Parish Partnerships

Diocese of Arlington parishes bring the sacraments and education about the presence of Christ to everyone in the community. Catholic Charities partners with these parishes to help them bring Christ’s transformative love to people in that same community or elsewhere in the Diocese – Catholic or not – who are suffering or experiencing homelessness, or health, financial, spiritual or familial problems.

Catholic Charities brings to parishes mental health counseling, English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) classes, immigration and legalization workshops to help fellow parishioners and community members become permanent residents or earn their American citizenship, and quarterly Parish Liaison Network meetings and training.

Catholic Charities also collaborates with parishes to address needs in the community. Parishioners who are medical doctors, nurses and other health professionals volunteer at the Mother of Mercy Free Health Clinic in Manassas. Parish volunteers serve meals to homeless individuals and families at Christ House in Old Town Alexandria or conduct food drives and distribute food for our St. Lucy Food Project. They welcome refugees new to this country.

Parishioners mentor men and women leaving jail, refer mothers in crisis pregnancies or prospective parents to our pregnancy and adoption program, and much more.

Catholic Charities’ Opioid Crisis Response – an initiative called for by Bishop Michael Burbidge – depends upon collaboration between Catholic Charities and parishes as well as the communities we serve.