FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2021

CONTACT:
Amber Roseboom
Director of Media Relations
Catholic Diocese of Arlington
571-215-8731
Amber.Roseboom@arlingtondiocese.org

Catholic High Schools In The Diocese Of Arlington To Hold In-person Ceremonies For Class Of 2021; Graduates Invite Up To Four Guests 

High Schools to Resume Full-time, In-person Instruction for All Grade Levels Beginning Fall 2021

At the Beginning of the 2020-21 School Year, Diocesan High Schools Opened for Hybrid (In-Person and Virtual) Instruction, as All 41 Catholic Schools in the Diocese Opened for Fully In-Person or Hybrid Learning

ARLINGTON, Va. - Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Arlington are capping off an unprecedented year with in-person graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2021. Each graduate can invite four guests to join in the celebratory occasion. The ceremonies, to be held on each respective school's football field, will take place at the end of May and in early June. High schools in the Diocese safely re-opened at the beginning of the 2020-21 academic year for hybrid (in-person and virtual) learning, as all 41 brick-and-mortar schools reopened for fully in-person or hybrid instruction. This fall, the four high schools plan to resume full-time in-person instruction with ongoing COVID-19 mitigation safety protocols in place.

“Our high school graduates have great cause for celebration. They faced the unprecedented challenges of the year with faithful, hopeful resolve, and their charitable leadership as members of the graduating class helped our schools make history as they remained open throughout the 2020-21 academic year,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Catholic Diocese of Arlington. “Over the past year, Catholic educators and administrators rose to the challenge and guided our students productively. I offer my deep gratitude for all they have done and continue to do. Through our shared experiences this past year, we are reminded of three fundamental realities of life: we must rely on our Lord's providence; time spent with family is critically important; and charitable, compassionate outreach to our neighbors should be a constant part of our lives. My prayer for each graduate is that the gift of their Catholic education, and the lessons of this year, bear fruit in extraordinary ways for years to come. May the graduating Class of 2021 be filled with joy and renewed hope as they enter a new stage in their lives.”

Class of 2021 High School Graduation Schedule

Bishop Ireton High School
Date and Time:           Thursday, May 27, 10 a.m.
Address:                      201 Cambridge Rd., Alexandria, VA 22314
Location:                     Football Field

Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School
Date and Time:          Friday, May 28, 10:30 a.m.
Address:                     Potomac Shores, 17700 Dominican Dr., Dumfries, VA 22026
Location:                    Football Field

Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
Date and Time:           Thursday, June 3, 12 p.m.
Address:                      6600 Little Falls Rd., Arlington, VA 22213
Location:                     Football Field (Monsignor James McMurtrie Field)

St. Paul VI Catholic High School
Date and Time:           Sunday, June 6, 9 a.m.
Address:                      42341 Braddock Rd., Chantilly, VA 20152
Location:                     Football Field (Panther Stadium Field)

Media Credentials:   Interested Media, contact Amber Roseboom, Director of Media Relations, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at 571-215-8731 or Amber.Roseboom@arlingtondiocese.org.

In the event of rain, schools will move their ceremonies indoors with contingency plans for guests that range from decreasing the number of guests to livestreaming the ceremonies to guests in various areas throughout the schools.

“The in-person graduations for the Class of 2021 in our diocesan high schools are a particular highlight in a year of remarkable accomplishments. It was an incredible challenge for all of our school communities to adjust to COVID-19 protocols,” said Dr. Joseph Vorbach, Superintendent for Schools, Catholic Diocese of Arlington. “In-person graduations are a mark of the resilience of the graduates and of hope for a continued gradual return to the norms and traditions of school life going forward. We salute the Class of 2021!”

For more information on Catholic schools in the Diocese of Arlington, visit here.

Interested media should contact Amber Roseboom, Director of Media Relations, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at 571-215-8731 or Amber.Roseboom@arlingtondiocese.org. 

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The Catholic Diocese of Arlington was established on August 13, 1974, and is home to 71 parishes and more than 460,000 Catholics. There are currently 276 priests serving in the Diocese and 45 seminarians discerning a priestly vocation. The Diocese has 37 parish (K-8) schools, four diocesan high schools, four independent Catholic schools and five free-standing (not connected with a parish school) pre-schools, serving more than 17,000 students. 

The Diocese includes the seven cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester and the 21 counties of Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Northumberland, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren and Westmoreland.