“Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” - Luke 10:34
Dear Friends,
50 years ago a shelter for the homeless in Old Town Alexandria was established by Catholic Charities of Northern Virginia, soon to become Catholic Charities of the newly founded Diocese of Arlington. Christ House was founded to serve people seeking the most basic of
needs: shelter and a meal. Over the ensuing decades, and thanks to thousands of volunteers and donors, Catholic Charities Christ House has also been able to offer the people of Alexandria emergency financial assistance, a food pantry, job training, a thrift store and
a clothing bank.
To this day we continue to offer shelter for up to 14 men
and an evening meal to anyone in the community who
is hungry.
It is an astounding and miraculous story made possible
by your prayers, and the hard work and dedication of our
employees and volunteers who each day make God’s
love visible and present to our brothers and sisters in
need.
The ministries of Christ House showed what was
possible if love, as Pope Benedict wrote, was organized.
Catholic Charities realized that what was happening in Alexandria could also happen in Manassas, and Leesburg,
and Woodbridge, and Front Royal and Fredericksburg.
Today, Catholic Charities serves the poor, protects the
vulnerable and welcomes the newcomer at more than 20
locations through 12 direct service ministries throughout
our diocese. In our most recent fiscal year, we served nearly
28,000 men, women and children. It is a labor of love made
possible by the Holy Spirit moving through a small and faithfilled
collection of people who, a half-century ago, understood
that love of God and love of neighbor are one and the same.
Please join me in thanking God, and the thousands of Good
Samaritans who have worked, or volunteered, at Catholic
Charities Christ House. And please pray for all of the people
we have been blessed to serve, wherever they may be. We
are grateful to be the place, the inn, where the love and
consolation of Jesus Christ is freely given and received.
Yours in Christ,
Stephen Carattini
President and CEO
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington
Mission Newsletter, Fall 2023