No matter where we originate, we are all part of the same human family. Christ calls us to live in solidarity with one another, setting aside our fears or apathy. Within our parishes, neighborhoods and this Diocese, we should seek to encounter all migrants as children of our loving God, serving them in love and compassion. Through this ministry and outreach, may we grow closer to Our Lord and invite others to share in the journey.
A Christmas message from Bishop Burbidge.
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, has announced the following clergy appointments effective, January 1, 2020.
There are so many ways to “just say yes” to God. Each time you pray an Act of Contrition, a Rosary, or your favorite prayer, you chose Just One Yes that brings you closer to God. Each time you teach a child or a friend about Christ and His Church, you have said “yes” to God.More
On Sunday, November 17, our Holy Father Pope Francis has called upon us to observe the third annual World Day of the Poor. Our Holy Father invites us to embrace our calling as Christian disciples and to bring hope to those in our own diocese and throughout the world who suffer from material or spiritual poverty.More
To be good Catholics and good Virginians, we must — with consciences well formed through prayer and the Church’s teachings — participate in these important decisions. As you prepare to vote, we offer these thoughts on weighing vital issues at stake.More
During the month of October, we join with dioceses across the country to mark Respect Life Month. We take as our theme this year “Christ Our Hope in Every Season of Life.” Our focus on hope is greatly needed in a world suffering the harmful consequences of a “throwaway culture.” More
His Holiness, Pope Francis, has chosen Sunday, September 29, for the observance of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees to draw attention to those who have been forced to leave their homes because of war, violence, famine, or lack of the essential economic means. Many migrants and refugees and their families come to our nation in the hope of finding a new and better life. More
On May 31, we along with the faithful of both of our dioceses mourned the loss of life that was so tragically taken in the shootings that occurred at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. We continue to keep in prayer: Laquita Brown, Tara Gallagher, Mary Louise Gayle, Alexander Gusev, Katherine Nixon, Richard Nettleton, Christopher Rapp, Ryan Cox, Joshua Hardy, Michelle “Missy” Langer, Robert “Bobby” Williams and Herbert “Bert” Snelling. We also continue to pray for their families, those injured, their co-workers and those who provide assistance within the community.More
The ministry of every bishop within the Catholic Church is centered around three primary responsibilities: teaching, sanctifying and governing. The “teaching” part of my ministry is to ensure that the Catholic faith is taught in all its richness, shared and understood by the Catholic faithful. The Gospel message must be proclaimed for it to be truly lived. “Sanctifying” means to celebrate God’s love and mercy through the Sacraments, the heart of the Church and the lifeblood of all our work and life. Lastly, my duty to “govern,” which means to oversee and direct the activities of the Diocese, must be carried out with due diligence.More
In unity with Bishop Barry Knestout of the Diocese of Richmond, I ask all Catholics and people of good will to join me in prayer for those who lost their lives in Virginia Beach earlier today as a result of yet another mass shooting. More
While many of the Holy Father’s mandates are already being implemented in dioceses throughout the United States, the new norms also rightly address the accountability of bishops. The directives serve as a clear reminder that no person in a position of authority within the Catholic Church is exempt from accountability. In fact, those in authority have a special and critical responsibility to account for their own behavior and to ensure that allegations of sexual abuse are investigated thoroughly. More
The Catholic Church celebrates the 56th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday, May 12. It is a special invitation to pray for all the priests and men and women religious who offer their lives in service to the Lord and His Church.More
May Our Lord's triumph fill your hearts with joy this sacred Season of Easter and always! More
It is painful to see such a historic and time-tested cathedral burn and suffer extensive damage. While it is appropriate to mourn the loss of this great cathedral, we must remember that the value of the Cathedral of Notre Dame is measured by what happened inside it. More