Outreach

multicultural ministries

In 2004, Bishop Paul S. Loverde established the Office of Multicultural Ministries in the Diocese of Arlington as a response to the pastoral needs of the diocese and to the pastoral letter of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) entitled Welcoming the Stranger Among Us, Unity and Diversity. 

Catholic Diocese of Arlington

About the Office

The Office of Multicultural Ministries seeks to serve all ethnic communities located in the Diocese of Arlington and to serve as a resource to newcomers. We have assisted many immigrants within our diocese to join in parish and diocesan activities that are respectful to their cultures and enrich the lives of the immigrants within our Church. 

 

MULTICULTURAL NEWS

  • Honoring a Servant of God this February by Emelda August

    February 5: Father George Clements, Priest who shaped our Catholic Church and the World
    Ordained a Roman Catholic priest on May 3, 1957 in the Archdiocese of Chicago in June 1969, Fr. Clements became pastor of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Chicago. After retiring from Holy Angels he moved to Washington D.C., where he founded several initiatives. One Church-One Child, One Church-One Addict and One Church-One Inmate program spread widely and catalyzed the adoption of more than 100,000 African –American children nationwide. Fr. Clements often said, “God will provide.” His story was produced as a film by NBC in 1987.

    February 12: St. Benedict the Moor, Servant of God - Feast Day April 4
    St. Benedict, a lay brother, was born in Sicily in 1526. He was the son of African slave parents, but was freed at an early age. When he was 21, he was insulted because of his color; but, his patient and dignified attitude caused a group of Franciscan hermits, who witnessed the incident to invite him to join their group. He became their leader. In 1564, he joined the Franciscan friary in Palermo and worked in the kitchen until 1578. When he was chosen superior of the group, he carried through the adoption of stricter interpretation of the Franciscan rule.

    February 19: Memoriam, Leon C. Roberts, 1950-1999.
    Roberts was an internationally recognized African American composer, arranger, choir director, liturgist, and recording artist. He converted to Catholicism and began to use his special gifts to bring gospel music into the essential energy and emotion of gospel music into the tradition of the church. Roberts made countless contributions to the advancement of African-Americans in the Catholic Church. He leaves behind a rich legacy of recorded music, including the Mass of St. Augustine and the Mass of St. Martin de Porres. Roberts and the St. Augustine Choir were guests at many liturgy celebrations at Holy Family in Dale City.

    February 26: Witness for Christ, Father Augustine Tolton
    Born a plantation slave, Fr. Tolton was a man of courage and of faith who persevered in his vocation despite insufferable obstacles and odious opposition. He was ordained a priest, April 24, 1886, in Rome. He is America’s first recognized black African-American priest. Father Augustine Tolton prayer cards are available at the Office of Multicultural Ministries.

  • See the 2011 Simbang Gabi in Northern Virginia.

  • Pope Benedict XVI established an Apostolic Exarchate for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in the U.S.
  • The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) partnered with The Catholic University of America in developing The American Catholic History Classroom. 
  • In memory of Reverend Tom Cassidy, please read this homily excerpt.

MULTICULTURAL SAINTS

 

upcoming EVENTS

  • February 18: UJAMAA Committee of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church is planning a Black History Month program at 6:30 p.m. The theme will be the National Black History Month theme, "Black Women in American Culture and History". Dr. Kathy Glass, Assoc. Prof. of African American Literature and Women's Studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh will be the guest speaker. There will also be exhibits on display, and light refreshments at a reception following the program.
  • February 25: At 5 p.m., Holy Family Catholic Church will host a Black History Month Mass and Reception, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Dale City.
  • June 18-25, 2012: 2012 Basic Directions - A seven-day institute for personnel who are beginning or wanting to learn about Native ministry will be held at the Sioux Spiritual Center in Howes, South Dakota. The institute is sponsored by the National Tekakwitha Conference. Download more information here.

For a full listing of our upcoming events, and to find out more, please visit our calendar. Visit here to learn more about our office and staff.