Requiem for the Chrism Mass Black Children of God THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON ANNUAL REPORT Mass for WorkCamp Reboot Marriage Jubilarians OFFICE OF THE BISHOP Facing the challenges of COVID-19 over the last year, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge was determined that while we may be socially distant our diocesan family would not be spiritually distant. So while new protocols and procedures were necessary to address every aspect of our diocesan life, rather than showing weakness, the Catholic Diocese of Arlington found strength through adversity. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS: RELIGIOUS/SACRAMENTAL SERVICE/OUTREACH Ribbon cutting at St. Paul VI • Ordination of five men to the • Established the Advisory Council Catholic High School, Chantilly priesthood and four to on Racism, comprising 14 Black transitional diaconate lay leaders and clergy from across the Diocese, with the goal to Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, • Installation of 10 new pastors devise a strategic plan to address racism. The Advisory Council I am pleased to share with you the 2020 Annual • Providing for the pastoral needs of will partner with the previously Report, which provides our diocesan family 50 seminarians preparing to serve established Spanish Apostolate and with an account of our finances and the wide as diocesan priests and hosting 32 communities served by Office of range of ways in which we support the Spiritual young men who aspire to learn more Multicultural Ministries to serve our and Corporal Works of Mercy. about the priesthood at a St. Andrew diverse diocese better dinner in October; in addition, 64 men While the highlights are numerous, I am most and women from the Diocese are in • Established the popular “Uplift proud of the way we embraced a significant formation with religious orders Arlington” Holy Hours. The first challenge over this past year. Your incredible focused on relieving stress and generosity made it possible for our parishes, • Issued a pastoral letter, “In Tongues anxiety, and the second, “One schools, ministries, Catholic Charities and All Can Hear: Communicating the Nation Under God,” called the diocesan offices to assist promptly those most Hope of Christ in Times of Trial” faithful to prayer in advance of the seriously impacted by the pandemic. Together 2020 elections we fed the hungry, provided clothing to the • Blessing and ribbon cutting to open poor, offered medical care to those with no the new St. Paul VI Catholic High • Assisted with multiple St. Lucy place to go and ensured families were able to School in Chantilly Food Project donations drop-offs meet financial obligations. • Hosted the “Requiem for the Black • Served Thanksgiving dinner In the spring, our schools transitioned quickly Children of God” prayer service for to residents of Christ House, a to virtual learning to serve our students victims of racial violence transformational housing program and families' educational needs. We worked of Catholic Charities closely with state officials and local experts in • Celebrant at Confirmations for the fields of infectious disease and healthcare diocesan youth and the annual Adult • Led the Rosary outside an abortion to plan for a safe re-opening of our diocesan Confirmation, leading hundreds of clinic during the annual Forty Days schools to in-person in the fall. the faithful in becoming more fully for Life conformed to Christ through the gift At the start of the shutdown, parishes adapted of the Holy Spirit • Led a Praise and Worship Holy Hour to livestreaming, ensuring that while we were for Healing and Conversion LITURGIES physically distanced, we were never spiritually in Families apart. Our priests sought creative ways to keep • Principal celebrant and homilist at the • Continues to use contemporary our parish communities connected and to be Mass for Life is VERY Good in January, social and digital media platforms spiritually supported. I remain grateful that which drew thousands from around to bring God’s message to the we have returned to the public celebration of the country and preceded the annual faithful through his “Walk Humbly” the Mass and that our churches are striving to March for Life in Washington podcast; offers daily reflections maintain a safe environment. on the Gospel through a Twitter th • Homilist at the 68 Annual Red account with more than 19,000 Your faithful witness during an unprecedented Mass sponsored by the John Carrroll followers; records weekly messages year, in which lives were lost to COVID-19 Society to invoke God's blessings aired on WTOP radio, among and racial strife escalated, serves as a shining on those responsible for the the top-rated stations in the D.C. example that nothing is impossible with God administration of justice, as well as on market; and messages via columns and that our hope remains in him. all public officials through the award-winning Arlington Catholic Herald, sent to Thank you, dear friends, for your unwavering • Celebrant at the Mass of the Holy approximately 120,000 homes faith, for your perseverance, for sharing your Spirit at diocesan schools and resources and for your continuing commitment Catholic campus ministries to mark • Authored “33 Spiritual Reflections to serve God and all his people. May Our Lord the beginning of a new academic year for Daily Living” Jesus bless you and fill you with his peace. • Celebrant at various parish milestones • Continued outreach to victims/ Sincerely in Christ, and anniversaries, including the survivors of abuse through dedication Mass for the new St. Mary meetings and Masses for Healing of Sorrows Catholic Church and the Mass for Military and First Responders • Participated in the annual backpack giveaway and winter coat Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge • Celebrant for Palm Sunday of distribution effort for the needy Bishop of Arlington the Lord’s Passion Mass at the Cathedral, the inaugural and first of numerous liturgies to be successfully livestreamed online following the coronavirus outbreak • Concelebrant for a livestreamed Mass for the 200th anniversary of the Diocese of Richmond 2 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW PARISH LIFE OFFICE OF CHILD PROTECTION/ VICTIM ASSISTANCE PARISHES MASSES/PRAYER SERVICES 444,167 89 SINCE 2004 REGISTERED PARISHIONERS MISSIONS SUPPORT GROUPS/ 150,416 LISTENING SESSIONS HOUSEHOLDS 45 SINCE 2006 CLERGY & RELIGIOUS SACRAMENTAL IN SERVICE TO THE DIOCESE LIFE 232 190 RETREATANTS SINCE 2010 DIOCESAN 4,491 PERSONS RECEIVED BAPTISMS 55 RELIGIOUS ORDER COUNSELING 78 6 110 SUPPORT EXTERN 23 IN FY2019 PERMANENT RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS 21 DEACONS BROTHERS SISTERS 5 EASTERN RITE TOTAL PRIESTS 273 2,601 $42,000+ VOCATIONS FIRST COMMUNIONS SPENT IN SUPPORT OF HEALING OF VICTIMS/SURVIVORS IN FY2019 SINCE 2004: 4,040 VIRTUS SESSIONS CONFIRMATIONS 1,400+ CLERGY, EMPLOYEES & MEN IN FORMATION MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE 65,000+ VOLUNTEERS TRAINED FOR DIOCESAN DIOCESE IN FORMATION FOR PRIESTHOOD RELIGIOUS LIFE 50 64 64,000+ BACKGROUND CHECKS DIOCESAN CATHOLIC PARISH FAITH FORMATION 1,098 SCHOOL ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT MARRIAGES ArlingtonDiocese.org/ ChildProtection 12,347 The Diocese of Arlington encourages PreK-8 anyone who knows of any misconduct or abuse on the part of any cleric or 3,573 637 employee of the Diocese to notify High School RCIA civil authorities, and also to contact the diocesan Victim Assistance CANDIDATES Coordinator at (703) 841-2530. 15,920 25,578 The diocesan child protection policy Total K-8 STUDENTS is online at ArlingtonDiocese.org HIGHLIGHTS $ + . 26 6,700 14 6,300 MILLION AWARDS PRESENTED COMBINED YEARS COMBINED PRAISE & SUBSCRIPTIONS TO TOTAL AID TO THE ARLINGTON OF MARRIAGE OF WORSHIP FOR HEALING THE POPULAR PROVIDED CATHOLIC HERALD 175 REGISTERED & CONVERSION 2MINUTES2VIRTUE BY PARISHES & BY THE CATHOLIC PRESS COUPLES AT THE IN FAMILIES AND GOSPEL REFLECTION CATHOLIC ASSOCATION, ADDING TO MASS FOR “UPLIFT ARLINGTON” VIDEO SERIES CHARITIES* ITS REPUTATION AS A MARRIAGE HOLY HOURS * between March–July 2020 by parishes and NATIONAL LEADER IN JUBILARIANS Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington DIOCESAN MEDIA for COVID-19 response 3 3 EMBRACING THE CHALLENGE: THE DIOCESE RESPONDS TO A GLOBAL PANDEMIC In March 2020, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge advised the faithful of the • Catholic Charities executed its mission seamlessly by continuing to Catholic Diocese of Arlington that our churches would need to suspend provide food, housing, clothing, counseling and medical care to the the public celebration of the Mass due to the coronavirus. poor and vulnerable. Shortly after the shock that hit all Catholics to the core, it was time to • Our offices and ministries continued to function remotely. pivot…what to do next? • Youth events such as WorkCamp and RALLY became parish-centric In short order, showing resiliency, perseverance, creativity and yet still impactful. fellowship, pastors, priests, parishioners, teachers, students, staff and • Our Diocesan Reintegration Working Group worked tirelessly to indeed our entire diocesan family banded together, determined that establish protocols in accordance with CDC and Virginia Department social distancing did not, would not, mean spiritual distancing. of Health guidelines, allowing our churches to open when permitted • Clergy and staff at many parishes quickly developed technological and following social distancing and safety guidelines. skills and procured equipment to allow the livestreaming of liturgies • The incredible generosity of our diocesan brothers and sisters, through and prayer services. the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal and other avenues, made