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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 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. 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 Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge Bishop 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. And finally, it is a practical extension of the Diocese of Arlington's 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, which was developed through twenty-six 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

A VISION MADE REAL The 14 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. CAMPAIGN INVESTMENTS Support Seminarian Education

$10,000,000.00

Develop Senior Priest Housing

$10,000,000.00

Establish a New Catholic High School and Adult Technical Career Center

$50,000,000.00

Serve Students and Families with Special Education Needs

$10,000,000.00

Expand San Damiano Spiritual Life Center

$25,000,000.00

Expand Access to Catholic Counseling

$6,000,000.00

Create a New Space for Single Mothers at Saint Margaret of Cortona Ministry

$30,000,000.00

Enhance Mother of Mercy Medical Center

$11,000,000.00

Relocate the Saint Lucy Food Project Warehouse

$10,000,000.00

Renovate Christ House Home for Men

$5,000,000.00

Invest in Parish Vitality

$35,000,000.00

Acquire Land for New Parishes

$3,000,000.00

Plan and Execute Campaign

$10,000,000.00

TOTAL

$215,000,000.00

FORMING SHEPHERDS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME: The Seminarian Education Endowment Every priest ordained in the Diocese of Arlington will shape the spiritual lives of thousands. Over decades of ministry, he will celebrate countless Masses, hear confessions that heal wounded souls, anoint the sick, witness marriages, baptize children, and walk with families through every sacred moment from birth to death. When we invest in seminarians today, we invest in the future of every Catholic family in our Diocese—ensuring that vibrant parishes, life-giving sacraments, and faithful shepherds will serve our children, grandchildren, and generations yet unborn. Yet this sacred work faces a pressing challenge. The Diocese is blessed with 41 seminarians currently in formation, but preparing each man for ordination costs between $420,000 and $480,000 over seven to eight years—approximately $60,000 annually for tuition, room, board, books, health insurance, and formation programs. For all 41 seminarians, that totals $2.46 million each year. As our Catholic population grows and new parishes open to serve the faithful, this need will only increase. Canon law entrusts the entire Christian community with fostering vocations, and Christ himself calls us to "ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." The Details This campaign will add $5 million to the Seminarian Education Endowment, established in 2011 to provide stable, long-term support. Because only a portion is distributed annually while the principal remains intact, every gift supports seminarians not once, but every year, forever. This $5 million will generate $200,000 annually—funding the complete formation of more than three seminarians in perpetuity, ensuring financial barriers never prevent genuine vocations from flourishing.

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. By expanding retirement housing today, we build a storehouse of gratitude that will serve generations of faithful shepherds, ensuring that every priest who has poured out his life for our salvation finds a dignified, comfortable home in his golden years—a lasting testament to our diocese's reverence for the priesthood and our enduring care for those who lead us to Christ. Yet we stand at a critical threshold. Within the next twenty years, the number of retired priests in the Diocese of Arlington is projected to double. St. Rose of Lima, our cherished 14-room residence built twenty-five years ago through the Rooted in Faith, Forward in Hope campaign, currently operates at full capacity. Its physical boundaries cannot absorb the growth on the horizon, and without action, we risk failing in our sacred responsibility to care for these devoted men with the dignity and gratitude they deserve. Scripture makes clear our obligation: "The laborer deserves his wages" (1 Timothy 5:18). The Catechism affirms that the faithful have a moral responsibility to ensure ministers "are provided with what is necessary for a dignified life" (CCC 2122). This duty does not end when a priest retires. The Details Our campaign addresses this need through two strategic investments: $2 million to construct four additional suites at St. Rose of Lima, fulfilling the original architectural vision, and $8 million to establish new retirement housing throughout the diocese—acquiring, building, renovating, or leasing properties that offer geographic flexibility so priests can remain near the communities they have loved and served for decades. This is our sacred promise kept.

A NEW PATH FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION: A Catholic High School snd Adult Technical Career Center The Church has always honored both the life of the mind and the dignity of work. A Catholic high school and technical career center will unite these callings, offering young people rigorous academics, hands-on training in skilled trades, and the character formation of a Catholic education—preparing them not only to build homes and communities, but to build the Kingdom of God. At full enrollment, 400 students will graduate with high school diplomas, in-demand career skills, and a faith-filled understanding of work as vocation. Evening programs will extend this mission to adults seeking new career pathways, making this a center of transformation for entire families and generations to come. Yet today, no Catholic school in Northern Virginia offers this path. While diocesan high schools focus on college preparation, families who want both skilled trades and Catholic formation for their children must choose one or the other. The need is urgent: nationally, more than half of 2024 high school graduates did not begin four-year degrees, and demand for skilled workers—electricians, carpenters, automotive technicians, nursing assistants, cybersecurity specialists—continues to grow. When the Diocese conducted a feasibility study, the response was unprecedented: over 4,000 adults and nearly 1,000 students participated, and more than 92 percent supported creating the school. The Details This campaign will establish the school in Chantilly, renovating existing buildings into 50,000 square feet of classrooms and trade labs. Opening in August 2028 with six career programs, the school will keep tuition low and accessible. The $55 million investment covers land, renovation, equipment, and first-year operations; funds beyond the goal will create an operating endowment, ensuring affordability for generations.

WELCOMING EVERY CHILD: Serving Students & Families With Special Needs Imagine a diocese where every child—regardless of ability or diagnosis—grows in faith alongside their peers, discovering their unique vocation within the Body of Christ. This is not merely an aspiration; it is our calling. When children of all abilities pray together, receive the sacraments together, and learn together, we embody the truth that every soul is made in God's image and deserves unconditional dignity. The long-term impact extends beyond individual families—it strengthens our entire faith community, ensuring no one navigates their journey alone. Yet today, a critical gap prevents this vision from becoming reality. While our diocesan schools welcome students with disabilities, financial constraints create barriers that Catholic families should never face. Without government special-education funding, schools lack resources for nurses, aides, specialized teachers, and assistive technology. Middle-class families fall outside scholarship limits, making inclusive Catholic education unattainable. Of the estimated 30,000 Catholics with disabilities in our diocese, only 2,352 students (13.1%) are currently enrolled. Heartbreakingly, families are often forced to separate siblings—sending one child to their parish school while placing another in public school—fracturing family life and parish engagement. The Details This campaign will bridge that gap through three transformative initiatives totaling $10 million. The Special Education Access Fund ($4.5 million endowment generating $180,000 annually, plus $1 million in launch grants) will provide schools with essential personnel, technology, and tuition assistance. An expanded SPRED program ($500,000) will bring faith formation and sacraments to more individuals with intellectual disabilities. Finally, Regional Family Support Specialists ($2 million for initial years, $2 million endowment) will guide families across all seven deaneries through education, housing, employment, and parish life.

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” Matthew 18:1-5

A SACRED REFUGE FOR SOULS: Expanding San Damiano Spiritual Life Center From the earliest times, Christians have followed Christ's example—withdrawing to quiet places to seek the Heavenly Father in prayer. 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 60 years, San Damiano Spiritual Life Center has served as that sacred refuge where the faithful draw near to Christ. Through this campaign, San Damiano will be expanded into a sanctuary where thousands of weary souls can step away from daily distractions, sit directly in the presence of God, and return to the world renewed in faith. Yet today, we face a critical threshold: God has blessed this ministry so abundantly that we have outgrown our home. With a maximum capacity of just 50 overnight guests, San Damiano receives around 2,000 visitors annually—but demand far exceeds availability. Retreat registration slots fill within minutes, leaving hundreds on waiting lists throughout the year. Parish groups, married couples, clergy, and individuals seeking silent prayer are regularly turned away. As the only official diocesan-owned retreat center across Northern Virginia, when San Damiano reaches capacity, there is no alternative. Every turned-away guest represents a missed opportunity for healing and renewal in Christ. The Details This campaign will expand San Damiano—doubling capacity with approximately 35,000 square feet of new retreat lodge space, a traditional 100-seat chapel, rustic hermitages for solitude, prayer paths, a rosary garden, and outdoor Stations of the Cross across 150 acres of sacred grounds.

HEALING MINDS AND SOULS: Supporting Catholic Counseling We are a people of hope. And while mental health challenges are one of the urgent pastoral and human needs of our time— they also present a profound opportunity for the Church to bring Christ’s healing love to those who suffer. By investing in Catholic counseling, we can help ensure that individuals, couples, and families across our diocesan community receive care that honors the full dignity of the human person: mind, body, and soul. This is not simply an answer to today’s crisis; it is a long-term commitment to building a culture of healing, hope, and accompaniment for generations to come. Through faithful, clinically excellent mental health care, those facing anxiety, grief, trauma, or marital strain can encounter both genuine psychological support and the merciful restoration found in Christ. The need is clear and pressing. One in five adults experiences a mental health condition, yet across Virginia only about 22% of provider demand is currently being met. For Catholic families seeking care that respects and integrates their faith, the gap is even more severe. Catholic mental health practitioners are in critically short supply, and priests consistently identify this as one of the greatest unmet needs they encounter in ministry. Many are asked to respond to burdens that require specialized clinical care, but too few trusted Catholic resources exist to support them. The Details To meet this need, the campaign proposes the Catholic Counseling Fund, a $6 million initiative to prepare, sustain, and deploy a strong network of Catholic mental health professionals. The fund will provide scholarships, tuition reimbursement, debt relief, mentorship, language training, and vocational outreach, while supporting clinicians who commit to serving referred clients through Catholic Charities, including Spanish-speaking families. Balanced between $3 million in immediate funding and $3 million in permanent endowment, this effort will strengthen the workforce, expand parish and agency counseling capacity, and provide direct assistance to families in need—ensuring access to faithful mental health care for years to come.

A REFUGE FOR MOTHERS & CHILDREN: 11

Building a new home for The St. Margaret of Cortona Ministry The St. Margaret of Cortona Ministry stands as a living witness to Christ's unconditional love and a proven engine for generational transformation. Since 2009, this ministry has provided life-changing transitional housing and wraparound support for 435 mothers and their children, offering not merely shelter, but a stable foundation where families are restored in hope, equipped for self-sufficiency, and empowered to build thriving lives through Christ's mercy. Our graduates have found hope, earned college degrees, built careers, and in some cases embraced the Catholic faith. Yet today, this critical ministry has reached a breaking point. Our current facility, built in the 1960s, can no longer provide the protection these families desperately need. A majority of mothers entering our care are actively fleeing domestic violence and abusive households. For these women and children, physical security is a matter of immediate survival. Constant infrastructure failures—broken HVAC systems, water damage, recurring mold, and security vulnerabilities—compromise our ability to nurture vulnerable families while draining resources from direct services. Meanwhile, regional demand continues to escalate, with vulnerable mothers facing long waitlists and a severe shortage of secure beds. The Details We will construct a brand-new, purpose-built residential facility for up to 18 families—a $30 million investment in mercy. Designed around trauma-informed care, physical security, and preparation for the future, this modern facility will integrate state-of-the-art protection, an on-site chapel, a Child Development Center, and community gathering spaces under one secure roof. We will increase residential capacity by roughly two-thirds, shortening wait times for women in crisis. Your investment builds far more than bricks and mortar—it establishes a permanent launchpad where mothers and children begin a new life.

HEALING THE VULNERABLE: Supporting Mother of Mercy Medical Ministry For nearly a decade, Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic has made Christ’s healing presence visible in our diocese, offering compassionate care, protecting human dignity, and bearing witness to the Gospel of life. This campaign will create a lasting foundation for that mission—expanding access to essential healthcare, reaching underserved communities more effectively, and ensuring that vulnerable families encounter both excellent medical care and the merciful love of Christ for generations to come. That vision is urgently needed. Across Northern Virginia, more than 250,000 low-income, uninsured, or underinsured people already face serious barriers to care, and beginning in 2027, an additional 100,000 to 300,000 people may lose health coverage. Meanwhile, both current clinic locations are already operating at capacity, leaving working families, expectant mothers, and elderly patients at risk of dangerous delays in treatment. The Details With an $11,000,000 investment, this campaign will fund a centrally located medical hub and the diocese’s first mobile medical unit, expanding primary, prenatal, vision, dental, and pharmacy services while reducing overhead and bringing dignified, life-affirming care directly to those most in need.

FEEDING THE HUNGRY: Supporting the St. Lucy Food Project Inspired by the witness of Saint Lucy, this project will secure for our diocese a lasting work of mercy: a permanent home for the ministry that feeds hungry families, strengthens parish outreach, and ensures that Christ’s love is made visible in moments of greatest need. By investing now, we can expand capacity for fresh, nutritious food, respond more effectively to emergencies, and sustain this mission for decades to come. That long-term vision is urgently needed. St. Lucy Food Warehouse already serves as the logistics heart of Catholic Charities across 21 counties and 7 cities, helping provide more than 2 million pounds of food each year to 203,040 adults and children. Yet rising lease costs— including a $70,000 rent increase this year— mean more resources are diverted to overhead instead of meals. The Details A $10 million investment will fund the acquisition and outfitting of a centrally located 20,000-square-foot warehouse with refrigeration, trucks, standby power, and volunteer space, doubling current capacity and securing this essential ministry for the future.

RETURNING TO THE TABLE: Supporting & Renovating Christ House Alexandria In Christ House, the Church encounters Christ in the poor and restores hope where it is needed most. For generations, this ministry has offered more than shelter or a meal: it has provided a sacred place where vulnerable men are welcomed with dignity, accompanied toward stability, and reminded of their God-given worth. By sustaining Christ House, we preserve a lasting witness of Catholic charity in Alexandria for years to come. That witness is urgently needed. As homelessness in the city has risen 14% this year and meals served have increased 25%, Christ House faces growing demand within a facility burdened by moisture intrusion, mold, aging systems, and outdated safety features. Without comprehensive renewal, this frontline ministry cannot continue at the level the community needs. The Details Campaign support will fund a $5 million restoration of Christ House: remediating mold, repairing building systems, improving security, modernizing residential rooms and restrooms, and upgrading the kitchen and dining space that sustain its daily meal and transitional housing ministry.

SUPPORTING EVERY PARISH: A Partnership In Mission A strong diocese is built on thriving parishes. When parishes flourish—serving the poor, strengthening ministries, and responding to local needs—the whole Church grows stronger. This campaign envisions every parish in the Diocese of Arlington having the resources to answer God’s call in its own community. Too often, urgent parish needs go unmet because of limited resources. Facilities need repair, outreach to the poor must expand, ministries need support, and pastors and parish leaders often lack the funds to act on the needs they know best. The Details Every parish will participate in the campaign and benefit directly. Twenty percent of all funds raised up to a parish’s goal will be returned to that parish for local priorities. If a parish exceeds its goal, the sharing formula changes and seventy percent of funds raised above goal will be returned to the parish. It is a winwin one body in Christ – strengthening both our diocesan mission and our parish life.

NEW PARISH DEVELOPMENT FUND: Planting the Church Where Families Are Growing The Diocese of Arlington is at a pivotal moment of growth. As new neighborhoods expand, especially in Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, the Shenandoah Valley, and beyond, thousands of Catholic families are settling in areas without enough parish presence. When parishes are absent or overcrowded, Mass access, sacramental preparation, faith formation, and community life all suffer. The Details The New Parish Development Fund is a proactive missionary effort to meet families where they are and build lasting centers of worship, formation, and evangelization. The campaign will create a $3 million fund for land acquisition, construction, and startup costs in rapidly growing areas. This will allow the diocese to act quickly, secure strategic properties, and establish vibrant parish communities before growth outpaces our ability to serve. Your investment will help plant the Church where future generations can grow in faith.

LEAVING A LEGACY Through thoughtful and prayerful planning, you can leave a lasting legacy that reflects your faith and values. In addition to a gift to One in Christ, Joyful in Mission, a bequest or other planned gift can provide you with a meaningful way to support something long past your last pledge payment. You can support your parish or a school close to your heart. Or you may bless one of the many ministries and charitable works in the Diocese of Arlington. Planned gifts not only offer potential financial and tax benefits to donors, but they set an example to others and also can strengthen the spiritual and communal foundation of our Catholic family.

The Catholic Foundation of Arlington Founded in 2011, the Catholic Foundation provides philanthropoic resources and support to the faithful of the diocese. It complements current fund development efforts of the diocese with the aim of securing long-term and strategic philanthropic support which may involve managing an inheritance, donor advised fund, or endowment. Contact the Catholic Foundation of Arlington at XXXXXXXXX to learn how they can help you.

TO THE HEIGHTS Prayer, Service, Sacrificial Giving "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt.