Parishes across the diocese will use the second collection at
Mass Sept. 4-5 to raise funds to support The Catholic University of America in
Washington, the national university of the Catholic Church. It is the only
higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops, and this is the only
national collection taken for higher education in Catholic churches across the
county.
Established in 1887 as a papally chartered graduate and research
center, Catholic U. began offering undergraduate education in 1904.
Many in the Arlington diocese, as well as Virginia and the
Mid-Atlantic region, attend the university; about 16 percent of alumni live in
Virginia.
About 54 percent of Catholic U.’s 5,366 students last year were
from the mid-Atlantic, and 14 percent were from Virginia. About 8 percent — 450
students — were from the Arlington diocese, according to numbers provided to
the Catholic Herald. Students from the Arlington
diocese made up 24 percent of Catholic U.’s law students and 15 percent of
graduate students.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops notes that contributions
not only go to support students — 91 percent of undergrads receive financial
aid — but also will help the university better serve dioceses and parishes
through innovative research initiatives and training programs.
Those who support their parishes with online contributions can
find the Catholic U. collection listed among national second collections in the
giving section on their parish website.
