A CAMPAIGN FOR THE DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
A STEWARD’S EXAMEN We begin by calling to mind all our blessings. How has God blessed me? Who has nurtured my faith and my family? What am I called to offer in return and out of gratitude? Am I ready to grow? Am I prepared to trust?
ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We recently celebrated 50 years as a diocese and, since then, I have been inspired by the scriptural concept of Jubilee — a marked time of thanksgiving manifested through works of mercy and spiritual joy. After reflecting on the many blessings God bestowed on the Diocese of Arlington in its first half century, we remain encouraged by the strength and vibrancy of faith in our parishioners and parishes. Renewed with a deep sense of obligation to extend the legacy we received, now and for generations to come, I established the diocesan Strategic Plan to define the path by specific works of mercy and evangelization. Our clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful responded to my request with helpful suggestions and wisdom, helping to identify goals for charitable works, evangelization and faith formation, education, and parish life. The projects to be accomplished through our diocesan campaign are the fruit of our shared discernment. Being one in Christ, they are the vision for this diocese, expressed by our willingness to say yes to what God is calling us to do together.
I kindly ask for your prayerful discernment as you consider my invitation for you to grow in discipleship to Christ through a greater degree of Christian stewardship of all that you are and all that you have.
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We are a diocese on mission seeking to give back jofully and extend mercy, grace, and opportunity to others. Please review these pages as a portrait of a Catholic people on mission for the people of Virginia. May we all generously and joyfully hand on the faith and the gifts we have received. Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge Bishop of Arlington
DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
A Shared Vision One in Christ, Joyful in Mission is far more that a campaign to fund a list of projects. There are many of those campaigns around. The campaign for the Diocese of Arlington is first and foremost a call to greater discipleship to Jesus Christ by growing in Christian stewardship – the giving and sharing of all our blessings and gifts entrusted to our care.
It is one call, with many expressions. The campaign is also a once in a geration opportunity for us as Catholics to rally behind our Bishop and to support our local pastor. Given this is a diocesan campaign, it is a time to embrace the greater community of which we are members. We are unfied under our bishop, our Holy Father, and our Lord Jesus Chrsit.
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And finally, it is a practical extension of the Diocese of Arlington's 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, which was developed through twentysix focus groups, three surveys, and thousands of responses from the faithful across all seventy parishes and the four missions. We have planned the work ahead and much has already been accomplished. Now it is time to work the plan. What we experience through this campaign—and what we do and build—will be a testament to what the People of God can accomplish when—united in Christ— they give gratefully, generously, and with confidence in God’s providence.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” — Saint Teresa of Calcutta
ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
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A Vision Made Real The 12 areas where we will invest are projects that will tangibly extend mercy, education, presence, and love to those most in need. Each, taken alone, is a work of charity. Together, they are parts of a shared vision or story that we are telling together.
FORMING THE WHOLE PERSON Establishing a New Adult Career Technical Center & High School Serving Students & Families with Disabilities Expanding San Damiano Spiritual Life Center 9 Supporting Catholic Counseling
PREPARING FOR THE DIOCESE’S FUTURE Growing the Seminarian Endowment Caring for Our Retired Priests Sharing Campaign Funds with Every Parish Acquiring Land for Future Parishes
CARING FOR THE POOR & VULNERABLE Building a New Home for St. Margaret of Cortona Ministry Supporting Mother of Mercy Medical Ministry Supporting the St. Lucy Food Project Supporting and Renovating Christ House Alexandria
CAMPAIGN GOAL
$215M
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DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
Expanding New Paths in Catholic Education: ESTABLISHING A NEW ADULT CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER AND HIGH SCHOOL When students attend Catholic schools, the impact extends far beyond academics. An authentic Catholic education bears fruit for a lifetime—in academic achievement, spiritual confidence, and emotional intelligence that prepare young people to serve God.
Many feel called to build, heal, protect, and serve through skilled work, and they deserve a Catholic education that prepares them for that dignified calling. By investing in this vision, we can boldly expand the scope and impact of Catholic education in northern Virginia for generations to come. The need is both clear and urgent. Nationwide, 34% to 43% of high school graduates choose direct pathways into technical fields, trade certifications, or immediate career entry. At the same time, the nation is projected to add 1.7 million skilled-trade positions annually through 2035. Families are seeking this path: in a recent diocesan survey, 92% expressed support for establishing a faith-based technical high school and adult career & technical center. With your support our diocese will establish a pioneering Catholic high school and technical career center, targeted to open in August 2029. By day, it will serve up to 400 students. In the evenings, it will also serve adults seeking to master a trade and advance in their careers.
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: Acquisition of property and existing buildings (50,000 sq. ft. campus) State-of-the-art trade labs and classrooms Programs to include construction, healthcare, cybersecurity, and education, to be followed by automotive and welding
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$50M ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
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ONLY
13% of Students with Disabilites ARE ENROLLED.
Welcoming Every Child: SERVING STUDENTS & FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES We are blessed to live in a vibrant diocese. We envision a community where a child’s educational and spiritual journey is never limited by a diagnosis or a lack of resources, and where every student, without exception, has the option to grow deeply in their Catholic faith alongside their peers. We can celebrate that our diocesan schools already welcome students with disabilities through the dedication and tenderness of staff. By opening our school doors wider, we will allow more children of all abilities to pray together, receive the sacraments together, and discover their personal vocation within the life of the Church. Yet there is more to be done. In the 2025–2026 school year, 2,352 students in our diocesan schools had disabilities, yet an estimated 30,000 Catholics in our diocese live with a disability. When schools lack funding for specialized support, families may feel they have no choice but to forgo the Catholic education they deeply desire or divide their children between schools.
Investing in the Vision SUPPORTING THREE COMPLEMENTARY EFFORTS: $5.5M to launch grants for new programs, as well as grants for nurses, aides, special education teachers, additional training, assistive technology, and tuition assistance $500,000 to expand Special Education Religious Education (SPRED) to bring faith formation and the sacraments to more people with intellectual disabilities $4M to fund regional family support specialists to guide families from all seven deaneries through schooling, housing, employment, and parish life
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$10M
Through the campaign, we will invest resources to help welcome every family into our diocesan school system and strengthen the Body of Christ.
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DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
Renewing the Heart:
Investing in the Vision
EXPANDING SAN DAMIANO SPIRITUAL LIFE CENTER
PROJECT SCOPE:
In all things—both in joy and in tribulation—Jesus shows us how to respond: go to the Father in prayer. From the early Church fathers to St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan tradition, Christians have followed this sacred pattern— stepping away from the world to listen to God’s voice. In the noise and relentless pace of modern life, where we are paradoxically more and less connected than ever, the human soul hungers for silence, encounter, and divine peace. For years, the San Damiano has served as a sacred refuge where faithful across our diocese draw near to Christ. Over the past two decades, God has blessed this ministry beyond measure. That very abundance has brought us to a critical threshold: we have outgrown our home. Retreats routinely fill within minutes, and as the Diocese’s only retreat center, San Damiano has a wonderful opportunity to expand its footprint—ensuring that every parish group, married couple, priest, and seeker who desires a holy refuge can find one here. The campaign will improve and expand San Damiano to double capacity with increased lodge space for guest rooms, dining and conference rooms, a traditional 100-seat chapel, and a number of rustic hermitages for solitude and extended prayer. Around them, new landscaping will make the grounds themselves a place of prayer, with an invitation to use prayer paths, a rosary garden, and outdoor Stations of the Cross across the 150 acres, as well as with plantings that preserve the quiet seclusion that sets San Damiano apart.
ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
Retreat Lodge $14 million New Chapel $1.5 million Hermitages $400,000 Landscaping $1.2 million Building and utilities $2.8 million Furnishings and design $5.1 million
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$25M
WELCOMES AROUND
2,000 retreatants ANNUALLY
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Caring for Minds & Souls: SUPPORTING CATHOLIC COUNSELING We were never meant to walk through life’s trials alone—we were created for community, care, and connection. Catholic counseling offers an integrated approach to healing that honors the sacred unity of mind, body, and spirit, grounding clinical excellence in a distinctively Catholic understanding of the human person. In times of anxiety, grief, or marital strain, this ministry provides a safe, compassionate space where individuals and families can find genuine relief while being continually pointed toward the merciful, restorative love of Christ. Yet an estimated 20% of adults navigate a mental health condition, touching countless lives across our communities. The need is especially pronounced for those seeking care that respects and integrates their faith, as Catholic mental health practitioners remain in critically short supply. To address this need, the campaign will establish the Catholic Counseling Fund to prepare, sustain, and deploy a network of mental health professionals rooted in a Catholic anthropology. Through scholarships, tuition reimbursement, debt relief, formation, hiring support, and direct assistance for those in need, this fund will expand faithful counseling across the diocese. Expanding access to professional Catholic counseling also complements pastoral ministry, providing invaluable support to our priests and helping connect parishioners with specialized clinical care.
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Investing in the Vision ESTABLISH A CATHOLIC COUNSELING FUND: $2M to prepare new counselors through scholarships, tuition-for-service agreements, language training, and youth vocational outreach to inspire the next generation of Catholic clinicians $2M to sustain counselors in the workforce through debt relief to practicing clinicians and granting funds directly to organizations such as Catholic Charities and local parishes to hire counseling staff $2M in financial assistance for those seeking faith-aligned counseling
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$6M
20% of adults NAVIGATE A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION
DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
Forming Shepherds for Generations to Come: GROWING THE SEMINARIAN EDUCATION ENDOWMENT The formation of Catholic priests is among the Church’s most sacred responsibilities. By investing in our seminarians today, we ensure that when our children and grandchildren reach out for God’s grace, a well-formed priest will be there to answer. The impact of a single priest echoes across generations: over a lifetime of ministry, he will celebrate thousands of Masses, offer Christ’s mercy in countless confessions, bring comfort to the dying, bless holy matrimonies, and walk beside the faithful from baptism to burial. At a time when many Catholic communities across the country face decline, our Diocese is alive with hope and growth—acquiring land, building for the future, and welcoming a steady stream of men ready to give their lives in service. Our diocese is extraordinarily blessed with 40 seminarians currently preparing to serve our local parishes. Forming these men is a profound and joyful obligation that comes with a financial responsibility. With 40 seminarians, this translates to an expense to the Diocese of over $2.46 million annually. To sustain this vital mission for generations to come, the Seminarian Education Endowment provides dependable, perpetual financial support. Growing the Seminarian Education Endowment will place our diocesan commitment to priestly formation on a stable, long-term foundation and guarantee that financial barriers will never prevent a genuine vocation from flourishing. Securing this endowment is more than a practical measure; it is a visionary investment in the spiritual future of our Church.
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: $10 Million Endowment Would Triple Current Endowment Provides Additional $400,000/year for Seminarian Education
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$10M
WE WELCOME
7-12 seminarians EACH YEAR
EACH SEMINARIAN COSTS
$60,000 EACH YEAR
TOTAL COST TO FUND OUR 40 SEMINARIANS IS
$2.46M PER YEAR
ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
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Keeping a Sacred Promise: CARING FOR OUR RETIRED PRIESTS For decades, the priests of our diocese have walked alongside us through every season of life—baptizing our children, celebrating our weddings, offering counsel in times of trial, and bringing us the solace of the Sacraments. When their decades of active parish ministry conclude, our sacred responsibility as a family of faith is to ensure these devoted shepherds are cared for with dignity, joy, and gratitude. Within the next twenty years, the number of retired priests in the Diocese of Arlington is projected to double. St. Rose of Lima currently operates at full capacity, and while it remains a cherished sanctuary of fraternity and prayer, its physical boundaries cannot absorb the growth ahead. First, we will fulfill the original architectural design of the St. Rose of Lima site in Annandale by constructing four additional one-bedroom suites, expanding capacity within an established community of priest fraternity. Recognizing that the total need will soon exceed St. Rose, we will simultaneously establish new retirement housing solutions throughout the diocese by acquiring, building, renovating, or strategically leasing residential
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properties. Every priest seeking independent living in his retirement will find a dignified, comfortable home fit for his decades of sacrificial service—a lasting testament to our diocese’s reverence for the priesthood and our enduring care for those who led and continue to lead us to Christ.
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: $2 Million for Saint Rose of Lima Expansion $8 Million for Additional Retirement Housing and Support
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$10M
WITHIN 20 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF RETIRED PRIESTS IS
expected to double
DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
Helping Women & Children Thrive: BUILDING A NEW HOME FOR THE ST. MARGARET OF CORTONA MINISTRY In thirteenth-century Tuscany, Margaret of Cortona – a single mother with nowhere to turn – sought refuge with the Franciscans and was met with mercy. Transformed by this encounter, she founded a hospital and became a patron of single mothers and those in desperate circumstances. Like Saint Margaret—our ministry provides a safe haven where struggling families can encounter the restoring love of Christ. Whether participants enter through the maternity or the transitional track, a majority of the mothers entering our care are actively fleeing domestic violence and abusive households. For these women and their children, physical security is not merely a preference—it is a matter of immediate safety and survival.
451 mothers & children
The mothers and children in our care are living witnesses to God’s grace. Where many of us have family to lean on during life’s storms, these women often stand alone; yet with just the addition of a strong safety net beneath them, their resilience shines. Once accepted, women may live on-site for up to two years and experience a family support network rooted in love of the whole person. This includes psychological counseling, vocational training and guidance on finances, spiritual support, and hands-on encouragement. While meticulously maintained and lovingly cared for by dedicated staff, the facility was built in the 1960s and can no longer keep pace with the demands of an aging building. Constant infrastructure failures, including broken HVAC systems, water damage, mold, and security vulnerabilities, compromise our ability to protect and nurture the vulnerable families who come through our doors. Crucially, the ongoing expense of emergency repairs directly drains resources away from serving families at full capacity.
HAVE BEEN GIVEN LIFE-CHANGING SUPPORT SINCE OPENING IN 2009
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: Safe, secure Housing $19.5 million Child Development Center $3 million Chapel and Spiritual Life Space $1.5 million Community and Case Management Space $3 million Grounds and Family Life $3 million
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$30M ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
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Healing the Vulnerable: SUPPORTING MOTHER OF MERCY MEDICAL MINISTRY For almost ten years, the Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinics have brought Christ’s healing presence to our Diocese. In a beautiful example of conversion and redemption, the original Manassas clinic operates in a building that once housed an abortion facility. Today, a sacred chapel stands at the heart of a vibrant, Catholic-led ministry offering expert healthcare and human dignity to all. Driven by this mission, volunteer physicians, nurses, and staff provide free primary, prenatal, vision, and specialty care to those with nowhere else to turn. Yet across Northern Virginia, more than 250,000 of lowincome, uninsured individuals still face overwhelming barriers to basic care. As this population continues to expand, even more struggling neighbors will inevitably arrive at the Church’s door seeking medical help and compassionate relief. Today, our Woodbridge location is already operating at maximum capacity. To answer this challenge, this medical ministry will extend our physical reach across the Diocese, such as through enlarging the current clinics, opening a new location, launching mobile outreach, or some combination of these. This expansion will unite full-spectrum care, such as integrating dedicated exam rooms for primary care, prenatal medicine, vision, and comprehensive dental suites alongside an on-site pharmacy, community wellness classrooms, and a peaceful chapel for reflection and prayer. To expand far beyond traditional clinical walls, campaign resources will advance innovative care delivery models tailored to our region’s evolving needs. Among these prospective initiatives is the concept of a mobile medical unit—a flexible ministry that could bring primary and prenatal care directly into rural pockets of Prince William County and underserved areas across Northern Virginia. 13
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: Facility Investment $5.2million Medical-grade build-out and equipment $4.6 million Staffing $1.2 million
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$11M
IN 2027, AN ESTIMATED
100,000-300,000
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR COVERAGE, MANY OF WHOM WILL BE CHILDREN
DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
Feeding the Hungry: SUPPORTING THE ST. LUCY FOOD PROJECT During a time of Roman persecution, tradition holds that a young woman named Lucy risked her life to navigate the dark catacombs, bringing food and provisions to Christians hiding underground. Saint Lucy understood that faith is not an abstract concept; it is a tangible act of love that meets people directly in their darkest hours. Today, the St. Lucy Project carries that same mantle of immediate, hands-on mercy to feed the hungry. As the logistics heart of Catholic Charities across 21 counties, St. Lucy works alongside community partners to reach 81 distribution sites keeping local shelves stocked, delivering almost 2 million pounds of food annually to over 60% of the food-insecure population in our diocese. Yet the physical foundation of this vital ministry is now facing a new pressure. In 2026, the landlord raised rent by $70,000, reflecting a pattern of rising lease costs as land values climb in the region. Every dollar we pay for rent is one less dollar for food.
The Diocese will acquire a roughly 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse, centrally located in the Diocese, reducing our reliance on leased space and increasing our ability to feed more hungry people. The new warehouse will aim to double today’s space and allow for growth over the next two decades. Just as Saint Lucy brought light and physical nourishment into the catacombs, our diocesan food pantry serves families facing urgent hardship seven days a week. When neighbors turn to us, they find open doors, immediate relief, and Christ’s everlasting love. ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: Warehouse acquisition: $7.5 million Refrigerated and frozen storage: $1 million Refrigerated trucks and standby power: $500,000 Design and contingency: $1 million
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$10M
361,630 FOOD ISECURE INDIVIDUALS
across the Diocese, INCLUDING
93,970 children 2M+ Pounds of Food delivered annually
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Returning to the Table: SUPPORTING & RENOVATING CHRIST HOUSE ALEXANDRIA Since 1973, Christ House in Old Town Alexandria has stood as a place of hope and mercy for individuals experiencing poverty, housing instability, and food insecurity, born from a simple conviction: every man on the street carries the face of Christ and deserves dignity. Christ House ministry offers transitional housing to men experiencing homelessness, pairing intensive case management with workforce development and job coaching to foster longterm financial independence and housing stability. Beyond the residential and mentorship programming, the Christ House Evening Meal stands as an unbroken act of love—served without fail 365 days a year for the past forty-seven years—a monumental daily effort sustained by dedicated volunteers. As homelessness in Alexandria rose 14% in 2026, Christ House met the growing need head-on, serving 25% more meals. However, years of continuous, round-the-clock care have worn heavily on our facility. Through this campaign, the Diocese will fund a $5 million renewal of Christ House in its historic home. The project’s primary focus is securing a healthy physical environment. This will be done by identifying and correcting moisture sources, remediating mold, restoring affected spaces, and updating core building systems on the property. An upgraded dining facility on the complex will bring back the tradition of the shared Evening Meal. Our goal remains to cultivate a sacred space where breaking bread together restores dignity and builds lasting connection.
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: Dining room and kitchen: $1.2 million Resident rooms and restrooms: $1.1 million Building systems: $1.2 million Security, furniture, equipment: $500,000 Design, permitting and contingency: $1 million
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$5M
THE EVENING MEAL , SERVED
365 days a year without fail
25% Increase in meals served in 2026
Over 500
Annual Volunteers ALEXANDRIA FACED A
14% Increase in homelessness in 2026
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DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
Sharing Campaign Funds with Every Parish: A PARTNERSHIP IN MISSION Every vibrant faith community rests upon a foundation of shared faith, daily fellowship, and collective stewardship. We are united as one family of faith across our diocese, and yet no two parishes are identical. From expanding vital outreach ministries and works of mercy to urgent facility maintenance, parishes need resources in hand to live their mission in sacramental worship, in spiritual formation, and in service to all God’s children. The Bishop desires that every parish thrive. By returning a guaranteed portion of raised funds directly to every parish, pastors and parish leaders can address their most pressing needs without delay.
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: The Parish Goal is 130% of its three-year average offertory Every Parish Receives 20% of Every Dollar They Raise Up to Goal Every Parish Receives 70% of Every Dollar They Raise Above the Goal
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$10M ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
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Preparing a Place: ACQUIRING LAND FOR FUTURE PARISHES For decades, the Diocese of Arlington has exercised quiet foresight—securing land ahead of population growth so that when a new Catholic community takes root, a sacred home is ready to welcome it. Today, that growth is moving west and south. Frederick County has expanded by over 10% since 2020, and Winchester stands as Virginia’s fastestgrowing metropolitan area. Yet as land prices rise, each year of delay means paying more for less.
To meet this moment, the campaign is establishing a $3 million Land Acquisition Fund to secure property for future parishes, schools, and essential ministries where young Catholic families are building their lives. By creating this dedicated fund, the Diocese can act promptly when the right parcel becomes available, investing at today’s prices so that families who settle in these growing communities will find a parish, a school, and the Eucharistic presence of the Lord near at hand.
Investing in the Vision PROJECT SCOPE: Strategic purchase of sites for future parishes, schools, ministries
CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT
$3M
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DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
A prayerful invitation to discipleship “For everything is from you, and what we give is what we have from you.” 1 CHRONICLES 29:14
Before you consider any commitment, bring this question to the Lord— before the Blessed Sacrament, in your home, or with your family:
Lord, how are You calling me to use the gifts You have entrusted to me in the mission of building Your Kingdom? Pray it slowly, and return to it over several days. Then be still and let Him speak into it. Notice the promptings of the Holy Spirit: a desire that won’t go away, a person or ministry that keeps coming to mind, a quiet sense of what He is asking. Pray with Samuel: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
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As You Pray, Consider… How is the Lord inviting me to respond? PRAYER
Is He calling me deeper? A daily Holy Hour, a family Rosary, weekday Mass, or a set time each day that belongs to Him alone. SERVICE
Where is He calling me to serve in my parish? Catechesis, care for the poor and homebound, liturgical ministry, youth, or the work of this campaign. SACRIFICIAL GIVING
What gift to One in Christ, Joyful in Mission would be a true sacrifice for me? Let it be proportionate to my blessings and made in faith. LEGACY
Is He inviting me to remember the Church in my will or estate plan, so that my stewardship continues beyond my lifetime? Whatever He asks, respond with generosity and trust. God is never outdone in generosity.
Leaving a Legacy WHY?
The parishes, schools, and ministries we love were built by Catholics who came before us. A legacy gift does the same for those who follow—a final act of gratitude to God that hands on the faith. “One generation praises your deeds to the next” (Psalm 145:4).
WHAT?
Most legacy gifts are simple: naming your parish, your school, or the Diocese in your will or trust, or as the beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy. A legacy gift is made in addition to your campaign gift and costs nothing today. Gifts of every size matter.
HOW?
The Catholic Foundation of Arlington can help you plan. Visit arlingtondiocese.org/development or scan the code.
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DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
200 North Glebe Road Arlington, Virginia 22203 (703) 778-9122 campaign@arlingtondiocese.org arlingtondiocese.com/campaign
ONE IN CHRIST, JOYFUL IN MISSION
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