off on this feast day. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will open the jubilee year in the Diocese of Little Rock with a special Mass at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. To learn more, visit our Year of Mercy Resources. ... More
Give gifts that give twice at Fair trade sale
Catholic Charities of Arkansas is hosting a Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Fair Trade Sale Dec. 2-3 in Morris Hall on the campus of St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. The sale will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday. Sale items from 15 different countries allow you to purchase interesting Christmas gifts for friends and family including: coffee, scarves, jewelry, soap and Christmas ornaments. Quantities are limited. Only cash or check will be accepted. For more information, contact Rebecca Cargile, at Catholic Charities of Arkansas, or call her at (501) 664-0340. CRS is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Worldwide, CRS works in Asia, Africa ... More
Collection for retired religious Dec. 5-6
The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 5-6 in the Diocese of Little Rock. Now in its 28th year, the appeal is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) and offers support for senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose communities lack sufficient retirement funding. Learn about the religious who are serving in Arkansas by reading about 12 sisters and two brothers who are celebrating 25 to 80 years of service to the Church this year in Dec. 5 issue of Arkansas Catholic. The Diocese of Little Rock contributed $163,960.05 to the 2014 collection, its highest total ever. In 2015, the Benedictines of Subiaco Abbey, Discalced Carmelite nuns in Little Rock and the Olivetan Benedictine sisters in Jonesboro received financial assistance from the Retirement Fund for Religious. Women and men religious ... More
Diaconate discerners to attend meeting
The Diocese of Little Rock will begin a new, permanent diaconate formation program in the fall of 2017. It is open to Catholic men in good standing with the Church who will be 35 years old by 2022. Those interested are invited to attend an informational meeting that will provide an overview of the program and plans leading up to ordination in 2022. Visit our calendar to see a list of all informational meetings in Arkansas. The program will be offered through the diocesan Office of Faith Formation under the direction of Father Erik Pohlmeier. Classes will be taught monthly at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock for deacon candidates and their wives. The first three years of candidacy will also correspond with the class time for the Little Rock Theology Institute. ... More
Celebrate National Bible Week Nov. 15-21
National Bible Week will be celebrated across the United States Nov. 15-21. The theme: "The Bible: A Book for the Family," invites us to celebrate the importance of the Word of God in the life of our domestic church: the family. This observance builds on the recent Synod of Bishops on the Family and Pope Francis's visit to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. Little Rock Scripture Study, an international, Catholic Bible study program based in Little Rock, is offering free, daily reflections for use in your homes and parishes throughout the week. They are available in English and Spanish. Followers of Little Rock Scripture Study's Facebook page will also see the reflections posted daily during National Bible Week. Written by Clifford M. Yeary, associate director of Little Rock ... More
Ministry to offer reflection on the Eucharist
Little Rock Scripture Study (LRSS) will host three days of reflection on the Eucharist in November. Cliff Yeary, associate director, will speak from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at Holy Rosary Church in Stuttgart and Sunday, Nov. 15 at St. Mary Church in Hot Springs. Yeary will discuss “The Bread of Life, A Feast of Biblical Reflections on the Eucharist.” To attend the Stuttgart event, call (870) 673-4144. To attend in Hot Springs, call (501) 623-3233. Also on Nov. 7 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Father Mike Walsh, CM, pastor of St. Anne Church in North Little Rock, will lead a similar day in Spanish at St. Edward Church in Texarkana. To register, contact Deacon Angel Guzmán at (870) 772-1115. LRSS is an internationally recognized ministry that provides Catholic Bible study materials ... More
