Arlington Catholic Herald

In this episode, Catholic Herald Staff Writer Zoey Maraist interviewed Deacon Marques Silva of the diocesan Child Protection Office and Dr. Frank Moncher of the diocesan Victims Assistance Office to find out what additional safeguards have been implemented in the Diocese of Arlington since 2002. 

Fr. Kevin Larsen, pastor of St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg, explains why he thinks it's important to "bee" near God in nature — and shares the stories of a few saints associated with bees. Be sure to check out our companion story in the Aug. 23 edition of the Catholic Herald. 

Salvadorans gathered at St. Anthony Church in Falls Church for the Savior of the World celebration. Staff Writer Zoey Maraist has all the details on how one parishioner created a model world — pneumatic lifts and all — for a statue of Jesus to ascend from. Also in this episode, adult children of divorce share their experiences of trauma. 

Deacon Nicholas LaDuca of Holy Spirit Church in Annandale and Deacon Paul Ochenkowski of St. Veronica Church in Chantilly share their recent experience meeting up in New Orleans with more than 1,300 deacons from around the nation. During the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the United States, the two explain the role of a deacon and the future of this vocation.

Three top stories as presented by social media coordinator, Mary Stachyra Lopez. The Diocese of Arlington is united in prayer for the people of Nicaragua; a local priest makes a 1,000 mile bicycle journey around the Gulf Coast; and Arlington Catholic Herald contributor Russell Shaw judges the prospects of President Donald J. Trump's latest Supreme Court nominee making it to the bench.

FIAT Days  could be described as a week of a thousand prayers — daily holy hours, Mass, a pilgrimage to the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, time alone with God. It also includes sports, games and giggles alongside 17 religious sisters in their habits representing different communities.  This week's other stories include the new St. Jude Church in Fredericksburg and Fr. Paul deLadura...

Matt and Terry Owens, the third and fourth of a family of four boys, are both public servants in Arlington County. Matt's a policeman, Terry's a firefighter/paramedic. Both agree that their Catholic faith is what enables them to come to work day after day. Read the full story in this week's print edition, or online .  Also this week: learn how the Diocese of Arlington is helping ensure that people...

In honor of the Fourth of July and all who served our nation, Father Jim Hinkle of St. Theresa in Ashburn, Virginia, talks about being a submariner. Read about his full vocation story and info on his new assignment in the U.S. Navy here .  Also in this episode: Sister Pauline Quinn, O.P., wants to help both rescue dogs and hardened criminals heal. She's accomplishing this on a global scale through...

Trading cell phones for hammers and saws, 830 youths came together at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg for the 32nd diocesan WorkCamp June 23-29, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Youth, Campus and Young Adult Ministries. With a goal each year of making homes warmer, safer and drier, 160 crews from 43 parishes will repair eight roofs, install hundreds of windows, and build decks and whee...

In this episode, Kevin Bohli, director of the diocesan Office of Youth, Campus and Young Adult Ministries, explains what to expect during next week's WorkCamp : a diocesan initiative to help those in need through service projects. Hundreds of youth participate in it each year. The Catholic Herald had another great year in the Catholic Press Association's Catholic Media Awards competition. We have...

Do you love movies? In this episode, meet John Mulderig, the man who sees 150 movies a year and reviews them so you can make an informed decision when buying a ticket at the box office. Here is his film review of Pope Francis: A Man of His Word.

Five men are ordained deacons; a parish in Sterling will bid farewell to their Franciscan fathers; and hear from a speaker at the Catholic #MeToo movement discussion talking about "Second Thoughts on the Sexual Revolution."

In Fairfax County, the Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee has proposed changes that Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge calls "almost unbelievable," including removing clergy from a list of trusted adults students can turn to for advice, and replacing "biological sex" with "sex assigned at birth." School Board Member Elizabeth Schultz, a mother of four and a parishioner of St. An...

Staff Writer Zoey Maraist interviews Anthony Jones, a college sophomore and Fairfax native, who was in Dublin last week assisting the country's pro-lifers — the Love Both campaign. Despite the outcome, the overturning of the constitutional ban on abortion, Jones found reason to hope in an unlikely place: a woman who had an abortion many years ago and yet decided to vote no. Listen in to these stor...

Father Jose Hoyos, the keynote speaker at the V Encuentro regional meeting at The Catholic University of America in Washington last Saturday, shares his insights into how the church is welcoming all people. Also in this episode: Our 56-page print issue features a robust Grad Section complete with profiles on graduating seniors who are leaving a mark on their alma maters.

Of all the rolling fields of Fauquier County, a quarter-acre plot belongs to Melanie Lawrence, for now. Listen in as the enterprising 18-year-old farmer and parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville shares her experience of participating in the Fauquier Education Farm program ,an initiative that allows people to try their hand at farming before purchasing their own land and equipment.  Als...

50th Episode Special: The Catholic Herald podcast has come along way since the early days of recording in a soundproof closet! In this episode, Ann Augherton highlights several of the most popular episodes as well as the latest diocesan news. Staff writer Zoey Maraist interviews Fr. Stephan Starzynski, a hospital chaplain, about a miracle involving a patient with brain abcesses. Also, in the lead...

This week's episode includes a news recap as well as a discussion about L'Arch community.  Staff Writer Elizabeth Elliott wrote about a new documentary called, "Summer in the Forest." It's about the founder of L'Arche community for people with special needs. The film about Jean Vanier shows viewers how people with intellectual or physical disabilities live with able-bodied people who share their l...

In this episode, we interview nationally recognized motivator of young people Katie Prejean McGrady. Prejean McGrady, the keynote speaker at BASH, took to the stage at Bishop O'Connell High School this past Saturday, driving home the importance of fostering a close relationship with Jesus to nearly 1,000 middle schoolers. "It is extremely rare for over 900 middle schoolers to hang out with Jesus f...

This week's guest, Father Jose Hoyos, shares how he helped organize events at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More involving Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge, visiting Salvadoran bishops and 800 members of the Salvadoran community. Arlington bishop welcomes Salvadoran prelates, reaffirms diocesan support for immigrants Also in this episode: Mass under the lights honors UMW student athletes Science ru...

Saint Joseph Church in Herndon hosted a Polka Mass April 7. Here's an excerpt from the article by our social media coordinator Mary Stachyra Lopez, the guest on this week's show: The popularity of Polka Masses grew within a few years, thanks to the influence of Father Frank Perkovich, a Minnesota pastor whose Polka Mass recordings have sold more than 100,000 copies. Though some critics said that s...

In the past two issues, the Catholic Herald reported extensively on beautiful sawdust carpets: one at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More on Palm Sunday and the other at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church on Good Friday. At the latter, the living Stations of the Cross procession ended in the church courtyard where Guatemalan parishioners had created nine religious images using colored sawdus...

Palm Sunday, members of the Alfo-Conce group at St. Anthony Church in Falls Church, bring a form of street art to the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. Sawdust in nearly every shade of color is masterfully used to create carpets of liturgical art in the parking lot. Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge stopped by to see the art after celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral March 25. In...

The big news this week is the naming of three Monsignors by Pope Francis: Msgr. Robert Avella is pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Arlington; Msgr. John Cregan is retired pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria; and Msgr. Stanley Krempa is pastor of St. Bridget of Ireland Church in Berryville. Staff writer Zoey Maraist reports. Maraist also covered last weekend's women's conference,...

After powerful gusts of wind swept through the region March 2 - 3, some parishes in the Diocese of Arlington were left with damaged property, others celebrated Mass by candlelight or canceled it altogether, and still others took the opportunity to help people left without power.  Also this week, find out how the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Northern Virginia is launching an alternative loan prog...