New President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese Arlington, Stephen Carattini, Announced by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

Mr. Carattini Brings Leadership Experience from Four Catholic Organizations as Catholic Charities Continues to Modify Services to Meet Growing Needs; Current President and CEO Art Bennett Retires After 10 Successful Years at the Helm

ARLINGTON, Va. - Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, announced Stephen Carattini as the new President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, effective January 4, 2021. Mr. Carattini has served in leadership roles at four other Catholic organizations across the country. He assumes this role as Catholic Charities continues to experience and meet record need across service programs as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Mr. Carattini is preceded by Art Bennett, who announced his retirement earlier this year having served in the role since 2010.

“Mr. Carattini is a Catholic leader with extensive experience providing strategic leadership and creating practical business solutions for both for-profit and faith-based, non-profit organizations. I am confident he will provide sound, dynamic leadership to Catholic Charities and its 21 outreach programs. The impact of the pandemic weighs particularly heavily on those already experiencing need, and we are committed to serving our communities through this critical time,” said Bishop Burbidge. “I also thank Mr. Art Bennett, President and CEO, upon his retirement for his long years of faithful service and visionary leadership at Catholic Charities. He led the way as Catholic Charities expanded services to reach more individuals and families throughout our diocese.”

Since 2018, Mr. Carattini served as the Director for the Department for Justice and Charity for the Diocese of Youngstown. Immediately prior to his work for the Diocese of Youngstown, Mr. Carattini served five years as the CEO for Catholic Social Services for the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He has also held the position of Chief Operating Officer for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver and Division Director for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Mr. Carattini received a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations from Georgetown University and a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies from the University of St. Thomas.

“I am grateful and humbled by Bishop Burbidge's appointment to become the next President and CEO of Catholic Charities,” said Mr. Carattini. “Under the dedicated leadership of Art Bennett, the agency has truly lived out its mission to provide compassionate, competent, and professional ministry to anyone in need, regardless of faith. I am excited to meet and join with my new colleagues in sharing the love and consolation of Jesus Christ by serving our neighbors throughout the Diocese of Arlington.”

“As Catholic Charities has demonstrated, particularly during the pandemic, the organization is primed for continual growth to meet the expanding needs of the vulnerable. As more of our neighbors reach out for food, housing assistance, education and healthcare, Catholic Charities remains committed to finding creative ways to continue addressing those needs under Stephen's leadership,” said Mr. Bennett. “I know the staff will welcome and benefit from Stephen's breadth of experience, especially working with the Church as it served the poor in Youngstown, Ohio, Galveston-Houston, and Denver.”

For more information on Catholic Charities, visit www.ccda.net.

For more information, contact Amber Roseboom, Director of Media Relations, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at 571-215-8731 or Amber.Roseboom@arlingtondiocese.org.

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The Catholic Diocese of Arlington was established on August 13, 1974, and is home to 71 parishes and more than 460,000 Catholics. There are currently 276 priests serving in the Diocese and 45 seminarians discerning a priestly vocation. The Diocese has 37 parish (K-8) schools, four diocesan high schools, four independent Catholic schools and five free-standing (not connected with a parish school) pre-schools, serving more than 17,000 students. 

The Diocese includes the seven cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester and the 21 counties of Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Northumberland, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren and Westmoreland.