Diocese of Arlington, along with Catholic University, is looking for descendants of those in unmarked graves in Stafford County (Washington Post, 3/1): The cemetery is on land owned by the diocese that was once owned by one of Virginia’s earliest Catholics.
Virginia is the next battleground in the fight over abortion (Washington Examiner, 3/2): Voters in the Commonwealth are being asked to enshrine abortion into the state constitution, allowing abortion on demand up until birth.
Bishop Burbidge prays for peace in the wake of the attacks against Iran (CatholicVote, 3/2): Pope Leo XIV and other bishops and world leaders have also called for peace in recent days.
Diocese of Arlington hosts conference on immigration (El Pregonaro, 3/11) IN SPANISH: The annual Peace & Justice Commission event was held at Nativity Catholic Church in Nativity. Bishop Burbidge was joined by Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, D.C. Evelio Menjívar-Ayala.
Beth Bostwick from the Office of Catholic Schools discusses the importance of the Diocesan Day of Unplugging (Fox5, 3/13): This is the third year the diocese has run the program. Bostwick, the director of school health and wellness, reminded viewers how important it is to disconnect.
Deacon Silva tells listeners why the Day of Unplugging is so important (WTOP, 3/13): Silva said the diocese isn’t against technology or social media, but sees the growing issue of “doomscrolling” and mental health problems.
The Diocese of Arlington wants you to unplug this weekend (ArlNow, 3/13): Bishop Michael F. Burbidge cited unplugging as a key Lenten practice for growth in holiness, hoping that expanding the initiative to three days will give individuals and families more opportunity to be intentional about disconnecting from devices to reconnect with the Lord and one another.
Registration opens for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (OSV, 3/18): The pilgrimage, which begins in Florida on Memorial Day weekend and ends in Philadelphia on July 5, will make two stops in Arlington.
Bishop O’Connell Catholic High School announces new head of school (Patch, 3/23): Jonathan Brand will take over for the retiring Bill Crittenberger on July 1.
Crittenberger to retire as head of Bishop O’Connell Catholic High School in July, will be replaced by Jonathan Brand (ArlNow, 3/24): Bishop Michael Burbidge said he was excited for this new chapter for the school in Arlington.
Criminals are targeting immigrants and impersonating Catholic Charities (National Catholic Register, 3/30): The scams, largely online, lure those seeking assistance to give large sums of money with documentation that appears authentically Catholic Charities related, but is not.
Many dioceses across the country are seeing an increase in Catholics coming into the church this Easter(Hallow, 3/31): The Diocese of Arlington is just one of many in the country which has seen an increase over previous years.
