Congratulations on your child’s birth or the adoption of your new family member!
You may not know it, but Mickey Mouse, the Pope, and even the President are just a few of the people who will send their congratulations to honor this special milestone.
Did you know you can request an official Papal Blessing on a parchment certificate to commemorate your child’s Baptism? Issued by the Vatican, these keepsakes feature the official Papal seal and signature. The Office of Papal Charities (Elemosineria Apostolica) in Vatican City processes all official blessing parchments.
Online Request
You can submit your request directly through the official Vatican portal. No third-party websites, emails, or postal requests are authorized to receive or process parchment applications.
Local Guidance
If you need help navigating the application process or verifying eligibility, contact your local parish secretary or diocesan office. For residents in Northern Virginia, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington comprises 70 parishes across Fairfax, Loudoun, and surrounding counties. Email the Chancery or call 703-841-2500.
Before you apply, keep in mind that each parchment is issued to a single individual, not an entire family, and the fee supports the Pope’s charitable work for the poor. Delivery from Vatican City can take several weeks, so order early.
Did you know you can share your happy news with the British Royal Family? When you send a birth announcement, a member of the Royal correspondence team typically replies with an official commemorative thank-you card.
To share your news, mail your letter or card directly to Prince William and Princess Catherine: Their Royal Highnesses The Prince & Princess of Wales, Kensington Palace, London W8 4PU, United Kingdom.
Did you know that, as a Virginia parent, you can request an official, personalized congratulatory letter from the Governor to commemorate your little one’s arrival?
Online Request
Submit your greeting request through Commonwealth of Virginia Constituent Services. Requests are accepted only through the online portal (no phone, email, fax, or mail).
Before you submit, keep in mind that requests must be made by or on behalf of a Virginia resident. You must also submit requests within a set window before the date you need the document delivered, so submit early to ensure it arrives in time.
Did you know your local Virginia State Delegate and State Senator will also issue official congratulatory letters for new babies born in their District? To request a letter, start by identifying the state legislators who represent your home district.
Find Your Legislators
You can find your specific State Delegate and State Senator using the official Who’s My Legislator? tool by entering your home address. Once you know who represents you, contact their offices directly to request a letter.
Did you know Virginia’s US Senators also recognize special family milestones? Both send official congratulatory greetings to celebrate the birth or adoption of a new family member.
Online Request
You can submit an online request through the office of Sen. Mark Warner or Sen. Tim Kaine. Submit your request well in advance to allow time for processing.
Greetings are available to all Virginia residents. Live outside Virginia? Find your state’s current U.S. Senators in the official US Senate Directory.
Did you know the President of the United States can send your new addition an official signed greeting card to celebrate their arrival? You can request a presidential greeting directly online, by mail, or by contacting your US Representative.
Online Request
Submit a greeting request through the official White House Presidential Greetings Portal.
Mail Request
You can send a birth announcement and greetings request by mail to: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20502-0039, Attn: Greetings Office.
Via Your US Representative
You can also request presidential greetings through your local Congressional office. Northern Virginia’s current Representatives include:
- Rep. Ben Cline
6th District
Represents Clarke, Frederick, and Warren Counties and the city of Winchester, along with much of the Shenandoah Valley; submit an online request.
- Rep. Eugene Vindman
7th District
Represents portions of Prince William County, Stafford County, and the city of Fredericksburg. To request a greeting, visit his official website and navigate to constituent services.
- Rep. Don Beyer
8th District
Represents Arlington County, portions of Fairfax County, and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church; submit an online request.
- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam
10th District
Represents Loudoun, Fauquier, and Rappahannock Counties, portions of Fairfax and Prince William Counties, and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park; submit an online request.
- Rep. James Walkinshaw
11th District
Represents portions of Fairfax County and the city of Fairfax. To request a greeting, visit his official website and navigate to constituent services.
Unsure which District you belong to? Use the official Find Your Representative tool by searching your residential ZIP code.
Before you submit, keep in mind that presidential greetings are available only to US citizens. Birth greetings are issued after the child is born and must be requested within a set window after the birth date. Processing and delivery can take several weeks, so submit your request as soon as you can.
Did you know Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the rest of the Disney gang love celebrating new additions to your family? When you mail a birth announcement or letter to your favorite Disney character, Disney’s Fan Mail department will try to send back an official postcard.
You can address your letter to any beloved Disney character:
Walt Disney World ∙ Florida
Insert Character’s Name
Walt Disney World Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040
Disneyland Resort & Corporate ∙ California
Insert Character’s Name
The Walt Disney Company — Fan Mail Department
500 S Buena Vista St
Burbank, CA 91521
Before you mail, keep in mind that Disney doesn’t have a separate birth announcement department, so they handle your news like standard fan mail. Replies typically arrive as a pre-printed, multi-character postcard, often featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto (the “Fab Five”) or a group of Disney Princesses, rather than a card from the specific character you wrote to. Because this is an informal fan courtesy and not a guaranteed service, responses depend on available postcard supplies.
Disclaimer: Event details are curated from public sources and subject to change. Verify all information via the provided links before attending.
