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In 2025, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain his 50th diocesan priest. But things have changed a lot in vocations and the priesthood since 2008 when Bishop Taylor became bishop. Three diocesan priests shared the data with Arkansas Catholic, as well as their perspectives on how things have changed.

Making vocations visible

Father Jeff Hebert, director of the Vocations Office and prefect at the House of Formation, was one of the priests ordained by Bishop Taylor. Since his ordination in 2018, he has worked closely with seminarians, preparing them for the priesthood.

Father Hebert said before 2008, there was growing concern in the diocese about the low number of ordinations to the priesthood. 

“It was pretty doom and gloom,” Father Hebert said. “They were looking at really consolidating parishes and were trying to plan because things looked pretty grim.”

But something incredible happened, Father Hebert explained, as Msgr. Scott Friend took over vocations from 2005 to 2021.

“The spirit has really been moving quite a bit.”

Soon, in the 2000s, 11 priests were ordained. Then 35 in the 2010s. So far, there have been 12 priests ordained in the 2020s. 

“As the vocation director now, people ask me, ‘What are y’all doing?’” Father Hebert said. “And sometimes I have to tell them, it’s not really anything we’re doing — God is the one who calls these young men. It’s the Holy Spirit that’s moving in their hearts. It’s not like I give a clever speech, and then all of a sudden, someone wants to be a priest. 

“It’s way more about creating a culture of vocations, which is to say that men are being called by the Lord. When the Lord is moving in their lives, we’ve created a culture that is actually very receptive to those young men. … The thing that’s changed the most is that our diocese and our people, they just love vocations. … it’s a little less scary when you’re a young man, and you’re feeling the call … to make that public and tell someone about it.”

One of the most pivotal ways Father Hebert has been working to create a culture of vocations is by attending youth events and bringing seminarians with him. 

“They’re there, and the young people can talk to them,” Father Hebert said. “They see they’re young people who kind of look like they could be in high school.”

Father Hebert also encourages seminarians to go to parishes and visit Catholic schools as well. 

“It’s just the idea that it’s visible and that it’s the young people … telling them they might want to consider this for their lives,” Father Hebert said. “It’s someone who’s actually already taken a step in that direction and they’re joyful and they’re happy. … 

“The thing that really opens up the young people’s hearts, in my opinion, is when (seminarians) share their own story … when they start describing what that experience was, the experience in prayer of how they feel called and how they want to serve — they want to give themselves in this way. And they’re honest about both the fears involved with that, but also the excitement and joy that comes along with it.”

As young seminarians mingle with other young Catholics their age and share their stories, other young men begin to realize that God may be calling them, too. 

The number of seminarians peaked at 46 in 2014 but has hovered between 20-30 for the last eight years. This fall, the diocese will have 24 seminarians. 

With Father Mauricio Carrasco joining the House of Formation staff, Father Hebert will now have the time to plan more retreats and travel around the state to boost the presence of seminarians and recruitment. He plans to visit youth groups, parishes and Catholic schools as well to “put the image of the priest out there and see whose hearts respond.”

“To me, it doesn’t seem like things have slowed down,” Father Hebert said. “…Maybe that’s just because I’m in the midst of it. … Even if you have a lot of seminarians, the thing that really gives you a sense of the health of vocations is how many guys are making it all the way to ordination.”

Fortunately, Father Hebert said, when the diocese is as supportive of vocations as the Diocese of Little Rock is, seminarians are more likely to become ordained because Catholics give them encouragement and support.  

Bearing fruit

Father Joseph de Orbegozo, rector of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock and faculty member at the House of Formation, like Father Hebert, was ordained in 2018. He has noticed a growing interest among younger men in a vocation and a shifting culture that allows for such discernment. 

“What I find fascinating is that more and more young people are asking questions more deeply and at an earlier stage … thanks to God, the working of the Holy Spirit and the interaction of lay people and priests in their life,” Father de Orbegozo said. “They are responding earlier. I think in some ways that may have to do with the fact that I think people, especially who are in that youngest generation, are asking questions about meaning and purpose earlier in their lives in a world where they feel like their purpose is their meaning.”

Father de Orbegozo praised seminarian signing days at Catholic High School and in parishes for having a tangible impact. 

“This is something that Father Jeff (Hebert) has raised a flag on. … When you’ve got so many seniors at Catholic High having a signing day for so many young people, it makes it easier for other young people to consider themselves pursuing a vocation. It becomes more tangible when the folks who are seminarians look like you, act like you and went to your school.”

Father de Orbegozo said the “Come and See” vocation discernment retreats across the state are also bearing fruit, as more young people see the increased importance and visibility surrounding vocations. Father de Orbegozo said as seminarians get younger and younger, he is trying to find new ways to make content relevant to them. 

“I can relate to (the seminarians) in many ways, but I can’t relate to them as peers,” Father de Orbegozo said. “When I started teaching, there were still a lot of guys who were guys I’ve been in seminary with. There’s a sense of connection to them. Whereas now, the guys that I’m teaching are truly a generation different from me. And so I am noticing the ways in which they interact differently. The values that they have are different.”

But Father de Orbegozo said this is a good thing, as it creates an opportunity to build good rapport in the continuity of priests, seminarians and vocations. 

Look at the numbers

Father John Connell, vicar general, moderator of the curia and pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway, keeps up with seven decades of data on priests in the Diocese of Little Rock. He provided Arkansas Catholic with a glimpse at the changes in vocations and diocesan priests over time. 

Since the 1960s, the Diocese of Little Rock has seen 91 priests ordained. Of those, seven were ordained in the 1960s, six were ordained in the 1970s, 13 were ordained in the 1980s, seven were ordained in the 1990s, 11 were ordained in the 2000s, 35 were ordained in the 2010s, and 12 have been ordained so far in the 2020s. 

With the ordination boom since 2008, the average age of diocesan priests has dropped. Right now, most priests are in their 30s, 40s and 60s. 

Of all the priests in the diocese, two are in their 90s, seven are in their 80s, 11 are in their 70s, 17 are in their 60s, nine are in their 50s, 18 are in their 40s, 23 are in their 30s and four are in their 20s. 

The average age of all diocesan priests is 54, while the average age of the 71 active diocesan priests is 50. Of these priests, 45 were born from 1975 to 1997. 

Father Connell said having priestly role models has helped inspire young men in high school and college to pursue vocations. 

“There are young men that are coming into the priesthood … right out of high school and somewhere in college,” Father Connell said. “You have people like Father Patrick Friend over at Catholic High, and this huge amount of young guys inspires other young guys to think about the priesthood. 

“So it hasn’t really changed where we’re drawing them from, but … when a young person thinks about the priesthood, and he sees a lot of young priests, for example, Bishop Taylor having a signing day (at Catholic High School in Little Rock), you think, ‘Maybe it’s not so bad after all,” Father Connell said with a laugh. 

He said the Diocese of Little Rock has created a sense of brotherhood among priests. 

“We are a fraternity of priests. We all are here in the Diocese of Little Rock, serving the Church here in our diocese, and we’re all priests, so we’re all part of fraternity,” Father Connell said. “We do a good job in encouraging the young guys to do things together, spend time together, which they do, and they’ve got their groups going on. They’re taking care of one another.”

Father Connell said it can also be hard when seminarians are ordained to say goodbye to close friends they’ve made and move to the other side of the state for an assignment. 

“If it’s all about fraternity, that can be detrimental … so I always say, yeah, it’s good to be a fraternity, but you also have to nurture that vocation of what you’re really there to do, and that is serve the people. And I think we do a good job with that as well, so that the priests don’t get burned out or depressed when they’re far away from everybody else.”

One of the primary concerns of vocations is ensuring there are always enough young priests who can continue to sustain diocesan operations as priests age and begin to retire. Fortunately, vocation numbers are healthy.

Father Connell acknowledged the number of seminarians has dropped over the past eight years.

“That’s just the normal ebb and flow of data and statistics,” Father Connell said. “… The fruit of the work of our vocation directors, both Msgr. Friend and Father Hebert, is that we are having at least one (priest) ordained every year and sometimes two, sometimes three, on an outlier year you have five or six or you have eight. 

“For the most part, this year is a small year. Next year’s a small year. Then for 2026, right now we’re scheduled to have five. If they all get ordained, that’s another big year, but then it’s followed by one. … I can’t tell you why it happens that way but just be grateful when it does.”

Father Connell has noticed a difference in priest ages and generations. While he is used to working with priests who are millennials, he is now seeing more priests who are Generation Z. Now, he said, as did Father de Orbegozo, the challenge is crafting the message in a way that is relevant to priests from a new generation, given that their experiences are different. 

Regardless of generational differences, one thing remains the same — praying and listening to hear God’s call. 

“Sometimes vocations are just maybe a passing thought or a possibility, and a little bit of time, a little bit of reflection will discern it as just that — or maybe, it’s something more,” Father Connell said. “Listen intently to the Lord. Listen carefully to him.”

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“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, but especially to those who belong to the family of the faith.” Galatians 6:9-10

After living through the first year of the historic COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 was a year of perseverance. 

The miracle of the COVID-19 vaccines helped many feel a sense of normality. Families and friends shared meals together once again, vacations were booked and people slowly began coming back to Masses  — many maskless. However, new virus variants have surfaced with a vengeance, including the delta variant, which left and continues to leave hospitals overwhelmed. It’s often been a year of one step forward and two back. Like a candle flickering amid the endless night, many Catholics in Arkansas and worldwide have worked hard to be a beacon of hope, bringing the message of Christ to the most vulnerable. No matter what tomorrow brings, we are called to never give up. 

Here are five of the top moments of 2021: 

History-making ordinations 

In the historic Barton Coliseum in Little Rock that has seen everything from bull riders to rock ’n’ roll greats like Bruce Springsteen, about 1,800 faithful flocked to the arena for the first time to celebrate the priestly ordinations of Fathers Emmanuel Torres, Brian Cundall, Omar Galván, Ben Riley and Alex Smith. The three-hour ordination was celebrated by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, with concelebrants Archbishop Emeritus J. Peter Sartain, formerly the bishop of Little Rock, and Bishop Francis I. Malone of Shreveport, longtime pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock. Preparation was extensive, from work by the vocations office, parishes organizing transports for various ministries and groups and a guide of what exactly to expect from an ordination, published in Arkansas Catholic. 

It was more than the typical ordination, but rather a celebration after the uncertainty of 2020. Bishop Taylor explained it was a “golden opportunity” for the faithful come together and “thank the Lord for his many blessings, for guiding us through this pandemic, to pray for those who have died and to rejoice in finally being able to once again look to the future with these ordinations and with our step-by-step, gradual return to normal parish life.” 

COVID-19 vaccines, outreach

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the first mass distribution of COVID-19 vaccines began Dec. 14, 2020. On Dec. 21, 2020, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor released a statement after both Pope Francis and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops confirmed the vaccines were not only morally permissible but encouraged by the Church. Some questioned it, as two vaccines  — Pfizer and Moderna  — were tested using abortion-derived cell lines from 1970s. Later, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved and both tested and developed using the cell lines but remains permissible to receive. 

Bishop Taylor stated: “I commend these concerned persons for their careful consideration of this matter, but I also wish to be very clear here: receiving the vaccine is morally permissible. In fact, to be vaccinated against COVID-19 now is morally praiseworthy inasmuch as it protects the health of the person being vaccinated and likely protects others as well.” 

Health care workers, educators and the elderly were the first to receive COVID-19 vaccines in late December and the first months of 2021. Late in 2021, booster shots for the three vaccines were encouraged and approved for all, as initial vaccine efficacy wanes and new virus variants threaten to prolong the pandemic. 

On May 9, Bishop Taylor announced that masks were optional at Mass as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also announced relaxed mask-wearing guidelines. Today, masks are again encouraged and required at many businesses, but there is no diocesan requirement at Masses. 

The Catholic Schools Office required masks for all elementary schools in the fall, as those under 12 were not yet eligible to receive a vaccine at the time. The Catholic high schools, though not required by the diocese, also instituted mask policies. As vaccines have opened for those as young as 5, the school’s office will no longer require elementary schools to wear masks beginning in January. 

Despite the pandemic, many ministries to the homeless, grieving, prisoners, food pantries, etc., worked hard to tailor their outreach efforts so the most vulnerable were not forgotten. As of Dec. 8, there were 8,769 COVID-19 deaths and 1.46 million individuals fully immunized in Arkansas. 

Helping Afghan refugees 

After 20 years, the United States withdrew military forces from Afghanistan, having spent years helping to equip the Afghan military to provide stability in the country. However, the Taliban quickly regained power. This spurred a humanitarian crisis, and 100,000 civilians were evacuated through the U.S. State Department’s Afghan Placement Assistance Program. Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Sept. 16 that Arkansas would resettle 98 Afghan refugees with the help of faith-based organizations and sponsors. Forty-nine individuals were resettled with the Diocese of Little Rock’s Refugee Resettlement Office through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Migration and Refugee Services. It was the first time the diocesan office had resettled anyone in five or six years. The four families and one individual arrived and were being directly helped by several interfaith communities and Catholic parishes, including Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock and Christ the King Church in Little Rock. 

About 50,000 refugees were left behind, waiting for help, including Shadab, an 18-year-old Afghan student who was supposed to start school in the fall at Subiaco Academy. While his student visa was turned down twice, he is still hoping he can get to the U.S. safely, along with his family. 

“I just hope, and I'm looking forward to that day that we can travel to the U.S. and to continue our normal day and a normal life,” Shadab said in August. “To study and to work for the future and be a benefit for the people that are living in this world.”

A Catholic president

On Jan. 6, rioters who disputed the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in which former President Donald Trump lost to President Joe Biden, attacked the U.S. Capitol. There were five deaths resulting from the riot, law enforcement officers were assaulted and property was vandalized as hundreds occupied the building for hours. It was a grim day in American history, marking the first time the Capitol had been breached since 1814.

The inauguration of President Joe Biden, the second Catholic president in the history of the United States, took place Jan. 20. The invocation was led by Jesuit Father Leo O’Donovan, director of mission for Jesuit Refugee Service, and Amanda Gorman, a Catholic and the first youth poet laureate at 22 years old, read her now celebrated poem “The Hill We Climb.” 

Biden has been heavily criticized for his pro-abortion policies since taking office. The president met with Pope Francis at the Vatican Oct. 29. Biden told the press the two did not discuss abortion, but climate change, poverty and other issues, stating, “We just talked about the fact he was happy that I was a good Catholic, and I should keep receiving Communion.” 

In an analysis by Catholic News Service’s Cindy Wooten, she stated, “As Pope Francis has made clear throughout his pontificate, defining someone as a good Catholic or a good Christian does not mean canonizing them or approving of everything they say and do. Rather, good Christians recognize they are sinners in need of God's forgiveness and grace, and they are committed to continuing the journey.” 

Snowy Lent 

Catholics prepared for the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday Feb. 17 with masks, social distancing and sprinkled ashes rather than drawn to keep up with safety guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic. But one thing caught most by surprise  — a snow storm. 

On Valentine’s Day, as much as 20 inches of snow was dumped in some parts of Arkansas, causing power outages, closed businesses, postal delays and accidents. In Central Arkansas, snow continued to fall into early Feb. 18. Many Masses were canceled throughout the diocese. Some parishes went forward with Ash Wednesday Masses, but most were livestreamed. Several parishes, parish halls and schools sustained damage from not only the deep snow, but extreme cold causing pipes to burst, including St. John Church’s Adult Center in Russellville, St. Bernard Church in Bella Vista, Christ the King School in Little Rock and Trinity Catholic School in Fort Smith 

Father Jason Tyler, pastor at St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville, said in a Feb. 25 Arkansas Catholic article about the snowstorm, “One thing is to remember that God is with us even in all this craziness, especially in all this craziness. It’s like when I preach at a funeral for someone who died tragically. The question can come up in some minds, ‘How can God allow this?’ … Think about how horrible it would be to not have God in our lives. … Knowing that we can trust in God and rely on him should be a source of strength for us.”

Before Father Jeff Hebert’s priestly ordination in 2018, he was clear about what kind of priest he wanted to be for God’s people — “a priest who has the smell of the sheep.” 

Father Hebert, 38, became the diocesan vocations director June 15, helping guide discerners and seminarians to hopefully build that strong connection of faith totheir own flocks one day. 

While he had served only as an associate pastor at St. Joseph Church in Conway before Bishop Anthony B. Taylor assigned him to the role of assistant vocations director and prefect of the House of Formation in June 2020, Father Hebert said the parish and all the people he ministers to are always in his mind when he works with young men. 

“It's really the thing I'm trying to get these young men to understand and to conform their hearts to the heart of Christ that smells like the sheep, because I actually have the sheep in mind,” Father Hebert said. “And so that's really helped me to kind of guide that and to really reconcile the ministry that I have now as opposed to being in a parish or in parish ministry is that I still have the parish in mind. There's no point in forming these guys to be a theoretical priest.” 

It’s the mentality he believes Msgr. Scott Friend felt throughout his 16 years at the helm of the vocations office. Msgr. Friend grew vocations throughout his tenure, with 44 priests ordained, 24 more in formation and the construction of the House of Formation, where seminarians and discerners live and study. Msgr. Friend is now pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro. 

While it’s hard to nail down just one lesson learned from Msgr. Friend, Father Hebert said it’s the understanding of the role in helping the diocese as a whole.

“Really understanding vocations as a sign of God's love for us but also as a reason for the people to continue to believe, and just kind of seeing how that fits into the greater proclamation of the kingdom of God. It's been really cool for me,” Father Hebert said. 

One of 11 children who grew up in the suburbs of Houston, Father Hebert studied for four years at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He said the experience was an important one, from being in close contact with the history of Christianity and to the saints and getting a glimpse of Church politics, which he said he never wants to get caught up in. 

As vocations director, Father Hebert wants to carry out some of Msgr. Friend’s visions, including visiting parishes and schools outside of Central Arkansas to talk more about vocations. He also hopes to see discernment groups at different parts of the state for young men.

“I think what society needs in priests today, above all, they are men of faith. And I don't mean that in the cliche, just like prayerful men. Men who actually believe the things they're proclaiming from the pulpit,” he said. “Men who actually believe that the source and the summit, the highest thing we do is the celebration of the Eucharist, the communal celebration. I think men who believe truly what the Gospel revealed. More than anything, rather than being political and someone who really likes this aspect of things or this aspect, just men who actually believe it's not about what we do. It's really about handing on the message of Jesus Christ in the way and the tradition he has left us.”

Father Hebert said his role is not to choose the future priests but to guide them in God’s will. Lay Catholics planting seeds in the minds of young men who they think would be good priests can be life-changing. In his own vocation story, a woman he had never met put her hand on his shoulder and said, “You’re going to be a priest someday.” 

“She just smiled and then left. And that was the thing that opened me up. I actually considered it for the very first time when she did that. So I highly encourage that. I hope everyone out there is just telling every young man they see, ‘Oh, you'd be a good priest,’ ‘Oh, you'd be a good priest,’” he said, laughing. “But that's what I'd say: prayer, and then not being afraid to go encourage young men that they think would be good priests. To go tell him just that.” 

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In true late-night-host fashion, Father Jeff Hebert trotted out on stage at Christ the King’s family life center in Little Rock Aug. 7, ready with a one-liner to greet the live audience and the viewers at home for the annual Taste of Faith fundraiser for seminarian education. 

“Well, here we are to celebrate. This year’s theme is, ‘COVID, I hate you and why are we still doing this,’” Father Hebert said to an enthusiastic crowd. 

Taste of Faith gathered virtually, raising more than $400,000 as of Aug. 9. All money goes directly toward housing and educating the diocese’s 23 seminarians for the 2021-22 school year. Their formation costs an estimated $1 million a year.

The annual fundraiser started as a dinner in Little Rock in 2010 that spread to different parts of the state, giving the faithful a chance to meet and hear the stories of seminarians. 

Because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, only about 100 people, mostly families of seminarians, gathered to watch the event live, while most tuned in to the livestream on the diocesan YouTube channel, Facebook and on the new Taste of Faith website, tasteoffaith.org. At its peak, 140 devices watched the event live on YouTube, and another 90 devices watched it live on the diocesan Facebook page. Travis McAfee of Springdale produced the program.

“You know last year, just in comparison, we didn't have a live studio audience, we had the seminarians laughing on cue. So it felt much better being able to work with the crowd,” said Father Jeff Hebert, diocesan vocations director. “… I was so grateful for it. The people seemed to enjoy themselves, the seminarians certainly did so. It was just a great feeling the whole evening.”

The late-night talk show format included candid live interviews withthe five newly ordained priests — Fathers Brian Cundall, Omar Galván, Ben Riley, Alex Smith and Emmanuel Torres — and three new seminarians, along with recorded segments that included everything from the five priests’ moving personal stories to a “beach” cameo from former vocations director Msgr. Scott Friend, now pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor also held an official signing for two of the new seminarians.

“I think my favorite part of the night, something that people at home couldn't see, was when the (newly ordained priests) were watching the video of their stories. They were getting kind of emotional. It was just fun to see, they were kind of joking with each other. I saw some tears,” Father Hebert said. 

Second-year seminarian Jackson Nichols, 19, of St. Paul Church in Pocahontas, engaged with people commenting on Facebook. One of his favorite comments was from a Knights of Columbus member, who said the group of men were playing bingo and watching the broadcast. 

“It was really moving seeing people from all over the state that supported us. And people I've never met just reaching out and showing how much they care about the priesthood and about our formation,” Nichols said. “Just getting to interact with them on social media made it real — there’s real people out there giving their time and money to support us so we can serve them one day.” 

Seminarian Cory Eveld, 25, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Charleston who is looking toward his 2024 ordination, pulled some laughs from the crowd and undoubtedly from viewers by judging a “bake-off” between seminarians Hong Nguyen and John Paul Hartnedy. 

“Whenever I was young, I really liked ‘Saturday Night Live,’” he said, channeling a little of Chris Farley for his segment. “It wasn’t quite like that, but I was thinking about him. I kind of went out there and went with the flow.” 

All joking aside, Eveld said knowing that people are donating toward his education, but most importantly praying for him, is touching. 

“For me, it just makes me cry a lot. I think about it a lot,” he said. “I’ll go somewhere to a parish and someone will say, ‘We pray for you by name.’” 

While the virtual event was again successful — last year’s Taste of Faith, the first livestreamed event, broke fundraising records with $612,048 raised — Father Hebert hopes that future Taste of Faith events are mainly in-person. 

“At the end of the day, it's really not about the money. It's not about the fundraising. It's actually an opportunity to come celebrate the faith that we share, what it means to be Catholic in the diocese,” Father Hebert said. “And so it's not so much motivated by trying to reach more and more people. It's more of how can I gather more and more people in to celebrate the actual event?… This is not a business. This is the faith. So I want the people to know that. Obviously we rely on your generosity, but I am totally submitted to the providence of God. Whatever is given to us will be enough for us to form your future priests.” 

To watch the replay or donate, visit tasteoffaith.org. 

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced during the Chrism Mass March 29 at Christ the King Church in Little Rock that he has appointed Msgr. Scott Friend, diocesan vocations director for the past 16 years, to be the pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro beginning June 15. Msgr. Friend also served as vicar general under Bishop J. Peter Sartain and Bishop Taylor  from 2005 to 2019. 

“I wanted to use this moment for me and you to express our appreciation for the ministry of one of the most remarkable priests who will have a change of assignment this June,” the bishop told the priests in the audience. “Msgr. Scott Friend requested to return to parish ministry, his first love, and I can tell you it is the best job in the Church.” 

Father Jeff Hebert, current assistant vocations director, will be promoted to vocations director. 

When Msgr. Friend was appointed vocations director in 2005, there were 15 seminarians, and he was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, along with other health conditions. 

In spite of this, he made the Diocese of Little Rock vocations program “one of the most fruitful in our nation,” Bishop Taylor said. 

Msgr. Friend partnered with several groups, including the Knights of Columbus, Serra Club, parish youth groups and Catholic High School in Little Rock to foster vocations. He founded the popular fundraiser Taste of Faith dinners and the House of Formation, where lived with seminarians and discerners. 

Out of 67 diocesan priests in active ministry, 44 had Msgr. Friend as their vocations director. Following this year’s ordination with five priests, there will be 23 priests in formation and three applicants for this fall, Bishop Taylor said. 

The average age of priests lowered from 65 to 48 during Msgr. Friend’s time as director. A heart for Hispanic ministry, Msgr. Friend encouraged growth in vocations among Spanish-speakers. In 2005, there were 10 priests who could minister in Spanish, with one Hispanic priest in active ministry. Now there are 55 priests who can minister in Spanish, more than half fluently, and 13 Hispanic priests in the diocese. 

“Eighty-two percent of our priests can minister in Spanish to some degree, and Msgr. Friend, you are the one who has made that happen,” Bishop Taylor said. 

Msgr. Friend told Arkansas Catholic, "I am both grateful and excited to see what the Lord has in store for all of us in Blessed Sacrament parish in Jonesboro." 

Other priest assignments will be announced April 9 and also go into effect June 15. The bishop’s comments and the entire Chrism Mass can be viewed at youtube.com/cdolr.

The annual Taste of Faith dinners are going virtual this year with a live one-hour program online at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8.

The talk-show-style program will be hosted by Msgr. Scott Friend, vocation director, and will include interviews with the diocese’s soon-to-be newest priests, Deacon Joseph Friend and Deacon Daniel Velasco, who will be ordained Aug. 15. Seminarians living at the House of Formation will be introduced and one of them will share a recipe. 

One highlight of the Taste of Faith dinners, which are usually held in person four or five times a year around the state, are performances by the seminarian band. Msgr. Friend said the band will not perform this year, but they are hopeful they can host dinners next year with the musicians.

It will be livestreamed on the homepage of dolr.org as well as the diocese’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. For those unable to watch live, the video will be available for playback any time.

All money raised for the Taste of Faith Virtual Edition will go toward the immediate expenses of housing and educating 30 seminarians for the 2020-2021 school year. That is estimated to cost at least $1 million.

The goal for the virtual event is $500,000, Msgr. Friend said. 

Catholics in the state were sent letters from Msgr. Friend in July to explain the financial need for seminarians. The letter included a donation card and envelope.

“With the increases in cost and seminarians, we need your help to form our seminarians into priests,” he said. “The generosity of the people of God is incredible. In the past 10 years, Catholics in Arkansas have donated $3.8 million at Taste of Faith events. That money has been used exclusively for immediate seminarian education expenses. Without your investment, it would be impossible for us to prepare these men for the priesthood.”

Supporters don’t have to wait until Aug. 8 to give for the seminarians. They can donate at dolr.org/give or mail their gift to Taste of Faith, Diocese of Little Rock, P.O. Box 7565, Little Rock, AR 72217. Taste of Faith donations will be accepted throughout August.

For more information, contact Dianne Brady, director of stewardship and development, at (501) 664-0340, ext. 391 or dbrady@dolr.org.