Little Rock (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Anthony Basil Taylor, Bishop
Andrew Joseph McDonald, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 28 November 1843
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Arkansas
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 137,600 (53,104 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the State of Arkansas.
Conference Region: X (AR, OK, TX)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: LR
Official Web Site: http://www.dolr.org/
Mailing Address: 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7565, Little Rock, AR 72217
Telephone: (501)664-0340
Fax: 664-9075

Past and Present Ordinaries

Andrew Byrne † (28 Nov 1843 Appointed - 10 Jun 1862 Died)
Edward Fitzgerald † (24 Apr 1866 Appointed - 21 Feb 1907 Died)
John Baptist Morris † (21 Feb 1907 Succeeded - 22 Oct 1946 Died)
Albert Lewis Fletcher † (7 Dec 1946 Appointed - 4 Jul 1972 Retired)
Andrew Joseph McDonald (4 Jul 1972 Appointed - 4 Jan 2000 Retired)
James Peter Sartain (4 Jan 2000 Appointed - 16 May 2006 Appointed, Bishop of Joliet in Illinois)
Anthony Basil Taylor (10 Apr 2008 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
28 November 1843	Erected	Diocese of Saint Louis	Diocese of Little Rock (erected)
19 July 1850	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Little Rock (to New Orleans)
14 May 1876	Territory Lost	Diocese of Little Rock	Prefecture Apostolic of Indian Territory (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1950 36,943 1,899,387 1.9% 108 53 161 229 115 608 95 ap1951

1966 50,983 1,933,000 2.6% 137 62 199 256 104 743 85 ap1967

1970 55,296 111 60 171 323 120 600 79 ap1971*

1976 55,991 2,006,019 2.8% 107 64 171 327 1 107 476 80 ap1977

1980 56,911 2,205,000 2.6% 114 66 180 316 2 120 534 84 ap1981

1990 62,032 2,384,060 2.6% 110 52 162 382 47 95 383 130 ap1991

1999 89,091 2,522,813 3.5% 83 65 148 601 77 41 314 90 ap2000

2000 90,612 2,538,303 3.6% 100 60 160 566 76 98 327 90 ap2001

2001 93,480 2,551,373 3.7% 99 61 160 584 76 93 298 90 ap2002

2002 100,820 2,673,400 3.8% 98 61 159 634 78 91 289 90 ap2003

2003 103,091 2,692,090 3.8% 97 54 151 682 92 90 268 88 ap2004

2004 106,051 2,710,079 3.9% 94 54 148 716 90 88 253 88 ap2005

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	36,943	1,899,387	1.9%	108	53	161	229		115	608	95	ap1951
1966	50,983	1,933,000	2.6%	137	62	199	256		104	743	85	ap1967
1970	55,296			111	60	171	323		120	600	79	ap1971*
1976	55,991	2,006,019	2.8%	107	64	171	327	1	107	476	80	ap1977
1980	56,911	2,205,000	2.6%	114	66	180	316	2	120	534	84	ap1981
1990	62,032	2,384,060	2.6%	110	52	162	382	47	95	383	130	ap1991
1999	89,091	2,522,813	3.5%	83	65	148	601	77	41	314	90	ap2000
2000	90,612	2,538,303	3.6%	100	60	160	566	76	98	327	90	ap2001
2001	93,480	2,551,373	3.7%	99	61	160	584	76	93	298	90	ap2002
2002	100,820	2,673,400	3.8%	98	61	159	634	78	91	289	90	ap2003
2003	103,091	2,692,090	3.8%	97	54	151	682	92	90	268	88	ap2004
2004	106,051	2,710,079	3.9%	94	54	148	716	90	88	253	88	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Andrew Joseph McDonald (Bishop: 4 Jul 1972 to 4 Jan 2000)
James Peter Sartain (Bishop: 4 Jan 2000 to 16 May 2006)
Anthony Basil Taylor (Bishop: 10 Apr 2008 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Andrew Byrne † (Bishop: 28 Nov 1843 to 10 Jun 1862)
Edward Fitzgerald † (Bishop: 24 Apr 1866 to 21 Feb 1907)
Albert Lewis Fletcher † (Priest: 4 Jun 1920; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Dec 1939; Bishop: 7 Dec 1946 to 4 Jul 1972)
Lawrence Preston Joseph Graves † (Priest: 11 Jun 1942; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Feb 1969 to 10 May 1973)
John Baptist Morris † (Coadjutor Bishop: 18 Apr 1906; Bishop: 21 Feb 1907 to 22 Oct 1946)

Diocese of Little Rock