Welcome the Stranger

Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say, “I came as a guest and you received me.”
-Rule of St. Benedict
Our Mission
To welcome, support, and assist migrants and refugees in association with Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington. To help new arrivals, our client partners, become self-sufficient and part of the local community.
Opportunities with Welcome the Stranger
St. John Neumann’s Welcome the Stranger Ministry is established with the goal of supporting client or client families in our area synergistically with Catholic Charities. We will work with client partners to encourage self-sufficiency as they become a part of our local community.

Our ministry will focus on creating awareness, welcoming, social activities, being partners, working with housing and supply needs, transportation, employment, education support and tutoring, and support to Catholic Charities.

Volunteer Focus Opportunities

  • Parish connect: raise awareness and inspire participation
  • Social activities: organize fun and supportive activities
  • Parish partners: to mentor and companion with client or client family partners
  • Housing supplies: coordinate an online household goods donation list for the parish
  • Transportation: take client partners to appointments, to coach public transportation skills
  • Employment: assist our client partners in finding basic employment and/or employment in their skill area
  • Education: assist our client partners with the Student Achievement Project, special education, tutoring, certificate programs, and community college
Contact Information
To join our ministry contact Joe Duffy.
For Catholic Charities: Chantal Skubic at chantal.skubic@ccda.net or 703-851-6388
Staff contact: JoAnn Duggan, SJN Director of Outreach, at jduggan@saintjn.org or 703-860-6149
.