Bishop Burbidge invited all members of our diocese to participate in the inaugural Arlington Diocese Week of Service from November 9-16, 2025. The theme was “Love in Action – Service in Community”. The Saint James Diocesan Service Week Committee shared planned events during this week 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.
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.
- Click on one of the buttons below to see the various ways our parish supported this week of service.
- Click the SERVICE WEEK RESULTS button to see the success of some of the many events held.
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.
Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org to donate blood anytime.
Parishioners are encouraged to prayerfully consider blood, marrow, and living tissue donor options to provide the gift of life.
Homebound Outreach
- Saint James School students and parish youth organizations made cards for retired IHM Sisters at Camilla Hall, retired priests at Saint Rose os Lima Villa, and homebound parishioners.
- Parishioners were encouraged to reach out to neighbors – especially the elderly and infirm (not physically or mentally strong).
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 had 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 for kids and teens.
Likewise, diapers, wipes, and formula are a large expense to many families trying to care for their babies. The need for these brands of formula is great: Similac Advantage, Similac Neosure (for premature babies), or Similac Sensitive.
For diapers, all sizes of diapers are welcome from newborn to size 6, sizes 3 to 5 especially are needed.
Baby items were distributed after collection to members of the St. James Parish community and the St. Lucy Project.
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 – Saint James School tree planting and tree education on November 14th.
Distribution – Parishioners are encouraged to identify areas at their home or neighborhood that could benefit from tree planting. While many municipal tree distribution events have close for the fall, please refer to the following for local distribution events:
- Register for a Free Native Tree – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government
- Fairfax Releaf | Free Trees | Fairfax ReLeaf
- HOME | earthsangha
The Saint James Creation Care Ministry is a wonderful resource for advice and practical education; reach out if you have tree planting inquiries!
FEED THE HUNGRY
Christ House Dinner – the Young Professionals have this event covered. They had 3 groups of volunteers; one shopped for the food, one prepared food at the St James kitchen on Tuesday, and on the 12th they had 3-4 more volunteers served the meal.
School Food Drive – The school conducted a Food Drive to benefit the December First Friday Food Distribution. All grades participated.
CLOTHE THE NAKED
Children and Youth Coat Drive – Parishioners were asked to donate only new or like new coats for kids and teens (up to age 18). Coats were donated to Clothesline in Arlington.
We also had volunteers to receive, sort and distribute items throughout the day on Veteran’s Day, November 11th.
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.” It will be held on the lawn area between the Rectory and Parish House. The event will be moved to Msgr. Heller Hall if the weather is not good.
We have a parish group who volunteered to serve the food and drinks!
We 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.
THIS SIGN-UP IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO VOLUNTEERED.
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.
- 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.
- Parishioners can send donations to the correctional facility.
MEN’S KAIROS PRISON MINISTRY – As part of our Diocesan Week of Service and carrying out the Corporal Works of Mercy, we were supporting the Kairos Prison Ministry. We were asking volunteers to provide at least 1 dozen cookies for donation. These cookies were distributed to the male prisoners of block S3 of the Greenville correctional facility in Jarret, Virginia.
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.
Share Your Service Form
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Saint James Boy Scout Troop 681 and Cub Scout Pack 681
Number of People:
75
Recipients:
Families in need (via the Falls Church food pantry)
Service Performed:
As part of the nationwide Scouting for Food service project, youth and parents from Saint James’ Pack/Troop 681 conducted a food drive over the past two weekends. On November 1st, Scouts distributed post-it notes across greater Falls Church to inform neighbors of the drive; on November 8th, Scouts returned to those homes to pick up bags full of canned food, cereal, pasta, and other nonperishable items. Saint James BSA units have participated in this annual fall event since the late 1980s, benefitting the Falls Church Community Services Council and its food pantry. This year, 681 Scouts collected over 700 bags — approximately 7,000 lbs — of food and delivered it to the Knox Presbyterian food pantry on Rt. 50 in Falls Church. The pantry’s shelves were nearly bare on Saturday morning; however, the facility was at capacity at the end of the day. Thank you to the many generous donors; big thanks to the Saint James Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and their parents who donated time and energy to this important service project! In a time of critical need, you have truly helped to feed the hungry.
Service Type:
Ministry (if affliated)
SERVICE WEEK RESULTS
Children and Youth Coat Drive – We collected approximately 75 coats for kids and teens (up to age 18) that were donated to Clothesline in Arlington.
Gabriel Project Drive – We collected more than 6200 diapers, 15,000 wipes, and about 4 weeks work of formula for new moms in need.
Cookie Drive for Greenville Penitentiary S3 Block – We collected over 155 dozen, 1,860 individual cookies, of different types for the men’s prison.
Below is a part of a thank you message from the prison….
“The cookies were consumed in part by 42 inmates and the 20 inside and 20 outside team members who were on the retreat. They were also distributed to the approximate 800 inmates in the S3 block of the prison on Friday night during the “cookie walk,” by the outside team of 20.
As I looked each man in the eyes and presented two bags of cookies, one for him and one for his cellmate (celly) I thought of Mathew 25 and that we with the great support of St James, along with many other parishes and Christian houses of worship were jointly “visiting Christ in prison” and being Christ to others. The cookies meant so much to the men: not only were they rare tasty treat but more importantly, they were a sign of love, which many rarely see.”
Our Saint James’ Young Professionals prepared, delivered, and served 80 meals at Christ House to those in need.
Our St. James Boy Scout Troop supported our blood drive for the Red Cross. Donors included teachers, school parents, parishioners, and neighbors. The Red Cross staff commented that donors were gracious and the volunteers (including youngsters) were exceptionally kind and helpful. When we were finished packing up the equipment, the Red Cross lead took off her jacket and asked that it go to the coat drive.
47 pints of blood collected.
13 first-time donors
52 presenting donors in total
Over 20 parishioners joined our Legion of Mary on Veteran’s Day to pray a rosary by the grotto for the departed. Despite the cold weather, everyone attended. At the end, they prayed for a successful Diocesan Service Week.
