Torres named Lumen Christi Award finalist Jaime Torres, associate Hispanic ministry director for the Diocese of Little Rock, was named one of 12 finalists for the 35th Annual Lumen Christi (“Light of Christ”) Award. As a finalist, Torres will be given a $5,000 grant for his ministry. Jaime Torres, associate Hispanic ministry director for the Diocese of Little Rock, was named one of 12 finalists for the 35th Annual Lumen Christi (“Light of Christ”) Award. As a finalist, Torres will be given a $5,000 grant for his ministry. More...

St. Joseph School in Pine Bluff to remain open Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced May 10 during St. Joseph School's high school graduation that he will give a "year of grace" to the school to remain open for the 2012-13 school year. PINE BLUFF -- Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced May 10 during St. Joseph School's high school graduation that he will give a "year of grace" to the school to remain open for the 2012-13 school year. More...

State's last black Catholic school to close St. Peter School in Pine Bluff will close its doors May 25 after 123 years of educating students in the community. PINE BLUFF -- After 123 years of serving the Pine Bluff community, St. Peter School will close its doors May 25. More...

More Top Stories From Arkansas Catholic Many Catholic women embrace Church's teachings on life The Blessings of Life: Father Jason Tyler introduces a special series of columns written by Catholic women on family planning and contraception issues to appear in the next six issues of Arkansas Catholic. More... Bishop Taylor urges Catholics to understand religious liberty With a series of bulletin inserts from May to December, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor is asking Arkansas Catholics to learn about religious liberty and how to respond to threats to it. More...   Crowning the queen of heaven Alyssa Teerell and Isabel Jara, homeschooled students who made their first Communion this year, lead the May crowning procession for the Little Blessings Catholic Homeschool Group at St. John Center in Little Rock May 1. More... Vocations 2012 Read selected stories from the special 2012 Vocations section that appeared in the May 12 issue of Arkansas Catholic. More...   Catholics join Fort Smith community in rally against child abuse Father Greg Luyet, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, stepped up to the pulpit the weekend of April 21-22 to speak out against child abuse, particularly sexual abuse of minors. More...   Sam Maranto sees no limits in his parish job Sam Maranto's influence as church secretary affects everyone in the parish and, as the administrator of the church's food pantry, he affects many outside the parish. More...   New website to explain possible sale of Mercy Hospital Hot Springs A new website offers information on the proposed sale of Mercy Hospital Hot Springs to Capella Healthcare. More... Also in Arkansas Catholic's May 12 issue The following are some of the stories and columns that appeared only in the print and complete online editions of Arkansas Catholic More... What the Church can do to reach fallen-away A document on the new evangelization from the U.S. bishops' Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis exhorts Catholics to at all levels in the Church to step up to invite Catholics who have stopped practicing their faith to do so once again. More... Summer deadlines are early for news, ads in Arkansas Catholic If you have events or promotions scheduled early in June, July, August or September, you'll want to send your news or run your ads earlier than usual. More...   The Blessings of Life Columns from the special "Blessings of Life" series which appeared on the Columns page of Arkansas Catholic beginning May 12, 2012. More...

These are just a few of the stories and features that appeared in Arkansas Catholic this week. To get all the news, subscribe to Arkansas Catholic's print or online edition today.

Special Sections & Series Catholic Schools Herald April 28, 2012 Making Lent more meaningful Feb. 25, 2012 Catholic Schools Week Jan. 28, 2012 Catholic Travel 2011: Plan your getaway Oct. 29, 2011 Open Your Hearts in Welcome Sept. 10, 2011 Back to School 2011 August 13, 2011 Vocations 2011: Journey together toward holiness June 18, 2011 Time Capsule 1911-2011 Series beginning April 9, 2011 A Century of Faith in News March 26, 2011 Portrait of a small parish Arkansas Catholic's special series celebrating the faith in rural Arkansas, 2008 to present. Jubilee! A series in celebration 2006 to present

Top Stories Click HERE for Movie Reviews What is Catholic News Service? Catholic News Service (CNS), the oldest and largest religious news service in the world, is a leading source of news for Catholic print and electronic media across the globe. With bureaus in Washington and Rome, as well as a global correspondent network, CNS since 1920 has set the standard in Catholic journalism.