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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.
Special collection to be taken up for Haiti
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following letter, Aug. 20, 2021, to be read at all Masses requesting a special collection be taken up to help the people in Haiti. "Dear Friends in Christ, Our diocese is taking up a special collection for Catholic Relief Services to help the people in Haiti. Following a devastating massive earthquake on August 14 and two tropical storms, Catholic Relief Services has ramped up its emergency relief and recovery efforts to help the Haitian people deal with their immediate needs for potable water, food, emergency shelter ... More
Pope: Getting 'vaccinated is an act of love'
“Thanks to God’s grace and to the work of many, we now have vaccines to protect us from Covid-19,” said Pope Francis in a public service announcement released Aug. 18 in Rome. "Being vaccinated with vaccines authorized by the competent authorities is an act of love. And contributing to ensure the majority of people are vaccinated is an act of love — love for oneself, love for one's family and friends, love for all people." The video message was part of a global effort by the Ad Council and the COVID Collaborative's "It's Up To You" campaign to increase people's ... More
Transfiguration is foretaste of kingdom
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And Peter answered: “You are the Messiah.” Soon after Jesus began preparing his disciples for what was to come. "He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days." (Mark 8:31) Peter then pulled Jesus aside and rebuked him. In reply Jesus said: “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (33) Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John ... More
Bishop releases pastoral changes July 30
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments, July 30, 2021, for the Diocese of Little Rock. Effective Sept. 15, 2021: Rev. Joshua Stengel, STL, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary Church in Paragould and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Walnut Ridge to begin a leave of absence with the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother (The Doloran Fathers) in the Diocese of Denver. He remains incardinated with the Diocese of Little Rock; Rev. Aby Abraham, IMS, appointed pastor of St. Mary Church in Paragould and Immaculate Heart of Mary ... More
Parishes are free to set Mass restrictions
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following statement, July 26, 2021, to the people of the Diocese of Little Rock about restrictions at Masses in light of the surge in COVID-19 infections in Arkansas. He issued a similar statement on July 9. “I have recently been asked whether the Diocese of Little Rock should re-impose restrictions such as mandatory mask-wearing, physical distancing and disinfection of surfaces in response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Arkansas, 85 percent of which involve the highly infectious delta variant. "It has been suggested that since only 40 percent ... More
Bishop addresses limits to Latin Mass
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following statement, July 16, 2021, to the people of the Diocese of Little Rock in response to Pope Francis' new apostolic letter "Traditionis Custodes" (Guardians of the Tradition). “In view of the publication today of the apostolic letter 'Traditionis Custodes' issued by Pope Francis in which he revokes, effective immediately, permissions regarding the use of the Roman liturgy in place prior to the reform of 1970 — the 'Vetus Ordo' Mass (i.e., the traditional Latin Mass, hereafter called the Latin Mass) granted by Pope Benedict XVI in his apostolic letter ... More
Bishop comments on the delta variant
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following statement, July 9, 2021, to the people of the Diocese of Little Rock regarding the spike in COVID-19 infections and the presence of the delta variant in Arkansas. "With the spike in COVID infections and the presence of the delta variant in Arkansas, a question has arisen whether we should re-impose restrictions to protect those who have not been vaccinated. The answer is generally NO, though the principle of subsidiarity would allow for this in isolated instances. The reason not to re-impose restrictions is that the vaccine is universally ... More
Bishop releases pastoral changes July 2
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments, July 2, 2021, for the Diocese of Little Rock: Effective July 6, 2021: Rev. Lawrence Frederick, appointed chaplain of Carmel of St. Teresa of Jesus in Little Rock. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as chaplain of Catholic High School and Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock; Rev. Thomas Marks, relieved of his responsibilities as chaplain of Carmel of St. Teresa of Jesus in Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, VA Hospitals in Little Rock, and from visiting nursing homes and homebound ... More
