Bishop Ireton celebrated its annual Day of Service (DCNews Now, 5/2): Love in Action found more than 900 students, teachers, and staff members from the Catholic school cleaning up parks and other outdoor spaces. Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park, Landover Park, and Lake Cook were a few of the locations.
Bishop Burbidge criticizes Trump, praises Youngkin’s veto (ArlNow, 5/8): Bishop Michael Burbidge sharply criticized the president’s social media post of himself in a white cassock and miter. He went on to praise Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s veto of the Virginia Right to Contraception Act — but criticized the Republican for approving legislation relating to in vitro fertilization.
Bishop Burbidge and other religious leaders welcome the news of Pope Leo XIV (WTOP, 5/8): Catholics around the world are celebrating the election of American-born Robert Prevost as the new Pope Leo XIV.
Bishop Burbidge expresses joy at selection of Pope Leo XIV (WUSA, 5/8): The leader of Arlington Catholics was with his fellow priests when the news of Pope Leo election broke.
Virginia faithful react to the news of Pope Leo XIV (WUSA, 5/8): A young mother and her child, along with Fr Christensen from St Rita Catholic Church are profiled discussing the joy of Pope Leo election.
Fr Jesus Munoz of the Cathedral of St Thomas More discusses the significance of the election of Pope Leo XIV (Telemundo, 5/9 – EN ESPANOL): Catholics around the diocese are excited to learn about the new pope.
Extended coverage of Pope Leo XIV election from area Catholic leaders (WUSA, 5/9): Area Catholics are thrilled with the news of the election of Pope Leo.
Bishop Burbidge wishes all mothers a very blessed Mother’s Day (Catholic News Agency, 5/11): To recognize the work and sacrifices of mothers, Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, offered a prayer to be said today and throughout the month in thanksgiving for the love and support mothers provide.
In Virginia, Catholic Charities supports Afghan refugees in a military stronghold (Associated Press, 5/16): Kat Renfroe was at Mass when she saw a volunteer opportunity in the bulletin. Her Catholic parish, St Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Fredericksburg, was looking for tutors for Afghan youth, newly arrived in the United States. That was seven years ago.
Please see take-aways from the Associated Press here.
Catholic students are excited about the election of Pope Leo XIV (EWTN, 5/16): The excitement of young Catholics for Pope Leo gives all Catholics hope for the future.
Catholic Charities of Arlington awarded grant to help women in shelters (Loudoun Now, 5/16): The 14,000 grant was one of more than grants offered to local nonprofits who address the needs of women in shelters, as well as the mental health and education concerns in Loudoun County.
Divine Mercy University announces scholarship in honor of Bishop Loverde (CatholicVote, 5/16): DMU has announced the creation of the Bishop Loverde Scholarship Fund, which is aimed at supporting seminarians, priests, and religious pursuing studies in mental health fields.
Catholic middle school students came together at BASH and celebrated the election of Pope Leo XIV (Catholic News Agency, 5/17): For Catholic students in the United States, the election of Pope Leo XIV as the first American pope on May 8 filled them with excitement and hope.
Good Shepherd pastor named to President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission advisory board (National Catholic Register, 5/19): Father Thomas Ferguson will join an advisory board for President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, along with several prominent bishops from across the country.
President Trump names priests and bishops to his religious liberty commission (OSV, 5/19): Fr. Ferguson, pastor at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria, is the author of “Catholic and American: The Political Theology of John Courtney Murray,” published by Sheed & Ward in 1993.
Fr Dufresne from St Charles Catholic Church in Arlington leads pilgrims from around the diocese to various sites around the world (National Catholic Register, 5/19): American Catholics can be seen on the very same pilgrimage routes traveled centuries ago. And while their motivations for going vary, they share with their ancestors a desire to return to their everyday lives changed — and advanced a little further along in their spiritual journeys.
Catholic leaders call for prayers after the brutal killing of two Israeli embassy officials in D.C.(OSV, 5/22): Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky were leaving an event at the museum when they were shot at close range.
Divine Mercy University celebrates its 25th anniversary (CatholicVote, 5/23): The Virginia-based Catholic university focusing on psychology and counseling training recently commemorated 25 years with a dinner and the celebration of Mass at its chapel, which is named after the patron saint of mental health.
