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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.
Bishop addresses Supreme Court decision
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following statement Wednesday, July 1 in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges requiring all states to license and recognize same-sex unions as a marriage. "To the people of the Diocese of Little Rock: Last week the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that now requires all states to grant same-sex unions the same legal status as true marriages. This decision runs counter to the truth of marriage, which by its very nature is about love and commitment shared between consenting adults but also about much more; it is also for the purpose of bringing forth new life and raising the children born of that union. This is no less true for those married couples who are unable to conceive children of their own, but who nonetheless reflect the mutual complementarity of the sexes ... More
Fortnight focuses on freedom to witness
The annual Fortnight for Freedom, a nationwide event focusing on prayer, education and action, will be held June 21 to July 4. The opening Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop William Lori Sunday, June 21 at 10:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. It will be televised EWTN. Watch it online at the CatholicTV Network. This year, the theme: "Freedom to Bear Witness" will be highlighted. It is based on a talk Archbishop Lori gave at a workshop on religious freedom at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Md. in 2014. "Keeping the spirit of the Gospel means that Catholic institutions are to bear witness in love to the full truth about the human person by providing social, charitable ... More
Jubilarian priests to be honored June 30
A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Tuesday, June 30 to honor five priests who are celebrating 25 and 50 years of priestly service in the Diocese of Little Rock. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will be the main celebrant. The Mass will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. A dinner reception will follow at McDonald Hall. All are invited to attend. The jubilarian priests are: retired Msgr. Richard Oswald of Little Rock, 50 years; retired Father Henry Mischkowiuski, of Mountain View, 50 years; Father Jerome Kodell, OSB, of Subiaco Abbey, 50 years; Father Timothy Donnelly, OSB, of Subiaco Abbey, 50 years; and Father Barnabas Maria Susai, IMS, pastor of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church in Bella Vista, 25 years. ... More
Bishop Taylor to ordain monk to priesthood
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain Brother Patrick Boland, OSB, to the priesthood on Saturday, June 20 at St. Benedict Church at Subiaco Abbey. Abbot Leonard Wangler, OSB, and other priests in attendance will concelebrate the 10 a.m. ordination Mass, which will be followed by a reception in the PAC Lounge. The newly ordained priest will celebrate his first Mass at St. Benedict Church on Sunday, June 21 at 10:45 a.m. Brother Patrick earned a master's degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Penn. on May 8. He earned a bachelor's degree in theology from St. Gregory's University in Shawnee, Okla. through the Little Rock Theology Institute in 2011. He began discerning the priesthood after he professed his solemn vows as a Benedictine monk and permanent member of Subiaco Abbey in 2010. Brother Patrick, 52, is originally from ... More
Scholarships available for pro-life camp
Scholarships are available for Catholic students to attend Camp Joshua at Cross Heirs Retreat Center in Humphrey. This pro-life camp is open to youth in grades 9-12 and is sponsored by Arkansas Right to Life. It will be held July 24-26. The $100 fee includes meals, accommodations, T-shirt and transportation to and from Little Rock. To apply for a scholarship, contact Rebecca Mullican in the diocesan Respect Life Office at (501) 664-0340, ext. 326. Camp Joshua is a three-day camp designed to teach students how to be pro-life leaders. It includes informative workshops and activities on a variety of pro-life issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Just as Joshua brought down the walls of Jericho, participants of Camp Joshua are charged with leading their generation in the bringing down ... More
New spiritual direction class forming
The School of Spiritual Direction, a three-year bilingual program, offered by the diocesan Office of Faith Formation, will begin a new class in the fall of 2016. Adults interested in applying must be at least 35 years old, have 10 credit hours in theology and have been in spiritual direction for at least one year. Applications will be accepted beginning this fall. The current class has 31 students who will graduate next spring. Classes are held in English and Spanish once a month from September to June on a Friday night and all day Saturday at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. The first two years focus on academic classes on spirituality. The final year is a practicum where the students are supervised while they meet regularly with their own spiritual directees. Students who have attended the first year of ... More
Four to be ordained deacons in May
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain four diocesan seminarians to the transitional diaconate in May. They include Norman McFall May 20; Dr. Joseph Chan May 26; and Taryn Whittington and Mario Jacobo May 28. These will bring the total to five diaconate ordinations so far in 2015. Deacon Stephen Gadberry was ordained to the diaconate March 27. McFall will be ordained at St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff, on Wednesday, May 20. Guests are invited to come early for eucharistic adoration and vespers to pray for him and an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life at 4 p.m. The ordination Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. with a reception to follow. McFall will serve his first Masses in the role of deacon Saturday, May 23 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church. ... More
Encounter Jesus at Bible Institute in June
Encounter "The Jesus of the Gospels" with Father Donald Senior, CP, at the 2015 Bible Institute June 19-21 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. Father Senior is president emeritus and professor of New Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He will speak five times throughout the weekend on the following themes: Jesus and the Word of God: The Gospels in the Light of Faith; Jesus as Healer; Jesus as Teacher; Jesus as Crucified and Risen; and Jesus as Incarnate Word and Revealer of God: The Compelling "Logic" of John's Gospel. In addition to Father Senior's talks, this event includes prayer, small group discussion and Mass. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 19 with the opening session at 7 p.m. The weekend concludes after the ... More
