PODCAST: Bishop Burbidge discusses his pastoral letter on mental health with Katie McGrady (SiriusXM, 2/2).
SPANISH: Catholic Charities notices fraud with online agitators targeting immigrants with alleged help through Facebook (Telemundo, 2/2). A client in Stafford County shares her story of losing money when someone pretended to be Catholic Charities in a scam offering to help with immigration issues.
Bishop Burbidge offers guidance amidst staggering mental health crisis (EWTN News, 2/4): Bishop Burbidge said “there’s a real pastoral need for mental health counseling, and my pastors told me they don’t have the expertise” that many families need.
Diocese of Arlington celebrates first harvest with Hispanic diaconate (OSV, 2/4): After completing the two-year aspirancy stage of the Diocese of Arlington’s Hispanic Permanent Diaconate Program, the first group formally presented themselves as candidates ready to continue their formation process, which is expected to culminate in four years with their ordination as deacons.
Pastor from Good Shepherd Catholic Church reflects on religious liberty (OSV, 2/9): Fr Ferguson made his remarks during the most recent meeting of President Trump’s religious liberty commission.
Fr. Ferguson reminds us that Jesus died willingly for our sins (EWTN News, 2/10): Fr Ferguson, the pastor at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria, made his remarks during the most recent meeting of President Trump’s religious liberty commission.
Mount Saint Mary’s attracts more than 1,100 for Eucharistic Adoration (Catholic Review, 2/11): Fr. Malebranche from St. Agnes Catholic Church was one of the keynote speakers at the crowded event.
Bishop Burbidge offers reflection for the upcoming National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NER, 2/11): The shepherd of the Diocese of Arlington reflects on prayer as a part of the soul and mind.
Letter to the Editor in support of mental health (Catholic Messenger, 2/12): A religious sister in Iowa thanks Bishop Burbidge for his mental health pastoral letter.
10 years after his death, a reader asks if Bishop Burbidge should open canonization cause for the late Justice Scalia(National Review, 2/13): On the anniversary of his death, an opinion writer asks Bishop Burbidge to reflect on the good Justice Scalia did for our country.
Bishops call for peace amid turmoil (National Catholic Register, 2/14): During a Holy Hour service at the Cathedral of St Thomas More Bishop Burbidge said “the moment of silence before the Blessed Sacrament, entrust our nation and leaders to the Lord and ask him to transform hearts so that the stormy waters will be calmed, all divisions will end, and hearts and lives will be transformed.”
PVI student athlete supports Special Olympics (Fox5, 2/14): A senior at PVI, and a nationally recognized basketball player, is using his platform to serve others. Less than a day after he committed to the University of Arkansas, Jordan Smith, took part in a Special Olympics clinic.
Bishop asks his flock to cultivate a life of peace and prayer (CatholicVote, 2/17): Though cultivating a relationship with God through prayer may sound like a daunting endeavor, Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church offer profound insight about what prayer is, how to practice it, said Bishop Burbidge.
Bishops call for Notre Dame to change course with pro-abortion professor slated to take on new leadership role (EWTN News, 2/17): Bishop Burbidge said on ‘Walk Humbly’ the appointment as “very unsettling and very disappointing.” He added Ostermann’s views on abortion are “simply incompatible ... with the mission of the Catholic Church” and with Notre Dame.
Virginia Bishops praise the General Assembly for defeating an assisted suicide measure this year (OSV, 2/18): “Human life is sacred and no one should ever be abandoned or discarded,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington and Bishop Barry C. Knestout of Richmond in a joint statement.
Virginia Bishops are glad the General Assembly defeated the assisted suicide measure this year (National Catholic Register, 2/18): Virginia’s Catholic bishops thanked state lawmakers who rejected bills that would have legalized physician assisted suicide in the commonwealth for patients who are terminally ill.
Confession is on the rise in the United States (Associated Press, 2/19): Fr. Mike Nugent from St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Annadale said “Knowing that I’m loved even with my struggle, even with sin, even with the things that are challenging and shameful in my life, that I am still loved perfectly — my gosh, that is good news.”
Unmarked graves on land once owned by Virginia Catholic family could be those of enslaved individuals (OSV, 2/20):The 17th-century Brent Cemetery parcel — owned by the family until 1841 and since 1974 by the Diocese of Arlington, just outside Washington — has been an intermittent and careful archaeological project for decades.
Bishop Ireton student selected for US Deaf Basketball team to play in world championships (WTOP, 2/20): Aaliyah Harris, a sophomore, has been selected to represent to the U.S. in the Under 21 World Deaf Basketball Championships in Poland this summer.
Bishops across the country call on Notre Dame to change course (EWTN News, 2/21): More than a dozen bishops have spoken out against the promotion of a pro-abortion professor to a leadership role, including Bishop Burbidge.
St James Catholic Church in Falls Church is a beautiful church (Liturgical Arts Journal, 2/26): The church was renovated in anticipation of its 50th anniversary in 2024 and the results are stunning.
Five Catholic sites in Virginia you don’t want to miss (Aleteia, 2/26): Approximately 10 percent of the state population is Catholic.
Catholic Charities to host immigration workshop (ArlNow, 2/27): The low-cost event, held regularly throughout the diocese, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 28 at St Charles Catholic Church.
