Parishioners With July Birthdays ~ by Ethel Cooley

Ethel Cooley has provided the following list of St. E's July Birthday People! Happy Birthday, Everybody!

July 1 ~ Diane Neylan and Conrad Scott

July 8 ~ Treshawn McCall

July 13 ~ Woody Kaine

July 15 ~ Mary Ann Allen

July 19 ~ Shirley Hinton

July 20 ~ Mary Baker

July 26 ~ Lucy Thompson

July 27 ~ Keon Green

July 31 ~ Tyshell Jones

Parish Council Summary from "Meet Your Rep Sunday" ~ June 3, 2007

Things the Parish Family Would Like to See Established in Our Faith Community:

1. COMMUNICATION - INFORMATION

- Install a bulletin board downstairs containing a calendar of all events plus everyday news.

- Publish addresses of members to enable members to send cards.

- Some type of quarterly forum to present information to the parish; i.e. Rep Sundays.

- Members would like to see a copy of the minutes from parish council meetings.

- Members would like to see the key actions and approvals from parish council meetings.

- Send cards for Sympathy, Death, Congratulations and sick from the Church.

2. FELLOWSHIP

- Picnic at St. Elizabeth

- Each organization of the Church should rotate each week serving refreshments after Sunday Mass.

- Fellowship should be done in the parish hall at least once a month; celebrate monthly birthdays.

- Celebration of Anniversary for St. Elizabeth to meet once a year / graduates to be honored.

3. CHILDREN PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

- Coordinator for Children and Adults

- Summer Program and Bible School

- Do more for the young people of the parish.

- Young people in the parish should be encouraged to join Parish Council.

- Program for Children / Activities for Children

4. ADULT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

- Parish Council should have a retreat with an outside facilitator and include Finance Council.

- Form a Senior Citizen Group.

- More Outreach - bring Caritas back to Church with ASCS.

- A Women's Ministry should be created for the parish.

5. FUND RAISING

- $3.65 Fund - Everyone will be asked to put $3.65 once a month for whatever needs.

- Bazaar / Big Parish Fundraiser, possibly a silent auction.

- Building Fund.

All of the church committees should come together as one to work on a strategic plan for our parish.

These were the suggestions that were heard repeated the most in the groups that met on Sunday, June 10, 2007. This summary by Parish Council was done in response to those who requested to know what transpired in other groups.

Summer Adult Formation ~ "Living Actions" ~ by Mary Walker

It's Thursday, June 21, 2007 (the first day of summer) and we have gathered for the last night of the 4th session of Summer Christian Formation. The setting each night seemed simple as we gathered in the church basement at 6:00 p.m. After prayer, we gathered at the table for a light meal and the chit chat of this church family. At 6:30 p.m. sharp, there it was, the click of the lights - off and on, - it was Cathy Woodson alerting us to gather in the circle.

Tonight we were blessed to have Fr. Andrew, our spiritual leader, who presented on "Living Actions." This was part of the theme for adult formation "Living Faith: Global and Local Actions."

Fr. Andrew started by discussing the cultural perspective in India where Christianity is one of several major religions in his country and the role of Catholicism there. He talked about how God is ever present, working in us and through us as we live our faith. He acknowledged that no one knows better than those of us at St. Elizabeth's about living faith, based on our faith journey over the past 10 months.

As we continued, various points of discussion were held, such as how do we as a faith community learn to reach out by contributing to Global ministries such as Haiti. We talked about the importance of love, humbleness, and the recognition of ourselves as sinners, no greater than anyone else. Further, Fr. Andrew spoke of faith and belief as foundations for each of us.

Other components of the session led us into discussions about evangelization, the need to reach out to others; helping other parishioners to come forth to use their time and talents; being agents to help those who may be set in their ways, to change; and finally, what is the impact of liturgy. What is it that each of us bring to and take away from liturgy. The session was stimulating and thought provoking.

In closing, these sessions gave me a renewed spirit, a sense of peace and calmness. My thanks to all who planned, presented and participated.

P.S. Even people like me who are computer illiterate can sign onto the Blog. Thanks, Mary Ann.

St. Francis/St. Emma Ministry ~ by Cathy Woodson

"Silent of peace... Silence of soul... experience of the divine in today's world. Breathe the wonder beauty of the silent stillness..."

St. Francis/St. Emma Newsletter, June 2007

On Wednesday evening, the adult faith formation continued the week with a wonderful journey led by Sr. Maureen Carroll, SBS, CFRE and Sr. Angela Lyons, SBS, from St. Francis/St. Emma in Powhatan, VA.

We moved into the evening with a reflection bringing to memory our own time and place with God's natural gifts.

From the reflection, we moved into the life of St. Katherine Drexel, the ministry of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and the ministry of St. Francis/St. Emma (past, present, future). The sisters gently moved us to a greater understanding of earth/human oppression and ministry.

Several parishioners have connections to St. Francis/St. Emma. Our own, Frances Pope, shared her memory of the beautiful chapel located on the grounds. She was there in the 1980's on a Cursillo retreat, and she too had a genuine glow as she asked about the condition of the chapel. Mary Walker shared with us that her father's St. Emma diploma has been restored, a wonderful keepsake for the family.

We have so many gifts among us and I am in awe with all the discoveries we experience each time we come together. St. Elizabeth Women's Retreat will be held at St. Francis/St. Emma and I hope we will be able to have many to go and experience the beauty and peace of this sacred land. Visit the website and take a look at this great gift, http://www.francisemma.org/.

A note a song erupts

within a world alive

enfleshed with sound filled with silence

Breathe the wonder beauty or

the silent stillness

and remain again captured

receptive of the hymn unheard...invisible

be soul

a music score flamed

and forged by presence

more real than life itself...

Reality is no more no less a

silence masked in meaning

full and free and wild.

Sr. Angela T. Lydon, SBS

Francisemma.org

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Madagascar Africa ~ by Phyllis Booth

"Tafika efa nidika, ka ksy azo ajanona intsony"

Translation: "Once a journey begins, it never ends"

On Tuesday evening, sixteen members of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church met Celeste Gregory, a volunteer with Catholic Relief Services, who is volunteering in our diocese. She spent a year in the Diocese of Toamasina, Madagascar working with other volunteers of CRS, teaching people how to incorporate more nutrition into their meals. Their diet is mainly rice, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I was able to relate to the presentation given because Ms Gregory was compassionate, humble, and understanding of the plight of the people she was serving. We were able to grasp each situation since a pictorial printout was given to us so that we might get a visual of the people who live in Madagascar (Malagasy - people who live in Madagascar). The official languages are Malagasy and French. There are 18 ethnic groups and approximately 4 million are Catholic.

The people are mostly farmers using old methods of farming. The CRS volunteers are able to introduce new methods of farming and crop rotation in the Diocese of Toamasina. The economy is similar to that of Haiti; the educational level is eighth grade. Those who complete high school face the problem of having a lack of jobs. The people appear to accept their lifestyle with a deep love of the Catholic faith intertwined with cultural beliefs.

The group left that evening with a greater understanding of how Catholic Relief Services work throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services gives active witness to the mandate of Jesus Christ to respond to human needs in the following ways:

• by responding to victims of natural and man-made disasters;
• by providing assistance to the poor to alleviate their immediate needs;
• by supporting self-help programs which involve people and communities in their own development;
• by helping those it serves to restore and preserve their dignity and to realize their potential;
• by collaborating with religious and nonsectarian persons and groups of goodwill in programs and projects which contribute to a more equitable society;
• by helping educate the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities in alleviating human suffering, removing causes and promoting social justice.

Operation Rice Bowl (Lenten program) is a program of Catholic Relief Services. We are given the opportunity to contribute to this program each year during Lent.

~ Photos by Celeste Gregory ~

Summer Adult Formation ~ Haiti ~ by Mildred Green

The first session started in the Church Hall, Monday evening at 6 p.m. with 13 of us. We had a very nice light meal. The theme for the week was "Living Faith: Global and Local Actions."

The session began at 6:30. The presenter was our own Patrice Schwermer from the Office of Justice and Peace. We were shown slides by Patrice, "Welcome to Haiti," which was narrated by her. The slides consisted of prints from Haiti, the land, the mountains, the people and how they live.



In the rural area, the school, if you can call it a school, was a lot of tree branches made to look like a room. I just could not believe this; it took me back. The kids at this school have nothing, nothing! We learned that only 5 to 10% of the children in Haiti get an education. Another slide shown was about a group of women coming together and working for a better life, trying to start a business.

Our opening prayer reading for the evening was Luke:6, 20-26. Our Question and Reflection about the presentation was, how does it relate to the scripture? We talked about that with our group. Also, how does the principle of solidarity relate to what we have heard about Haiti? What are some ways we can respond to what we have learned this evening? How are we called to transformation? As an individual? As a parish community? What will be the next steps?

We had some great ideas. Maybe you have some ideas too. This will be brought to the Parish Community. What gifts do you have to offer the people of Haiti and what gifts do the people of Haiti have to offer us?

What an excellent presentation! Well done, Patrice! We ended the session with a prayer and look forward for tomorrow, Tuesday, June 19th. Hope you can make it. You're in for a treat!

~ Photo by Patrice Schwermer ~

Wednesday's Eucharistic "Lesson" ~ by Ronnie Archer

At the conclusion of Mass last Wednesday, June 13th, Fr. Andrew asked if we had ever noticed a gesture that he makes after the consecration, each time he is about to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. He told us that he asks God to bless each of the senses where sin can enter into us. With the fingers of both hands, he touches his temples (mind), so that his thoughts will be pure; the eyes, to avoid seeing anything sinful; the ears, to avoid hearing anything that would contribute to sin; and the mouth, to refrain speaking anything that is against God's will, therefore sinful.

Fr. Andrew said that he is going to begin having classes soon, to help us become better informed of some of the rituals of the Catholic Church, such as WHY we do what we do and WHEN certain rituals began. I do think that the classes will be helpful and interesting.

Coming Up THIS Week! Summer Adult Formation

The St. Elizabeth Summer Adult Faith Formation Program begins this week, June 18-21. The theme for the program is, Living Faith: Global and Local Actions. These programs will take place in the fellowship hall. The schedule is the following:

6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Light Meal
6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Prayer and Session

Monday, June 18th ~ Catholic Relief Work in Madagascar, Africa
Presented by: A staff member from the Diocesan Office of Justice and Peace

Tuesday, June 19th ~ Haiti Ministry
Presented by: Patrice Schwermer, Office of Justice and Peace

Wednesday, June 20th ~ St. Francis/St. Emma Ministry
Presented by: Sr. Maureen T. Carroll, SBS, CFRE

Thursday, June 21st ~ Living Actions
Presented by: Fr. Andrew Sagayam

Please Note: Because of these special programs, there will be no 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Liturgy. Do come and take advantage of the "good news" our speakers will pass on to us during this week.

More Messages From Our Contributors and Well-wishers

Ethel Cooley has sent several excerpts from letters written by people from all over the Richmond area who have sent contributions to us for renovating St. E's. I know you will be gratified in reading them.

"...I certainly empathize with your congregation, as our church ceiling also collapsed several years ago..."

"...We've been acquainted with St. Elizabeth for many years..."

"...May this small offering help with your church ceiling repair..." From an old Catholic in the Richmond area.

"...I grew up in the northside and have classmates and friends that went to your church..."

"...Hope this will help the church that I was baptised in 77 years ago. I was married there on April 14, 1956..."

"...Read about the church ceiling in the Times-Dispatch, the pictures caught my eye..."

"...It was good to see the photo of the restored St. Elizabeth Church in the current issue of The Catholic Virginian, particularly that beautiful picture of St. Elizabeth that I viewed for so many years. I attended mass there from 1944 til my family moved from Highland Park in 1972..."

"...May God bless your efforts..."

"...Praying for you all..."

"...I taught at St. Elizabeth years ago. It was a great community..."

"...Hope you will be in your own 'home' soon..."

"...The spirit of your community reminds me of my childhood church. Our church was small and poor, but the sense of community was rich..."

*******************
We give thanks to the many people who have helped us.

Another 1950's Wedding at St. Elizabeth

Ethel Cooley sent me this lovely wedding picture and note to place on the blog. It had been sent to the church by Gloria V. Silveri, a former parishioner. Her wedding took place in 1951. The church had already been renovated. Here is the note:

"I was saddened to hear that S. Elizabeth's ceiling has collapsed. I later saw the pictures in the Catholic Virginian. I also saw the picture of the newly painted sanctuary with the original stained glass window of the patron saint, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. It warmed my heart, as I was married to my husband, Frank, on June 30, 1951. May God Bless you all!"

Our Parish Website

The Pope (our own Frances Pope, of course) suggested to me last week, that the parish needed a website. It appears that about 3/4ths of the parishes listed on the Diocesan site have their own presence on the web. Well, who am I to refuse the Pope, so we now have our own parish website!

Here is the address: http://stelizabethcc.org/ Take a look! As you can see, right now it is a very simple one page website. The important information about our parish is listed: pastor, parish staff, location, phone numbers, Mass times and so on. It can be much more.

If you have suggestions, let's hear them! We could have pages for different ministries at St. E's. We could have a calendar of events. We could post a history of the parish. As you can see, a church website has a lot of possibilities.

I have a request. I would like to have a photograph of the choir. If anyone has one, could you email it to me at plantation.geo@yahoo.com so I can place it on the site. Or you can bring a photo to church and I will scan it and give you back the original.

Another little tidbit of information: As far as I can tell by checking the Diocesan website's listing of churches, St. E's is the only church in the Richmond Diocese that has a BLOG! How about that!

St. Elizabeth Church ~ 50 Years Ago

It must have been in the late 1940's or early 1950's when a beautiful renovation took place at St. E's. Prior to that time, I remember a very plain and austere interior with strange massive art deco lighting fixtures hanging from the ceilings.

Anyway, when I married in 1957, the renovations had long been completed. The church interior was quite beautiful in that overly fancy pre-Vatican II style. Lots of marbelized wallpaper, lots of shiny gold on the walls surrounding the altar and fancy backgrounds for the statues of Mary and Joseph on either side.

I've just found this old color photograph someone took at my wedding and gave to my parents. The picture is somewhat deceptive though, because the colors were actually much lighter than they appear. Many of you saw my black and white wedding picture hanging in the church hall some months ago. That photo showed much more detail than this one.

As you know, all that remains of that renovation is the old wallpaper cross that Fr. Andrew found many months ago; and that Diane and Vince Neylan had framed for the church. There were two of these golden crosses; one on each side behind the altar. You can just barely see the circles showing behind the electric candelabras.

Note also, the tall standing electric fan next to the statue of St. Joseph. There was another one on the other side beside the statue of Mary. There was no air conditioning in the church at that time and all the cool air we could get during the summertime were from those fans and the open windows.

O Happy Day!

...and so it was yesterday as we celebrated Fr. Andrew's return to us. He was greeted with hugs and handshakes and a long standing ovation by his parish family. Mass was especially sweet and meaningful for us that day, as we thanked God for the many blessings He continues to rain down on us.

The word, that Fr. Andrew would remain with us after all, spread quickly to the households of our parish. I was at my shop when I received 2 cell phone calls within minutes of each other. Then 4 more voice mail messages at home that spread the good news. I feel certain that many parishioners had similar experiences. Joy simply can't be contained!

And now, with stability insured for our parish for the foreseeable future, we can look forward once more with hope and enthusiasm. Let's see what's in store for us. Fr. Andrew encouraged us yesterday to let him and the parish council members know what is on our minds. Our desires should always be for the good of the parish; and in that manner we should always feel free to express our hopes, wishes and concerns.

Some of these desires were expressed yesterday after Mass when we met with our parish reps. I hope that a summary of the small group discussions will be forthcoming.

As for the rest of it, c'mon, LET'S GET STARTED! :)

With Grateful Hearts...

"And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

By now, everyone has surely heard the wonderful news that Fr. Andrew will be remaining as our pastor after all! Our prayers have been answered in a mighty way; and our sorrow and disappointment has turned into joy.

With grateful hearts, we thank our God...

For Fr. Andrew ~ by Sharon Morton

Fr. Andrew, you are a very reverent and obedient priest to the Bishop. You ask us to be obedient to the church also and to serve one other. We will, of course, carry on but we don't have to like it or remain silent in our displeasure.

St Elizabeth has always been a welcoming, loving parish and we do feel the pain of your departure. The short while you have been with us has changed a good family into a great family. With your help we have reached out past the Highland Park community and increased membership. Most important for me have been your sermons and their message; your actions and your humor.

I truly hope the Bishop has a change of heart and allows you to stay.

We welcome Fr. Barnabas as our guest, since he has already said he will only be here for a year or more to learn the ways of the American church. I feel the best way for Fr. Barnabas to learn about the US church is to visit several churches and to watch, participate and be guided by priests from all over the diocese.