The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
   

Current News

New campus ministers help students grow in their faith

By Katie Zakrzewski, Published: September 22, 2023      

With school in full swing, students are busy juggling academics, sports and other extracurriculars. Fortunately, several campus ministers in the state are making it easier for busy students to navigate their faith lives.   Russellville Jacob... More 

Grants sustain urban farming at St. Joseph Center

By Katie Zakrzewski, Published: September 21, 2023   

St. Joseph Center of Arkansas in North Little Rock has worn many hats over the years. But its most recent programming push is designed to educate urban farmers to become self-sufficient.  The program, called SJ Growing Urban Farmers, has already... More 

Sixty men seeking to be deacons begin their formation

By Malea Hargett, Published: September 19, 2023   

Sixty men began a five-year journey in August toward becoming ordained deacons for the Diocese of Little Rock. The men and their wives meet monthly at St. John Center in Little Rock for weekend classes led by local priests, deacons and laypeople. They... More 

Grace marked Father Stan Swiderski’s 60 years as priest

By Aprille Hanson Spivey, Published: September 18, 2023   

MOUNTAIN HOME — Father Stan Swiderski came to Arkansas 30 years ago, primarily serving as associate pastor and later pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home and about five years serving St. Mary Church in Batesville.  After... More 

St. Barbara Church welcomes renovations and new altar

By Katie Zakrzewski, Published: September 15, 2023      

After three years of renovations to accommodate a growing Catholic community, St. Barbara Church in De Queen is ready to hold Mass in the new parish building. The culmination of these renovations was the new altar dedication by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor... More 

First Mass held at new Conway campus ministry building

By Katie Zakrzewski, Published: September 14, 2023      

CONWAY — College students in Conway have wanted a Catholic campus ministry building for years, Luke Hoelzeman said. “I can remember when I was a student from 2012 to 2016, there was a student who had hand drawn a dream facility,”... More 

Eucharistic miracles bolster faith but not distract

By Maria Wiering, Published: September 13, 2023   

"Uh, we had something happen," Father Joseph Crowley told the congregation March 5 near the end of Mass at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, Conn., a parish once pastored by Knights of Columbus founder Blessed Michael McGivney. Visibly rattled,... More 

Pope: 'Strong reactionary' element in the U.S. Church

By Cindy Wooden, Published: September 12, 2023   

ROME — The Catholic Church in the United States has "a very strong reactionary" element that is well-organized and refuses to see how Catholic doctrine can and must grow and mature, Pope Francis told Jesuits in Portugal. "I would... More 

Catholic Charities helps Floridians ravaged by Idalia

By Gina Christian, Published: September 11, 2023   

Catholic aid workers are rolling up their sleeves to help tens of thousands after Tropical Storm Idalia slammed into the nation's Southeast. "I just feel horrible for residents, that they had to go through this," Matthew Knee, president... More 

Mass resumes at oldest Catholic church after repairs

By Katie Zakrzewski, Published: September 8, 2023      

While the community of Plum Bayou is redefining its future, it is cherishing its past.  St. Mary Church in Plum Bayou (Jefferson County) is the oldest Catholic church in Arkansas, first constructed on a barge near Arkansas Post by Catholic settlers... More