Catholic Diocese of Arlington
Encourage and teach with patience

March 7:  Diocesan Spelling Bee

Thirty-three schools will be represented at the Diocesan Spelling Bee at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, Arlington. The top 4 winners will be awarded a monetary prize from the Catholic War Veterans affiliated with Saint James and Saint Anthony in Falls Church. Currently, there are 41 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Arlington which offer over 18,000 students various opportunities for educational and spiritual growth.  For more information, please visit here.

March 16:  Memorial Mass for Bishop Thomas J. Welsh

Bishop Paul S. Loverde will offer a Memorial Mass for His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas J. Welsh, Bishop Emeritus of Allentown and the founding Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, Arlington.  Bishop Welsh, who served the Church for its first 8 years, died on February 19, 2009.

Established in 1974, the Diocese of Arlington now encompasses 21 counties, 68 parishes and 41 schools.  Bishop Welsh was instrumental in the growth of Catholicism in Northern Virginia, welcoming religious orders and initiating the Arlington Catholic Herald Newspaper and the Office of Migration and Refugee Services.

While in Arlington, Bishop Welsh established six new parishes: Saint  Stephen the Martyr, Middleburg, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Lake Ridge, Our Lady of the Blue Ridge, Madison; Saint Catherine of Siena, Great Falls; Saint John Neumann, Reston; and Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, Arlington.

Bishop Loverde said in his statement, "Bishop Welsh was indeed our father in faith, sent by Pope Paul VI in 1974 to form the newly-created diocesan Church of Arlington.  Attentively, faithfully and devotedly, Bishop Welsh nurtured this nascent church for nine years..." For further information, please visit here.

 March 18: 14^th Annual Eighth Grade Vocations Mass

Over 1,000 students will be encouraged to consider the Lord's call at the 14^th Annual Eighth Grade Vocations Mass, celebrated by Bishop Paul S. Loverde at Holy Spirit, Annandale. The Office of Vocations offers several opportunities for youth, including discernment groups such as Quo Vadis (for High School men) and Fiat (for High School Women). For more information, please visit here.

March 16, 23 & 30:   "Taking Sex Differences Seriously" Relationship Seminar

The "Taking Sex Differences Seriously" seminar for young adults will feature information about gender differences, communications and Theology of the Body, a series of lectures given by Pope John Paul II.  Speakers in this seminar include:  Mary Stanford, Theology of the Body instructor; Father Philip Chavez, founder of the Amator Institute, a men's Christian living outreach program; and Vicki Thorn, founder of Project Rachel, a program that aids women with post-abortion healing. This is the second relationship seminar the Diocese has made available to young adults. Events for young adults are offered throughout the year to create community and fellowship, including: Theology on Tap, a series of talks held in a local bar; Catholic Underground, quarterly events with a Holy Hour and coffee house; and retreats and volunteer opportunities. For further information, please visit here.  

March 28: Monthly Respect Life Mass

Bishop Paul S. Loverde will pray for the unborn at this month's Respect Life Mass at Saint James, Falls Church, followed by the recitation of the rosary in front of a local abortion clinic. At the recent National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Bishop Loverde said, "Our goal is not the reduction of abortions, but the elimination of all abortions." For further information, please visit here.

                                                                                    ###