Diocesan Week of Service

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”. 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.

Our parishioners can volunteer with their ministry, individually, or as a family during the November Week of Service based on the Works of Mercy. The important thing is to find a way to share your time and talent during this week of service.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A PRINTABLE LIST OF OPEN PARISH OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AND VOLUNTEER LISTED BELOW THIS. Then you can scroll down to the interested section for more details.

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 for the parish and school.

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.

Address: 1001 Fowler Street, Falls Church

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.

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 make cards for retired IHM Sisters at Camilla Hall, retired priests at Saint Rose os Lima Villa, and homebound parishioners.
• Parishioners are 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 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 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. However, we are grateful for all unopened formula.

For diapers, all sizes of diapers are welcome from newborn to size 6, sizes 3 to 5 especially are needed. 

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 – 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 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 beginning November 12th to benefit the December First Friday Food Distribution. all grades will participate.

CLOTHE THE NAKED

Children and Youth Coat Drive – Please donate only new or like 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.” 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. 

MEN’S KAIROS PRISON MINISTRY – 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 or rectory.

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.