Pictured (l-r): Msgr Scott Friend, V.G. Karldy Hienz Isidor, Jose Luis Quijada, Luke Womack, Elden Labitad, Patrick Saint Jean, Thomas Johnson, Taryn Whittington, Father Ruben Quinteros, and Msgr Richard Oswald.

At the May 1 Council meeting, Lecturer Bob Honzik introduced guest speaker Monsignor Scott Friend.  Acompanying Msgr Friend were Prefect Monsignor  Oswald and Vice Prefect Fr. Quinteros along with seven men currently in the discernment process.  They are housed on the first floor of Fletcher Hall on the diocese campus.

Msgr was pleased to announce that there are now 37 seminarians who are studying at eight seminaries in various United States locations and one in Rome.  There will be three ordinations at Christ the King on May 26 and one, Andrew Hart, at the Cathedral on July 21.  Little Rock Diocese ranks 12th out of 195 dioceses in the number of seminarians.

The ground has been broken for the $1.5 million new House of Formation on the Good Council Parish campus.  The original plan to renovate a former convent there was abandoned due to the cost of asbestos removal and other considerations.

Clergy in this groundbreaking ceremony include (l-r): Bishop Taylor, Msgr Oswald, Fr Rubin, and Msgr Friend.

The Diocese of Little Rock has raised $620,000 toward building its House of Formation for men who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood or for seminarians taking college courses in Little Rock. 

The diocese announced in August that the house would be located in the former Sisters of Mercy convent at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock. After further investigation, it was decided that it was more cost effective for the building to be torn down and a new building be erected on the site. 

The 6,000-square-foot building will feature a kitchen, meeting room/library, dining room, common area, chapel, 10 student rooms with private baths and apartments for the vocations director, Msgr. Scott Friend, and assistant vocations director, Msgr. Richard Oswald. The initial estimate for the project is $900,000, but that does not include site work, furnishings and architect fees. 

Groups have come forward already to sponsor two of the rooms in the house. The state Knights of Columbus council donated $187,000 to sponsor the chapel. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village pledged $50,000 toward the dining room. Catholic Extension Society has committed a $100,000 matching grant to the project and will donate $50,000 more if another $200,000 can be raised by Sept. 30. 

Monsignor Scott Friend

At a special meeting of Council 10208 on Thursday, August 4, the knights welcomed most of the 33 active seminarians studying for the priesthood in the Diocese of Little Rock. The seminarians were accompanied by: Bishop Anthony Taylor; Director of Vocations for the Diocese Monsignor Scott Friend; Associate Director of Vocations Father Eric Pohlmeier; and, Prefect of the House of Formation Monsignor Richard Oswald. Other priests in attendance were Monsignor Bernard Malone, who recently returned from a trip to Philadelphia, Father Vic Bieberle, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Pastor and Council Chaplain Father Bill Elser.  

Along with the seminarians and clergy, there was a total of 225 in attendance, including 165 knights and spouses along with over 30 invited guests, most of whom were Knights of Columbus prospects and their wives.

Following a brief open council meeting (reference the minutes) led by Grand Knight Dave Johnston, Lecturer Bob Honzik, Event Coordinator, reiterated the purpose of the evening – to show support for the seminarians and their director by meeting and getting to know them on a more personal basis. Bob also mentioned that, coincidentally, August 4 is the feast of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Diocesan Priests. After thanking everyone for attending and for those involved in the evening’s preparations, he introduced Msgr. Scott Friend, who was welcomed to the podium with a standing ovation.  

Bishop Anthony Taylor

Msgr. Friend thanked Father Elser for hosting and Bob Honzik for arranging and coordinating the event. Addressing the audience he said “This is a real testament that all of you would come out tonight to support our seminarians, and it is one of the reasons why the Little Rock Diocese is doing so well with vocations…and the Knights of Columbus has become a real partner with us as each seminarian is being supported by at least two councils through the RSVP grant program for a total of $33,000 last year.”

Msgr. Friend introduced Father Eric Pohlmeier and Monsignor Richard Oswald and explained their respective roles in assisting him with the various aspects of recruiting and mentoring seminarians.