St. Charles Catholic Church, Clarendon
CV NEWS FEED // The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has chosen a former chaplain of Christendom College to be one of five parish priests who will represent the United States in October at the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican.
According to a Diocese of Arlington, Virginia news release, Fr. Donald Planty currently serves as pastor of Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington. Planty has served as a priest in the diocese for over 30 years. He previously served as head chaplain at Christendom College in Front Royal and as pastor at Holy Family Catholic Church in Dale City.
In the release, the diocese’s bishop, Michael Burbidge, called Planty’s upcoming attendance at the synod “an honor” for the diocese.
“Based on his priestly experience and assignments, I am confident Fr. Planty will offer insights, wisdom, and ideas that will contribute greatly to the synodal process, especially as related to parish life,” he said. “With all in the diocese, I convey to Fr. Planty our congratulations and prayerful support.”
According to the diocese, Burbidge appointed Planty as the diocesan liaison for the synod in 2021. As the liaison, Planty has seen much of the synodal process at a diocesan level since its inception three years ago.
“It has been very inspiring to see the people of our Diocesan Church come together to live synodality through prayer and reflection on the Church’s communion, participation, and mission,” Planty said in the release. “It is an added honor to have worked on the process locally and now to be chosen to represent the priests of our country at the World Meeting of Parish Priests in Rome in preparation for the fall session of the Synod of Bishops.”
Planty said he looks forward to meeting and praying with hundreds of other priests and discussing synodal themes with them.
