Multicultural Ministries
In 2004, Bishop Paul S. Loverde, the third Bishop of Arlington, established the Office of Multicultural Ministries 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 in Diversity. Looking for a Mass in a specific language? Check out the schedule of Multicultural Masses offered in the Diocese of Arlington.
Events
Meet our Cultural Communities
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. Here are some of the many cultural communities we serve.
African Communities
Asian and Pacific Islander Communities
European Communities
Polish Catholic Community
North and South American
(Non-Hispanic) Communities
Francophone Catholic Community
Journey to Freedom: A Community Celebration of Juneteenth
You are invited to join the community at St. John Neumann Catholic Church for this year’s celebration of Juneteenth. On this day, we recognize the momentous occasion of June 19, 1865, when at last, freedom came to ALL people in the United States, while also acknowledging that we are still on a journey together toward unity and justice.
Please RSVP to help plan for this great community event!
Multicultural Cooking for Liturgical Living
Gather at the Table is a diverse collection of recipes from around the diocese. This cookbook invites you to incorporate liturgical elements into your everyday life through food! Stay tuned for more information about acquiring your copy.
One Mother, One Family
A Scriptural Meditation on the Rosary with Worldwide Sacred Art by Monica Shia Amparo
This Scriptural Meditation on the Rosary pairs each mystery with sacred art of Jesus and Mary from both the Western and Eastern Church. The inclusion of this “worldwide art” in the Rosary book allows the reader to truly see the Catholic Church as universal and to see Jesus and Mary as sharing in our humanity. Available in paperback and Ebook. This book is life changing for anyone who wants to experience the beauty and depth of the Rosary as never before. The Office of the Bishop has issues the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur on the book.
Advisory Council on Racism
Bishop Burbidge announced the decision to form an Advisory Council on Racism at the Requiem for the Black Children of God, a prayer service held in early August, to be comprised of Black Catholic leaders, including clergy, lay men and lay women. Candidates were considered after receiving recommendations from pastors, The Office of Multicultural Ministries, and other ministry leaders.
New book shares ideas to engage Asian Catholics
by Zita B. Fletcher, Arlington Catholic Herald
“The diocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries is ramping up outreach to the Asian and Pacific Island (API) Catholic community through a new book, ‘Encountering Christ in Harmony: A Pastoral Response to Our Asian and Pacific Island Brothers and Sisters, published by the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops’…”
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Announces Encountering Christ in Harmony: A Pastoral Response to Our Asian and Pacific Island Brothers and Sisters
Approved by the U.S. bishops during their Spring 2018 General Assembly, the pastoral response will guide the Catholic Church in the United States in addressing the pastoral needs of Asian and Pacific Island communities and provide a framework for diocese and parishes for creating their pastoral plans or actions specific to their circumstances.
Meet Our Staff
Fatima Solis
Program Specialist
(703) 224-1473
Bridget Wilson
Director of Multicultural Ministries
Multicultural Saint statues featured at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More
Frequently Asked Questions
The Office of Multicultural Ministries does not provide this support directly. Please contact Catholic Charities https://www.ccda.net/need-help/immigrants-and-refugees/ for a variety of services.
We provide support on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us directly at [email protected] to inquire.
There are many ways! The best way is to click on the respective community image above, where you will see a list of upcoming events. We do our best to keep these pages up to date with events, and unless otherwise noted, the events are open to the public and free to attend.
If you would like to be in communication with a respective community leader, please email us at [email protected].
Last, visit our list of Masses offered in various languages, which is a great opportunity to worship together in a shared language and meet others in the community:
https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/Multicultural-Ministries/Multicultural-Mass-Information/
Many of our cultural communities are “self-proclaimed” and have approached the Diocese for support with community organizing. If you are interested in forming a community that represents your language, ethnicity, or cultural background, we would love to discuss that with you! We can also assist connecting you with nearby communities already established and/or provide resources in a particular language.
Yes! Our cultural communities are not exclusive, and most events are open to the general public. You will be exposed to cultural traditions, languages, and foods that may be new to you, but these cultural markers are meant to be shared, celebrated, and appreciated by all!
No. The Office of Multicultural Ministries will not promote an open position outside of the Chancery, Catholic schools, or parish roles.
No. Unless otherwise stated, all transportation must be arranged by the individual.
We can try! Contact us at [email protected] and we will do our best to support you.
While all are welcome to Multicultural events, the care of Hispanic peoples does not fall under the Office of Multicultural Ministries. Please visit https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/offices/spanish-apostolate/ for information on Hispanic Ministry.
