Volunteers provide and serve a luncheon in DeSales Hall following a funeral. This is done gratis and gives the family of the deceased some peace of mind at a time of distress. Consider joining this beautiful and helpful ministry. 

Contact: Suzanne Keating                    

Sponsors are needed to share a little of their time and faith for those who are becoming Catholics.

Catechists and Assistants are needed for a variety of Faith Formation sessions. OLGC encourages catechists to obtain certification through the Diocese of Arlington. Financial support is available to help cover the cost of training.

Contact: Amy W. de Bernardo, 703.896.7414

Become involved in a variety of different ways visit the Liturgy & Worship page for more info.

Contact: Gerard, 703.896.7411

OLGC School and CCF families generously prepare meals for the “Seasoned Citizen’s Luncheons”. Between 85-100 Seniors attend these afternoons of good food, friendship, and entertainment.

This is a way for the families of OLGC to thank parish seniors for their support. In addition to preparing food, the children in the younger grades often perform during the luncheons. Their smiling faces and angelic voices bring such joy. The Girl Scout Troops of our Parish also prepare table decorations and take-home gifts. All the help with cooking and serving is greatly appreciated and certainly needed. Thank you for your generosity.

Contact:
Heidi Snyder, 703.560.4954

Our Special Needs Ministry is seeking additional adult and high-school age volunteers to help in a variiety of ways with children with special needs. Experience with children with disabilities is preferred, but not required.

Contact: Amy W. de Bernardo, 703.896.7414

There are requirements for adult volunteers having "substantial contact with children".

Visit Volunteering with Children webpage for info.

Fr. Matt, with the help of OLGC Outreach Leaders, has come up with a unified vision to pursue a once-a-month OLGC Giving Outreach program that focuses on a singular cause each month during the calendar year. Each cause will be headed by coordinators and will be advertised parish-wide to encourage involvement by both church, school, and CCF. This plan is to promote fellowship and community service. 

The goal is to conduct each drive on a single day (or weekend) each month. The month’s communications and liturgies will coordinate with the drive, the need, and the mission, so that we are praying for the organizations and those we are helping. During the month, we will showcase the organization - explain the mission and provide a spiritual reflection on it. Drive coordinators may arrange to have someone talk to the students at the school and CCF, so they are aware of what the organization is and how it affects those in need. 

The drive’s dedicated day or weekend has a specific time frame to receive donations. Items will not be collected longer than designated date(s) and cannot be dropped off earlier, because of space and resources. A specific organization or group of people act as the coordinator(s).  We encourage other groups and individuals to assist during the drive as volunteers to collect, sort, store, and help deliver items.

Some drives are every year, and some may be every other year, or we may have a rolling schedule.  All should be flexible, and if there is an immediate community need that arises, we will adjust.

All coordinators will work with Cheryl Jones, Events Manager, cjones@olgcva.org, 703-896-7418.

The proposed schedule of drives for 2021-2022:

July - Respect Life – Diaper Drive
August - Backpacks - School Supplies
September - Committee for Helping Others – CHO
October - Coat Drive
November - Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets
December - OLGC’s Joy of Christmas Giving
January - Food for Others (or pantry specifically)
February - Power Packs
March - Bishop’s Lenten Appeal
April - KOVAR
May - Yellow Ribbon Fund
June - The Lamb Center

Recognizing and wanting to help alleviate the needs of those unfortunate among us, a bake sale is usually conducted in November, donating all proceeds to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, who distributes the funds to where the need is greatest. We can in this way help to relieve the pain of hunger or to pay utilities. The need is great and all of the profits are used for this purpose.

Contact: Mary Pat Egan

Youth Ministry's High School WorkCampers also hold bake sales in the spring and winter to raise funds for their summer WorkCamp trip in which they repair and do maintenance work on homes for those less fortunate. 

Contact: Derek Rogers

Approximately every other year this campaign happens. 

We arrange for the INOVA Bloodmobile to come to OLGC several times a year so that parishioners can donate blood conveniently before or after Sunday morning Masses. 

Contact: Coordinator Needed

Christmas in July Baby clothes and items are collected for crisis pregnancy centers and local moms in need. A tree with tags identifying specific needs is set up in the Narthex the last two weekends in June. Parishioners take a tag and bring the items to OLGC. 

Contact: Betsy Argauer, 703.255.3744

When the weather gets cooler the annual Coat Drive will begin. Parishioners are asked to donate clean, gently used coats, gloves, and hats for the needy so that they can have a safe winter. All donations go to local distribution and care centers for those in need. Donations should be dropped off on the specific day or weekend. Watch for a notice in the Bulletin and website to know when the drive begins each Fall.

Contact: Eddie Paquette

The December Monthly Outreach project is being revamped.  Stay tuned for details. 

Contact: 

Donate specific non-perishable foods (especially lunch & dinner items) to be compiled into bags as "power packs". These packs provide elementary school students with a pack of food they can bring home and eat over the weekend. Several children in our area have little or almost nothing to eat between their Friday lunch and Monday breakfast meals provided at school. The weekend Power Pack (which contains 2 items for breakfast, 2 items for lunch, and 2 items for dinner, plus 2 snacks and 2 drinks) helps alleviate hunger for local children in need and enables them to focus on their school work. Currently, 33 Fairfax County Elementary Schools participate in the program which is organized by Food For Others. 

Contacts: 

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Drive takes place the week of Thanksgiving as we ask families or groups to make a dinner basket  for a family in need. 

Britepaths is a dedicated leader in developing sustainable solutions that stabilize low-income working families, build resilience through financial literacy and workforce development, and provide supports for children. Their services are designed to help individuals and families in the Fairfax County area who are struggling to make ends meet. Often, they are working hard, but they live paycheck-to-paycheck. Any kind of unexpected expense, such as a car repair, rent hike, or medical expenses, can throw them into a financial crisis. They stabilize families by providing short-term food and financial assistance; build resilience by providing mentoring, classes, and longer-term guidance that helps families help themselves out of their crisis and onto a path where they can plan for a stable future; and support children with supplemental food at participating schools, school supplies for students in need, and holiday meals and gifts for children, relieve financial burdens and provide hope at a time when families are in crisis.

Britepaths is part of the parish monthly outreach rotation. Volunteers will assist in collecting grocery gift cards, monetary donations, or food and household and deliver items based on the needs. 

Contact: Peggy Loudin

Become involved in a variety of different ways visit the Care for Our Common Home page for more info.

Contact: Jack Dausman

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington seeks to implement the Church’s mission of social justice in ways that strengthen individuals, families, and communities. It does this by providing services and resources to all in need, convening the Catholic community to fulfill our mission of social justice, and advocating for social justice.

OLGC supports Catholic Charities financially through an annual second collection at Masses, and provides office space for Catholic Charities social workers who provide counseling here at OLGC. Also, individual parishioners volunteer with several of Catholic Charities’ programs, and the Women of OLGC assists with programs such as Christ House.

Contact: Irene and Andrew Zaso

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Christ House is run by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. Christ House provides food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, and clothing to those in need. It helps individuals recognize their abilities, develop self-sufficiency, and maintain their self-respect. Christ House offers limited assistance to individuals needing help to pay their rent, utility bills, prescription bills, and other expenses. Food is collected at OLGC and delivered on the second Sunday of the month.

A team of volunteers provide dinner once a month to Christ House. Please join us in this ministry.

Contact: Patty Orfini

CHO was organized in 1969 by a group of concerned churches and individuals to provide simple, loving charity to those in need of goods and services they are unable to provide for themselves or obtain from government social services organizations. Membership in CHO is open to all churches, synagogues, civic and service organizations, as well as concerned citizens in the community. CHO provides the following to people in need who live in Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring, and Merrifield:

• Emergency financial assistance
• Emergency food aid through the CHO food closet
• Clothing though the CHO clothes closet
• Furniture through the CHO furniture closet

OLGC and our parishioners support CHO in many ways, including:

• Drives of food and gift cards to help stock the CHO food closet and and to distribute to families for Christmas dinner.

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are always needed to donate food and to help deliver donations to CHO. Watch the Bulletin for announcements of other needs.

This organization is included as one of our monthly outreach drives. 

Contact: Anne Moran or CHO website for info or call 703.281.7614.

Adults spent Columbus Day Weekend Sat. Oct 6th - Mon. Oct. 8, 2018 serving the poor of Camden, NJ.

The experience will give a chance for hands-on service of the poor as well as a spiritual component where we will hear from people who have lived in difficult situations.

DeSales Service Works is a project of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. DSW exists to impact the lives of others and to Live Jesus! We provide opportunities for face-to-face service, and we work to change the lives of those we serve and to expand the mindset of those who serve. All of our efforts seek to improve struggling neighborhoods while recognizing the goodness of these impoverished communities. Check out the DeSales Service Works Introduction Video.

"WITH JESUS... LET US REACH OUT TO THOSE MOST IN NEED...THOSE WHO NEED US TO GIVE THEM A HAND, WHO NEED US TO LOOK AT THEM WITH LOVE, TO SHARE THEIR PAIN..." - POPE FRANCIS

Fil/Am Community Ministry assists in many outreach programs.

Collaborate with St. Vincent de Paul Society in our outreach efforts.

• Support the annual memorial celebration in honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino Saint and share the endeavors of Feed the Hungry, Inc., to aid calamity survivors in the Philippines
• Contribute funds for the candles used throughout the year and have shared the cost for a new set of green vestments used by priests at OLGC parish.
• Give donations and assistance to OLGC for the annual fundraising auction, the Lenten Fish Frys, the Parish Christmas Giving Tree, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Parish Fall Fest, as well as other events.
• Give full-term scholarships for two college students in the Philippines through Caritas Manila under its Youth Servant Leadership Education Program (YSLEP). His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, D.D., Archbishop of Manila chairs Caritas Manila.
• Members of the Ministry are actively involved in the parish as Lector, Sacristans, Usher, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, serve on the Pastoral Council, while others are involved with various outreach programs in neighboring parishes and small communities.
• Sponsor a couple of fundraising events annually to support the above-mentioned events at OLGC.

In 2019, were thankful for a grant from NFCU Dollars for Doers to help to maintain scholars. Click for more info. 

See additional information about Fil/Am under the Fellowship webpage.

Contact: Chiqui Pacis-Sanchez 571.499.8277

The December Monthly Outreach project is being revamped.  Stay tuned for details. 

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization dedicated to providing charitable services, promoting Catholic education and Catholic public policy positions, and actively defending Catholicism in various nations. Members from OLGC and St. Mark parishes are part of the Santa Maria Council #4654 located in the heart of Vienna, VA.

Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 8:30 pm.

Contact: Grand Knight or visit Santa Maria Council website for info.

KOVAR is a Virginia Knights of Columbus 501(c) (3) tax-exempt charity established in 1971 to provide financial assistance through grants and home loans to tax-exempt organizations providing training and assistance to citizens with intellectual disabilities.

One major focus area of KOVAR is to assist in helping people with intellectual disabilities to live independently. One recent example is the Virginia Knights were able to enhance the lives of Virginians with intellectual disabilities by awarding a grant to HopeTree Family Services in February to benefit three Developmental Disability Ministry residential group homes.

Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council #4654 supports OLGC and is active in raising funds for KOVAR.

This organization is included as one of our monthly outreach drives. 

Contact: grandknight4654@knightsvienna.org or visit their website at www.knightsvienna.org.

The Lamb Center is a daytime drop-in center for the poor and homeless in central Fairfax County and Fairfax City. It provides counseling, breakfast and lunch, hot showers, laundry, AA meetings, and more. The Lamb Center’s mission is to serve the poor and homeless, transform lives, and share God’s love.

OLGC parishioners support The Lamb Center by: 

• Delivering of a hot breakfast the second Monday of every month.
• Delivering lunch items the third Friday of every month. 

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to prepare or purchase breakfast items for the monthly hot breakfast. 

Contact: Jane Heishman & Barb DeLisa to help with the monthly meals. 

The School participates in many service activities.

Visit School Webpage for info.

Our Lady's Rosary Makers has been active for 39 years. We meet in the St. Joseph Center on the first Monday of every month 10am - 12pm (except on holidays when the parish is closed - summer dates differ). Members make cord rosaries by hand, which are then distributed to parish members as needed and to several missions around the world. All are welcome to help.

Contact: Patty Donahue

Since 2012, OLGC’s Prayer Shawl Ministry (knitting/crochet group) has welcomed everyone interested in knitting or crocheting for those who are ill, elderly, or in need.  We meet on most Thursday’s from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel. We do not generally meet on holidays or during the summer.

Please join us if you would like to be a part of our ministry. Those who are interested in learning to knit or crochet are also welcome. And, we are happy to accept donations of yarn and supplies. 

Items have been given to the sick, home-bound, St. Vincent dePaul & Catholic Charities clients, victims of CA fires, families with newborns, and anyone in need of comfort. We attach not only a prayer based on St Francis de Sales' teachings but also a rosary made by the OLGC rosary makers to our handiwork.

Contact: Elizabeth Wonder

The Respect Life Ministry is responsible for parish activities and involvement in Diocesan events, such as the National March for Life, the Life Chain, reviewing and recommending current pro-life literature to the parish, and other area events that affect our parish and community.

Pro-Life Speaker the Women of OLGC and Pro-Life Committee sponsor a pro-life speaker. There is a talk followed by questions and answers. Topics have included end-of-life issues, abortion, legislative decisions, and sonograms as a life-saving tool. This is usually in January.

March for Life We organize a bus to go to the March for Life. Sign-up is online view website for details 2 weekends before the March, which is typically between January 18th - 26th.

Mother's Day Roses and Father's Day Bookmarks Donations are requested to raise money to benefit a Pro-Life cause.

Christmas in July Baby clothes and items are collected for crisis pregnancy centers and local moms in need. A tree with tags identifying specific needs is set up in the Narthex the last two weekends in June. Parishioners take a tag and bring the items to OLGC. These Items are distributed at the Donut Social the first Sunday of July.

Respect Life Sunday and Life Chain takes place in over 1,500 communities across North America. Life Chain may be the simplest pro-life witness ever conceived, and one of the most popular. Participants congregate for 90 minutes at busy intersections holding pro-life signs and praying, forming a veritable chain of life in solemn witness for the preborn individuals lost to abortion every day of the year. Life Chain takes place on the first Sunday in October in Falls Church at Broad and Washington from 2-3:30 pm. It is a peaceful, prayerful witness to being pro-life.

Contact: Betsy Argauer, 703.255.3744

PrayForLife.org This new, secure website is an on-line portal where caring pro-life citizens of Northern Virginia can easily schedule prayer vigils on the public sidewalk in front of abortion facilities, stay connected, and keep up to date on local developments. It is stocked with resources to help accompany expectant families in need so that sidewalk counselors can have information at their fingertips.

40 Days for Life A peaceful, prayerful vigil is kept for 40 days across the country outside of abortion mills. There is usually one in the Spring and one in the Fall. OLGC tries to commit to one of the 40 days to sign up parishioners to take a one-hour slot to pray. Contact: 40days

The Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia (SCNOVA),  has been dedicated to improving the quality of life as we age, through supportive programs and services, personal enrichment and volunteer engagement that enable our senior neighbors to live full and productive lives while aging in place. Our 250+ trained and vetted volunteers are medical and companion transportation drivers, friendly callers and visitors, handy helpers, health care advocates, and lifelong learning, and cultural enrichment enthusiasts. This volunteer engagement network offers stability, encouragement and hope for connected and healthy lives.

Are you seeking a life-affirming way to share your time and talents?

Our incredible team of volunteers donate over 10,000 hours each year, providing valuable assistance to seniors in our community. The unique approach employed by the Shepherd's Center allows for adults to volunteer their time providing vital services to those vulnerable seniors needing assistance. The incredible array of programs and services we provide are made possible through the dedication and enthusiasm of our volunteers, who are the very heart of our organization.

If you want to help, please download the volunteer application, fill it out, sign and return to office@scnova.org.

Contact: 703.281.0538.

OLGC’s Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been a part of our parish community since 1998 and is part of the Arlington Diocese Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Our mission is to grow spiritually and in fellowship while providing person-to-person assistance to neighbors in need. Volunteers, called Vincentians, help the needy by providing financial and material assistance, referrals to government and community organizations, and meeting with and listening to those who come to us in need.

Volunteer Opportunities: SVdP meets the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Most of our volunteers are caseworkers who spend one day a month answering the calls that come into our helpline. These Vincentians are responsible for taking care of the cases that arise from those calls. Many of the cases are resolved the same day or within a couple of days, but others take longer. You do not need experience to be a helpline volunteer. Training and a mentor are provided. We also need resource volunteers such as Spanish speakers, lawyers with experience in areas such as immigration and family law, financial advisors, etc. Finally, we are always in need of monetary donations so that we can continue to do the work we do.

Contact: visit SVdP webpage for info.

“I was telling a friend lately how meaningful SVdP has been to me. It is the most striking example of compassion and selflessness I have ever witnessed. The commitment of the members and their willingness to help, despite the imperfection of us all, has been very moving and inspiring to me.”

We partner with Catholic Charities  to collect filled blue bags to feed the hungry through the St. Lucy Project Food Drive. Each bag will have a list of requested items.

This organization is included as one of our monthly outreach drives. 

Founded in 2005, Yellow Ribbon Fund (“YRF”) is a 501(c)3 veteran service organization dedicated to serving severely wounded, ill, and injured service members.  The mission of YRF is to enable families facing medical crises to stay together during the critical recuperation phase. Every year, 1700 military families nationwide and representing every branch of the United States Military receive assistance from YRF…

400 of those families are our neighbors living right here in the DMV!

YRF relies on donations to provide practical support such as rental cars, hotel stays, and fully furnished apartments at no cost to military families while their servicemember is receiving medical treatment at Walter Reed National Military Hospital or Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on donations, yet the needs of wounded servicemembers and their caregivers are steadily increasing.

This organization is included as one of our monthly outreach drives. 

The Junior High WorkCamp is part of our Confirmation preparation at OLGC that engages our 7^th and 8^th graders in forms of service, whether at local senior parishioners homes or at nearby charitable organizations, and also in retreat segments to help them grow in their understanding of the importance of their faith and in the sacraments. Our Jr. High students assist the community in the summer during two different weeks of service.

Adult volunteers are always needed to assist in leading and driving the teams.

Contact: Derek Rogers, Director of Youth Ministry, 703.896.7409

The High School WorkCamp is a weeklong service opportunity for teens to travel on the east coast to help others in need. Home repair is a big part of this excursion but spending time with the residents and sharing the Gospel is at the center of this service. Generally, this mission trip is a non-denominational camp and our Catholic students learn that with every Christian tradition, there is the heart to love and to serve our fellow brother and sister.

Contact: Derek Rogers, Director of Youth Ministry, 703.896.7409, visit Youth Ministry webpage for more info.