Catholic Diocese To Host Forum On Racism In Burke

BURKE, VA — A forum discussing racism with Catholic leaders will be held at a Burke church on Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The forum will be available to attend virtually or in person.

Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington is hosting the forum at The Church of the Nativity, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke. The event is sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington and the Catholic Diocese of Arlington's Peace and Justice Commission and Office of Multicultural Ministries.

"The Gospel of Life proclaims that God has created all of us in his image and likeness. We are members of his Holy Family," said Burbidge in a statement. "We will see the justice for which we long when these truths penetrate our hearts and the hearts of others."

Rev. Scott Woods, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, will be the keynote speaker, leading a discussion on the current state of race relations in the U.S. and ways to help eliminate racism from communities and beyond. Woods is pastor of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in St. Mary’s City, Maryland and St. Peter Claver in St. Inigoes, Maryland, as well as associate director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Washington and the chaplain and founder of the spiritual direction program at St. Mary’s Ryken Catholic School in Leonardtown, Maryland.

In-person attendance is limited to 100 people due to social distancing measures. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP by Aug. 21 to volunteer@ccda.net or 703-841-3830. A May 2019 listening session on racism held by Burbidge drew 300 attendees.

Masks are required for anyone 10 and up, unless a person has a health condition preventing he or she from safely wearing a mask. Hand sanitizer will be provided upon entry and exit.

On Aug. 1, Burbidge announced he will ask Black leaders in the diocese to join an advisory council to help create a strategic plan to address racism in the diocese. The same day, he led a prayer service at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More that was hosted by the diocesan Black Catholic Ministry and the Office of Multicultural Ministries.

The Catholic Diocese of Arlington services 70 Virginia parishes in the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester and the counties of Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Northumberland, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren and Westmoreland.