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Suffragan diocese Arlington, Virginia, United States

Diocese of Arlington

Arlingtonen(sis)

Latin Church

The Diocese of Arlington is a Latin Church diocese covering Northern Virginia, erected in 1974 and suffragan to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge has led the diocese since December 2016.

On the map

Esri
Arlington, United States, drawn to the town rather than to the door: the register holds no verified address for its cathedral.

Every see on one map: browse the dioceses. Churches with recorded hours: find Mass times.

Established
1974
Catholics
433,401
Priests
255
Territory
16,941 km²

Parishes and churches

87 listed churches in our records. Open a parish for Mass times, confession, directions and sources where recorded.

This is our recorded coverage, not an official diocesan parish count. Confirm service times with the parish before travelling.

The bishop

Bishop
Michael F. Burbidge

Explore the ministry of the bishop.

The cathedral

Cathedral of Saint Thomas More stands in Arlington, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.

On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.

History

Northern Virginia, in the United States, is served by the Diocese of Arlington (Latin: Dioecesis Arlingtonensis), a Latin see suffragan to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Its mother church is the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, and the English statesman Thomas More is the diocese's patron saint. Michael F. Burbidge has led the diocese as bishop since December 2016.

This see in the wire

Stories that name this see

The wire's resolver matched this see in the text of each story.

  • Virginia bishop urges faithful to reject ballot initiatives on abortion, same-sex marriage (Diocese of Arlington)

    Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington is calling on the faithful to vote against two upcoming ballot initiatives in Virginia. In a statement, Burbidge urged voters to reject Ballot Question 1, the Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment. He described the amendment as an extreme and vague change to the state constitution that would establish a legal right to unregulated abortions performed by unlicensed practitioners at any stage of pregnancy. Burbidge stated that this measure threatens the health and safety of mothers and could allow for abortions up to birth. He also noted that the amendment extends these rights to minors and would remove the role of parents in making irreversible decisions for their daughters. Burbidge also advised voters to oppose Ballot Question 2, the Virginia Remove Constitutional Same-Sex Marriage Ban Amendment. He argued that this measure would remove the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman from the state constitution. He further claimed the amendment would enshrine gender ideology by separating biological sex from gender.

    Sep 23, 2026 · Bishops

  • Catholic prison ministry brings sacraments, mercy, and community to those behind bars

    Catholic prison ministers provide sacraments and companionship to incarcerated people to ensure they remain connected to the Church community. During Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday on July 26, Church leaders emphasized that those in jail and prison are members of the Catholic community who need God's mercy. William Hall, the coordinator of prison ministry for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington and a member of the Buckingham Correctional Center ministry, said the work follows the command in Matthew 25 to visit those in prison. Hall told EWTN News Nightly that ministers aim to provide comfort and sacraments to men in prison. He noted that many incarcerated Catholics have found a deeper spiritual life through the Church's presence. Hall stated that Catholics behind bars should be viewed as part of a parish rather than being defined only by their crimes or convictions. He described his approach to ministry as listening to and loving the individuals to understand their lives and improve them.

    Sep 21, 2026 · Dioceses

  • Arlington Diocese investigates sainthood cause for Tom Vander Woude

    Sep 17, 2026 · Life & Family · 8 sources

  • Diocese of Arlington begins beatification process for Tom Vander Woude

    Sep 17, 2026 · Life & Family

  • Diocese of Arlington begins beatification process for Tom Vander Woude

    Sep 17, 2026 · Life & Family · 2 sources

Filed by the see itself

Published on the see's own news feed. A diocese reports on the whole Church, so these are often about somewhere else.

31 stories in the wire either name this see or come from its own feed. Read the wire.