Arlington Catholic Herald

Most everyone in Lebanon knows and loves St. Sharbel. He's beloved by Christians, but Druze and Muslim people have reported being healed by him, too. Zoey Maraist takes us to Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Washington to learn more about the mysterious hermit turned miracle worker. 

Elizabeth Foss is a longtime Catholic Herald columnist and founder of Take Up and Read, a ministry that encourages women to read and ponder the word of God. She shares more about her ministry and the benefits of engaging with sacred Scripture.    Related story: Elizabeth Foss releases a book for Advent prayer

Father Miserendino, who has played saxophone for 25 years, says "it's time for the Catholic Church to reclaim support of the arts."

Antonia Cummings is a 2015 graduate of Marymount University, and shortly after she graduated, she began mortuary school. Hear about why she felt personally called to the profession, and how she lives out the Catholic Corporal Work of Mercy to bury the dead.

Bishop Eduardo Kussala, of the Tombura-Yambio Diocese in South Sudan, visits the Catholic Herald and the Diocese of Arlington as part of a 2019 visit to the United States. He talked to staff writer Zoey Maraist about life in the war-torn country, and how he's using the Catholic faith to encourage peace.

The Blessing of the Animals is a popular tradition at many Catholic churches. But how did it all get started? What can we learn? Franciscan Fr. John O'Connor, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Triangle, shares the origins of the Blessing of the Animals, and some stories about St. Francis of Assisi's connection with the natural world. 

Lawyer Lynda Rozell traded in her Fairfax townhouse for an Airstream trailer and now travels around the country, sharing her Catholic faith at campgrounds. Learn more about Rozell's nomadic way of life — and why she calls herself the "Tin Can Pilgrim" — in our Sept. 26 print edition. 

Ken Balbuena, a parishioner of St. Bernadette Church in Springfield and director of pilgrimages at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, survived two brain surgeries after a ruptured aneurysm. In this episode, he'll explain why he believes Knights of Columbus founder Fr. Michael J. McGivney, St. John Paul II and Our Lady of the Snows helped carry him through the ordeal.  Read more ab...

Celebrating 40 years of bringing young people to an authentic and real encounter with Jesus Christ through parish and campus ministry youth programs, Fr. Jack Peterson shares how Youth Apostles hopes to grow in its next 40 years of service.  This episode was produced by Elizabeth A. Elliott.   

This week, many of our local Catholic schools officially began the new school year, and more will begin in the next week or so. Earlier this week, Catholic Herald staff went to a couple Catholic schools in the area to take in the sights and sounds of the first day of school.

Catholic architect Erik Boostma, a former parishioner of the Diocese of Arlington who now works and lives in Richmond, primarily works on churches and renovations. His latest project is a little different — though still a center for spirituality and devotion — he's designed a new shrine dedicated to St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Gallup, N.M. Sites such as the shrine being dedicated to the Native Americ...

Immaculée Ilibagiza's seemingly serene native town of Kibuye, Rwanda, became a site of mass murder during 100 days of genocide in 1994, led by Hutu extremists against the Tutsi minority tribe. Ilibagiza hid in a tiny bathroom with seven other women for three months, even as neighbors-turned-killers searched the house. When she emerged, her entire family, except for a brother in another country, ha...

There's a huge need for housing for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in Northern Virginia. Walter Purdy, a volunteer with Marian Homes, talks about the Knights of Columbus Council 8600's project to provide those homes. 

Thousands of kids from around the Diocese of Arlington are enjoying summer camps filled with faith and fun.  Middle schoolers harvest corn for needy during faith-filled 'boot camp' Vocations camp for Hispanic youths Campers, staff perfect skills and faith at SASH Camp in Winchester FIAT Campers 'made for greatness' Quo Vadis offers a taste of seminary life Plus, Editor and General Manager Mike Fla...

The  Catholic Herald  won 28 awards this year in the Catholic Press Association's media awards competition, including first place in the General Excellence category for weekly diocesan papers with a circulation of more than 25,000. Our podcast also won an honorable mention.  Find links to feature stories here. 

Sturdy walls. Front porch steps. A bathroom sink. A home provides the backdrop to life — the structure that quietly keeps its inhabitants safe and dry, cool or warm. It's easy to forget all the comforts a house provides, until it is gone. Some 850 teens from around the Diocese of Arlington traded the familiar surroundings of their own homes for a classroom floor, a communal bathroom and a school c...

Christopher Gunty, associate publisher and editor of the Catholic Review in Baltimore and CEO of its parent publishing company, The Cathedral Foundation/CR Media, joins the show to explain what is going at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in Baltimore this week. Plus, managing editor Ann Augherton and staff writer Zoey Maraist share the latest Catholic headlines from around...

James Senson, music director, joins our show to share an innovative new program training high schoolers in an ancient music tradition.    Related: Sacred music is catechesis

The Trappist-Cistercian sisters at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Albemarle County have made cheese for decades. But the calls really started pouring in after an article ran recently about their work. "Truly the best Gouda I have had! Made with love," one reader wrote on the Catholic Herald's Facebook. Sister Barbara Smickel says that is, indeed, the secret ingredient baked in every two-pound...

Staff writer Zoey Maraist shares updates on the news of the week, including new norms and procedures for holding bishops and religious superiors accountable in protecting minors, as well as in protecting members of religious orders and seminarians from abuse. Also hear how a Vienna woman is creating whimsical wigs for kids with hair loss. 

In this episode, the Catholic Herald's Ann Augherton and Zoey Maraist, talk about this week's news, including Maraist's recent trip to a medium security prison for a Kairos retreat that offers cookies and hope to inmates. Here's the full story:  https://www.catholicherald.com/News/Catholic_Living/Kairos_retreats_share_God_s_love_with_those_on_the_inside/  

Sarah Wessel, a senior math major at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, shares her excitement at entering the church during the Easter Vigil.  Links: During Holy Week, embrace actions that glorify God, Bishop Burbidge says Parishioners celebrate Palm Sunday in Woodbridge Email circulation@catholicherald.com to subscribe. 

The Catholic Herald staff has spent the last week covering pro-life events. Staff writer Zoey Maraist explains the reason for the pro-life momentum and Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey joins the show to talk about the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act .  Related stories: March for Life in Richmond Bishop, pro-life advocates gather in Richmond Virginia's uncertain pro-life future Po...

Melissa Ohden survived a saline abortion at seven months gestation in 1977. She is the founder of the Abortion Survivors Institute, and this week, she speaks at the Virginia March for Life in Richmond. In this episode, she shares her journey to peace and forgiveness. Learn why why she not only advocates for the unborn — it's part of her mission to be a voice of forgiveness for men and women suffer...

Fr. Stefan Starzynski, chaplain of Inova Fairfax Hospital, explains why the Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament of Healing. He dispels some popular misconceptions and shares some examples of how it has changed lives in remarkable ways.  Why Anointing of the Sick matters Bishop urges sick to offer their suffering for the church