Bishop Burbidge invites all members of our diocese to participate in the inaugural Arlington Diocese Week of Service from November 9-16, 2025. The theme is “Love in Action – Service in Community”. Coming soon, the Saint James Diocesan Service Week Committee will be sharing planned events during this week in November for parishioners to participate in individually or as a family.
Together, we are building a faith-filled culture of generosity and solidarity—not only within our parish communities but throughout this diocesan region we call home. Join us in being the hands and heart of Christ to others. Let’s serve with purpose, pray with hope, and grow together in the love of God.
The Diocese of Arlington updated its Strategic Plan in 2022. Strategic Initiative No. 7 calls us to “Hold an annual Diocesan Service Week that unifies the diocese around a short list of service projects that calls each of us to live our faith in concrete and compassionate ways.” These projects are based on the seven corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead.
Below are volunteer opportunites that our parishioners can volunteer with their ministry, individually, or as a family during the November service week based on the Corporal Works of Mercy. In addition, via our Social Outreach web page, there are other volunteer opportunities in which you can participate. The important thing is to find a way to share your time and talent during this week of service.
Watch the following video from Bishop Burbidge on his invitation for all parishioners to participate in this Diocesan Week of Service, https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/serviceweek.
Rooted in the Gospel and inspired by the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, our parishes and ministries are joining together to bring Christ to our neighbors by serving individuals and families who are most in need—spiritually, emotionally, and physically. See our scheduled week of service events.
After reviewing the flyer above, click on the Corporal Work of Mercy below for more detail on how you can help. If you want to share service that you completed with yourself, family, friends, or ministry, click the SHARE YOUR SERVICE button.
BURY THE DEAD
Saint James Cemetery – After the 8:15am Mass on Tuesday, November 11th, visit the Saint James Cemetery to pray the Rosary which will be led by our Legion of Mary. No sign up is needed and the Legion will bring extra rosaries for those who require them! We hope you will join us.
VISIT/CARE FOR THE SICK
Blood Drive – Held on Tuesday, November 11th from 10am-3pm in Msgr. Heller Hall at the school via Entrance 13 in A Lot.
Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org (or scan QR code) and enter: StJamesCCFC.
Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.
Maximize your blood donation. Help more patients. If you are an eligible type O, B – or A – donor, consider making a Power Red donation.
Give blood on this day and receive a $10 e-gift card to Merchant of your choice.
Homebound Outreach
- Saint James School students make cards for Camilla Hall
- American Heritage Girls make cards for parish homebound.
PRO-LIFE
Gabriel Project Drive for Babies – Collect diapers, wipes, and formula. In accordance with Christ’s call to Feed the Hungry and Cloth the Naked, St. James is having a joint coat drive and formula/diaper/wipes drive as part of the Arlington Diocese Service Week. See CLOTHE THE NAKED section for coat drive.
Likewise, diapers, wipes, and formula are a large expense to many families trying to care for their babies. Donations of these items are needed always! You can drop off items on Tuesday, November 11th, between 11:30am-5:30pm in the St. James B Lot. Baby items will be distributed after collection to members of the St. James Parish community and the St. Lucy Project.
We also need volunteers to receive, sort and distribute items throughout the day on Veteran’s Day, November 11th. Please click on the link, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044FADAE1-59055898-stjames#/, (or scan QR code) to sign up. Thank You!
CARE FOR LIFE AND CREATION
Renewal of Ecosystems that Sustain Life – Protecting biodiversity is not only about preserving plants and animals—it’s about recognizing, as Laudato Si’ reminds us, the deep interconnectedness between all of creation, humanity, and God the Creator. By planting native species, we actively participate in the renewal of ecosystems that sustain life. Native plants restore natural habitats, support pollinators and wildlife, and help reestablish the delicate balance essential for a healthy, thriving planet. This act of care is both ecological and spiritual—an expression of our commitment to steward God’s creation with reverence and responsibility.
Tree Planting, Distribution – This is still being coordinated.
FEED THE HUNGRY
Christ House Dinner – the Young Professionals have this event covered. They will have 3 groups of volunteers; one will shop for the food, one will prepare food at the St James kitchen on Tuesday, and on the 12th they will have 3-4 more volunteers serving the meal.
School Food Drive – The school will conduct a Food Drive. All grades will participate.
CLOTHE THE NAKED
Children and Youth Coat Drive – Please donate only new coats for kids and teens (up to age 18). Coats will be donated to Clothesline in Arlington.
You can drop off items on Tuesday, November 11th, between 11:30am-5:30pm in the St. James B Lot (gym).
We also need volunteers to receive, sort and distribute items throughout the day on Veteran’s Day, November 11th. Please click on the link, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044FADAE1-59055898-stjames#/, (or scan QR code) to sign up. Thank You!
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Join us Saturday evening, November 15th, at 6:30pm for fellowship and we end the Diocesan Service Week with a bonfire and movie, “The Wild Robot.”
Volunteers will be needed to help serve food and drinks. A signup will be forthcoming.
We are are asking families, teens, parents, and able-bodied adults to help older members of our parish by raking and cleaning up the leaves in their yards. Groups of 2-4 or families are encouraged to sign up.
Fill out the form to be matched with a senior, https://forms.gle/R22yvediRUSG8Vqd6.
VISIT THE IMPRISONED
Provide spiritual support and material donations for The Virginia Correctional Center for Women – in Goochland, VA (near Richmond) houses about 500 women.
- Provide spiritual help through prayers for specific individuals and hand-written cards expressing hopes and encouragement.
- Saint James School and PREP students will make cards and letters by October 29th.
- Parishioners can send donations to the correctional facility.
- The funds are used to buy toiletries and other necessities the women need that are then given to the women at Christmas time. The facility is requesting donations with which they can buy items in bulk and uniformity.
- Make donations out to Emmaus Christian Church, P.O. Box 401, Powhattan, VA 23139
- Designate “VCCW 2025 Christmas Project” in the memo section.
- The coordinator of this effort in Pawhatan is a woman named Page Allen. Her email address is: [email protected] if individuals wish to contact her.
- Make donations out to Emmaus Christian Church, P.O. Box 401, Powhattan, VA 23139
- The funds are used to buy toiletries and other necessities the women need that are then given to the women at Christmas time. The facility is requesting donations with which they can buy items in bulk and uniformity.
As part of our Diocesan Week of Service and carrying out the Corporal Works of Mercy, we are supporting the Kairos Prison Ministry. We are asking volunteers to provide at least 1 dozen cookies for donation. These cookies will be will be distributed to the male prisoners of block S3 of the Greenville correctional facility in Jarret, Virginia. You can definitely make more. The ministry would like a tally so we are asking all volunteers who want to donate cookies to sign up in advance.
The Drive is November 11th in the B-lot (Gym parking lot) from 12pm-5pm (no later than 5pm for cookie dropoff). Please use the sign-up link below.
- The drive is only November 11th
- Please DO NOT leave cookies in the church.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4AABAE23A64-59469872-kairos#/
SHARE YOUR SERVICE
If you, your family, or parish group complete some other type of service, please feel free to share below by completing the short form. Providing your name is optional. There are so many ways to serve our community and our neighbors. We would love for you to share your service for others to see the many ways we can serve our area. We would like to see a long list of other service from our parishioners.