St. Philip Catholic Church News & Updates

The Bishop's Lenten Appeal Update

St. Philip is close to its BLA Goal

Thank you to all parishioner's who have completed a donation or pledge to the Bishop's Lenten Appeal.

We know not everyone able to give. To those still reflection upon the many blessings that God has given you, please prayerfully consider supporting the BLA. Every donation is vital to the success of the BLA, and your gift will be used to enrich and improve the lives of others and will be an instrument of the joy and peace that only Christ can give! 

To make a one-time gift or set up recurring pledge payments to this year’s BLA, you may go online to www.arlingtondiocese.org/BLA 

Thank you and God bless you!

Final Friday Stations of the Cross & Adoration

This Friday's bi-lingual Stations of the Cross will be the final one for this Lent, as next Friday will be Good Friday. It takes place after the 7 pm Mass, followed by Adoration.

Celebrate at the Diocese's Jubilee Fest

Bishop Burbidge invites you to the Diocesan Jubilee Fest at Warren County Fairgrounds in Front Royal, Virginia on Saturday, June 8, 2024!

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Arlington with your parish family and thousands of faithful from across northern Virginia. Kick off the festival giving thanks to God with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the

Mass, celebrated by Bishop Burbidge. Following Mass, enjoy live music by headliner Celtic rock band, Scythian. Head to arlingtondiocese.org/jubilee-fest to register.

Annual 4-Car Raffle

The tickets for the annual Car Raffle have been mailed. This is the same raffle that we have participated in for the last number of years. This year 4 vehicles will be raffled as well as a $20,000 cash drawing, along with additional cash drawings.

You will notice that the ticket returns are being processed at All Saints again this year. This is required by the Department of Charitable Gaming. The raffle continues to benefit our parish, specifically Work Camp and many other charitable causes throughout the diocese, as it has in the past. We hope that you will support our efforts by buying or selling your tickets. Please make your checks payable to All Saints.

Food Pantry

Don’t forget the Food Pantry when doing your grocery shopping. There is always “need.”

Currently, we especially need Jelly, Rice, Oil, Hearty Soups, and Drinks. For more information, please email eac2427@gmail.com.

• Make sure you don’t donate expired food items.
• We cannot accept dogfood or any kind of petfood.

Nationwide Invitation to Prayer

On March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that has the potential to make a major impact in the widespread accessibility of chemical abortion (abortion pills). Chemical abortions are now the most common form of abortion in the United States.

The case is in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) promoting the availability of chemical abortion while ignoring risks to women and violating federal law. While the Supreme Court case is not about ending chemical abortion, it can restore limitations that the FDA has overridden.

Catholics are asked to invoke the intercession of St. Joseph, Defender of Life and offer this prayer daily beginning on March 25, the eve of U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments in a case that has the potential to make a major impact in the widespread accessibility of chemical abortion (abortion pills), through June, when a decision is expected.

Online and print versions of the prayer can be found at www.respectlife.org/prayer-to-st-joseph.

Bishop Burbidge on the Topic of IVF

The topic of in vitro fertilization has been in the news recently due to a court decision in Alabama. Bishop Burbidge, as chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, recently issued a statement on the topic.

The full statement can be found here.

He reminds us that "Each Life has Immeasurable Value from the Moment of Conception". Please take a moment read the Church's teachings on the subject.

Contact Sister Marie Benedict Elliott, F.S.E. for more information on St. Philip Youth Ministry.

Quo Vadis and FIAT Camps Registration Lottery, March 1-25

Quo Vadis Days and FIAT Camps are great opportunities for Catholic high school students (currently in grades 9-12) to have fun while deepening their faith and exploring their vocations. Quo Vadis (for boys) is staffed by Arlington seminarians, priests and religious, and runs July 7-11. FIAT (for girls) is staffed by religious sisters and runs July 14-18. Both are held at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. The registration lottery will be open March 1-25.

Visit ArlingtonDiocese.org/QuoVadis or ArlingtonDiocese.org/FIAT for videos and photos from past years, more information, and registration.

Arlington Camino Interest Meeting: Tuesday, April 16, 7:45-8:30pm

St. Philip will join other parishes to pray for vocations on a walking pilgrimage from St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg to St. Thomas More Cathedral during Memorial Day weekend (May 25-26). Those 14 years and older may participate without a parent. Those under age 14 need a parent present to participate. Learn more at our interest meeting in Room 4, or contact Sister Marie Benedict Elliott, F.S.E. for more information or to register.

Saturday, April 20, Young Sacristans Following Mass at 8 am

Moms and daughters assist with preparing the church for Sunday worship, followed by reflection and refreshments, concluding at 10:30 am

Fellowship Fridays: Faith, Food, & Fun, 3-5 pm

Join students in grades 6, 7, and 8 for prayer, games, and refreshments to support one another in our journey of faith. Feel free to bring a friend! (No meeting in Good Friday.)

We will not meet on Good Friday, March 29.

Anima Christi High School Group: Sundays, 6-8 pm

Join high school students for prayer and fellowship on Sunday evenings.

No meetings on Palm Sunday (March 24) or Easter Sunday (March 31)

"Come and have breakfast" (Jesus: Jn. 21:12),

Thursdays, 7:15-7:45 am

High school students are welcome to Room 4 for prayer and breakfast on Thursdays.

We will not meet on Holy Thursday, March 28.

Read the Bulletin Online Every Friday

Get a jump on the week's news and read the St. Philip Parish Bulletin online every Friday here.

Are You Registered at St. Philip?

It is important that you are registered with the Parish of Saint Philip so we may adequately respond to your spiritual needs. Please note that you must be registered to receive a Sponsor letter or enroll your child in any of sacramental programs. If you are over the age of 21, you are asked to register independently of your parents. Registration forms are available in the Parish Office or online here.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, as we celebrate the great day of Palm Sunday, we continue our discussion on the Sacraments, and our focus moves from the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Marriage and Holy Orders), to the Sacraments of Healing. This transition is especially appropriate as we enter into this Holy Week and we ponder the mystery of the Cross and the forgiveness of sins that Jesus gives us from it.

As the Gospels relate to us, Jesus calls all men and women to repentance at the beginning of his public ministry (Mk. 1:14). This is the essential message that Jesus brings to all of humanity so that all of humanity may be in right relationship with God as Adam and Eve were before the Fall in Genesis. When we look further in the Gospels, Jesus not only performs many miracles that heal people of their physical sickness (Mt. 8:14-17), but also he shows to his disciples that he has power over the forgiveness of sins (Lk. 7:48). The forgiveness of sins is a power that is reserved to God alone, since God is the one who is wronged by our sins.

One of the objections that arises from many of our Protestant brothers and sisters is that if God is the one who forgives sins, why do we have to go to Confession? Can we just go directly to God in prayer with our sins and be forgiven? The answer to this is that, yes, only God can forgive sins, as we see in the miracle of the crippled man lowered down to Jesus by his four friends (Mk. 2:5,10). However, in God’s providence, he chose to share this power of the forgiveness of sins with his Apostles when he tells Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16:19). In addition, after his Resurrection, he further affirms that he wishes his apostles to share in this power when he breathes upon them and says, “Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven” (Jn 20:22-23). Clearly, God gave this power to forgive sins to the apostles, the ones entrusted with the care of the Church on Earth throughout the rest of time.

In order to make a good confession, three things are necessary: contrition, confession of sins, and satisfaction.

• Contrition – Sin wounds our souls deeply, and Mortal Sin has the ability of separating us from God forever in Hell. For this reason, we have to be sorry for what we have done through contrition. While it is good to be sorry for our sins out of fear of Hell, it is better to be sorry for our sins because it offends God.

• Confession of sins – When we come to the priest, we have to be sure to confess all Mortal Sins we have committed. If we hold something back from the priest, it is like holding back a wound from a doctor who wishes to cure us.

• Satisfaction – Once we go to confession, the priest gives to us a penance to do, usually a few short prayers. This is a way to help mend the damage that has been done by our sins.

It is my hope that the Sacrament of Confession is a place where all can encounter Jesus’s mercy.

May Christ’s peace be with you!

Fr. Briggs

Jun 8: Diocesan Jubilee Festival in Front Royal

May 12: May Crownings