Love is God's Way ~ by Barbara Williford

In two weeks, we will be celebrating Pentecost. This Sunday's readings from the Acts of the Apostles, 1 Peter and John's Gospel challenge us to PREPARE ourselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Apostles reached out to the non-Jews, today the Church tells all of us that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. The Holy Spirit is an advocate for everyone who is in need. In one way or another we are all needy.

The first step in our preparation is to keep the Commandments; that is, to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. We need to increase our prayer time and cooperate with the graces we have been given so that we open our hearts and minds to God. The example of the Trinity: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit, reflect the bonding of love between three Persons in one God. As our understanding of God's love for us increases, we will be ready to explain our faith and share it like the Apostles did.

May we never feel "orphaned" by God. We know that God the Father sent His Son to die for our sins and sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen and aid us every day during our life on earth. So, it is the time to prepare in whatever ways we are able. The closer our lives are drawn toward God, the closer God will be to us. We know this. God told us. LOVE is always God's way.


~ Sixth Sunday of Easter ~

Richmond Diocesan Priests Concelebrate With the Pope in DC

The Pope's Apostolic Journey to the United States

April 15 - 20, 2008


At Mass on Sunday, our priest shared his impressions at being able to concelebrate with Pope Benedict XVI when he traveled to Washington for the Mass on Thursday, April 17th with the rest of the priests from the Richmond Diocese.

Father told us that he had offered the Mass for the intentions of his parishioners, which made it possible for us also to be part of this grand event.

The Voice of the People Meeting

After Mass today, Frances Pope and Barbara Vaughan, who are our representatives to Local Planning Area 11, met with the Church to discuss the progress of the planning group and to answer any questions parishioners might have about plans for St. Elizabeth's future.

It is to be noted that any changes to be made will not be implemented right away; but that in 2009, the 5-year plan will begin to take effect. There are concerns about the health and welfare of our priests who are already going from one parish to another to celebrate Masses where there are no priests available.

But the changes will be farther reaching than just the liturgies. We can expect much more collaboration among parishes and sharing of ministries, not only on the parish level, but also, for example, in hospital and prison ministries and schools and universities. On the parish level, youth ministries in several parishes could be combined; ministries to the sick and shut-ins could also be combined. Staff people could be shared.

Our area reps were asked to take the following concerns back to the next planning meeting:

1. Because we are a small parish that draws our parishioners from all over the city and the neighboring counties, there is a great need for St. Elizabeth's to have a Sunday Mass celebrated each week so that we can keep our parish intact.

2. To address the reason for grouping St. Elizabeth's together with parishes with whom we have little in common.

I Am The Way, The Truth And The Life ~ by Ronnie Archer

The church is still in the Easter season, rejoicing over the Resurrection.

In today's first reading, the apostles had to discern what it means to be "community." As the number of disciples grew, the Hellenists (those who spoke Greek), began to complain that their widows were being neglected in the daily distributions, as compared to those who spoke Hebrew. The apostles' essential function was to the service of the Word. They chose seven men who were accepted by their community to assist with the distribution. That enabled the apostles to continually concentrate on their prayer and the ministry of spreading the Word of God. As a result, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased.

In the second reading, an invitation is extended to come to Jesus, the "living stone, rejected by men, but approved by and precious to God, and valuable to all who have faith."

Today's Gospel presents three basic questions asked by all human beings: "Where do we march, what should we believe, and when are we going to rest?" Where we march is the WAY. What we should believe on our journey is the TRUTH; and where we are going to rest when we meet Jesus is the LIFE.

Take Jesus Christ as your guide on the WAY. Seek Jesus Christ to help understand the journey of TRUTH. Clothe yourselves with Jesus Christ to be warm in the fullness of LIFE.

Pray for the gift of discernment, to know what is before us. We need to really understand that we have the greatest within us... the ONE who created the world.

If we build our house on Jesus Christ within... when we are troubled, we will not be shaken. Christ will "keep house" for us. We are more precious to Him than anything. He is the WAY... loving and accepting. The Cross is our bridge between earth and heaven. The TRUTH is forgiveness. If we don't have the gift to forgive, we are not living in TRUTH. His promise is eternal LIFE. Jesus is the only one to protect us. Take root in HIM and satisfy yourself and rest in peace.


~ Fifth Sunday of Easter ~

He Guides Me in Right Paths ~ by Barbara Vaughan

Good Shepherd Sunday

The parish is likened to a mother. The more young people that she guides into the priestly vocation, she becomes known as a very good mother. This Sunday's theme stresses how we should follow the footsteps of Christ.

Today's readings centered on the theme of "The Good Shepherd." An understanding of these verses empowers us with the Holy Spirit. In the Book of John, Chapter 10, "...the gatekeeper opens the gate and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."

How do the sheep recognize the voice of the Shepherd? The Shepherd names each sheep; the Shepherd holds them close and lies with them until he smells like the sheep. This is how the sheep know him.

A Sheep is unable to find his way on his own. A sheep is a foolish animal, easy to stray. Sheep will follow tracks in the field that make them stray. The Good Shepherd always leads his sheep.

Today we are asked to blindly follow Christ. It is a great challenge; but the right voice gives eternal life and joy. When one reads the scripture, one can really hear the voice of the Shepherd calling his sheep to become one with him.

In the second reading from 1st Peter, "If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God." Christ left us examples. We should follow in Christ's footsteps.


~ Fourth Sunday of Easter ~

God Calls ~ What Will Your Answer Be? ~ by Mary Ann Allen

The church was called to prayer this morning as Fr. Andrew spoke of our parish's great need for the services of a permanent deacon. This man would be called forth from among our own people for service in our parish.

The permanent deacon is usually a married man who, after a period of study and training, is ordained to the permanent diaconate and serves in his parish community. He may officiate at marriages, conduct funeral and burial services, baptize, bring Viaticum to the dying, may read the Gospel and preach the Word and perform other services in the parish.

There are several married men in our parish who have the qualifications necessary to lead our parish and support our people as ordained permanent deacons. We ask these men to prayerfully consider this vocation of service to our community. Please speak with Fr. Andrew if you have any questions about this vocation.

Let us all begin today to earnestly pray, keeping a fervent trust in God that He will supply our parish's every need; that He will not abandon us but will raise up one of our own to be our deacon.

To the men of our parish: Listen for God's call in your life. Remember these verses from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: "...I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send and who will go for us!'" Perhaps you will be able to answer as Isaiah did: "Here I am, Lord. Send me!"

"Here I Am Lord" ~ Nominees for Parish Council

The first Day of Discernment for Parish Council Nominees was held on April 5, 2008 at All Saints School. There is a second Day of Discernment scheduled for April 30, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the parish house. Dawn Crutchfield will again be the Facilitator.

The complete list of Nominees is as follows:

1. Almetia Strother

2. Barbara Vaughan

3. Mieko Timmons

4. Shelton Jones

5. Ken Soistman

6. Amy Williford

7. Lula Lamb

8. Vivian Sullivan

9. Barbara White

10. Jay Schwermer

11. Phyllis Booth

12. Mary Ann Allen

13. Burton Robinson

14. Vincent Neylan


Please pray for the leadership of the church as they continue their faith journey.

"There are many gifts, but the same spirit."

Community Block Party 2008

Community Block Party 2008


Join us for an afternoon of Family, Food & Fun

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Noon to 3 p.m.

3rd & Victor Streets


Sponsored by

Highland Park Churches United to Reclaim and Equip Our Community

Grayland, Northside Crusaders, 5th Street Baptist & St. Elizabeth Catholic

*Important Note: The St. Elizabeth Gospel Choir will be singing at 1 p.m. during this event!

April Birthdays at St. E's ~ Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday Everyone!





April 01 ~ Carleen Scott

April 08 ~ Michelle Jordan and Doris Taylor

April 18 ~ Kenneth Ford

April 19 ~ Peggy Beverly

April 23 ~ Rosemary Overton

April 27 ~ Jay Schwermer

April 29 ~ Katie Stell


~ If a man wants his dreams to come true, he must wake them up!

~ Author Anonymous ~

Photographs Taken by Mildred Green at the Easter Vigil 2008

~ Our beautiful altar of repose in the rear of church ~



~ Martha and Archie Thompson and family ~


~ Katie Stell and Mom ~

~ Easter Vigil Celebration in the Church Hall ~

Parish Report on the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Process ~ Barbara Vaughan and Frances Pope

This was the letter given to our parishioners yesterday:


Bishop DiLorenzo established a Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission (DPPC) for this diocese and one of their tasks is to develop a 5-year strategic plan for all parishes and ministries of this diocese. The purpose of the plan is to proactively and comprehensively address moving the Diocese of Richmond to an inter-parish collaboration. The plan is to be implemented in stages between 2009 and 2013 and will be updated every 5 years. Many dioceses around the United States are going through strategic planning processes, not just our diocese.

Local Planning Areas (LPA) have been established throughout the diocese. Our Local Planning Area (LPA) is 11 with the following Parishes: St. Elizabeth, St. Paul, St. Patrick, St. Peter, Holy Rosary, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, St. Benedict, St. Bridget, Church of the Redeemer, St. John in Highland Springs, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Quinton, and St. Timothy in Tappahannock. The planning area committee is made up of priests and 2 representatives from each parish. Serving with Fr. Andrew, the representatives for St. Elizabeth are Barbara Vaughan and Frances Pope.

LPA committees are responsible for providing a working plan to the DPPC by the end of May. The committee has to consider in the working plan the needs of all Parishes, Hospitals, Prisons, Schools and Universities. Our challenge is to think about all resources, Priests, professional staff and trained lay leadership. What are the possibilities, how can the needs of God's people be served? This is what we are discussing and discerning during this process. As you can see, there is much work to be done so that we continue building the kingdom of God. The full plan is scheduled to be completed by November 2008. The focus of the plan is inter-parish collaboration and should include three outcomes: staffing allocation changes to accommodate the reduction in active priests in the next 5 years; changes in parish structure necessary to support the staffing changes to include recommended models of clustering; and changes that will help us to better serve by sharing resources and ministries.

In several weeks, we will be asking you to listen to the report from our LPA 11; we will need you to listen to the proposal, comment on what is presented and as your representatives, we will submit your comments to the full LPA 11 committee. Remember, the entire diocese is going through the same process.

Please keep us in your prayers. This is an important time in our Church and we need each of you to participate when we hold the parish meeting. We will continue to pray together as a parish for all who are involved in this process.


Barbara Vaughan and Frances Pope
St. Elizabeth Parish Representatives - LPA 11

Recognizing, Walking and Staying with Jesus ~ by Ronnie Archer

In today's first reading, Peter stood up with the other Apostles before a crowd, and proclaimed the Good News that Jesus was a man who was sent to them by God with miracles and wonders, which were worked through Jesus by God... signs that they had themselves already seen. They were also told what their patriarch, David, had said of Jesus. Yet they had persecuted and crucified Him; but God raised Him up, releasing Him from death.

The second reading of 1st Peter, tells us that since in prayer we call on God, who judges each one justly according to his actions; then we should live in this world reverently and pleasing to God.

We weren't redeemed with the materials of this world, but with the precious blood of an unblemished Lamb, Jesus Christ.

In Luke's Gospel, there are simple images and ordinary language to help us understand the scriptures.

The two disciples did not recognize Jesus as they were walking on the path with Him; nor when He interpreted the scriptures concerning Him. They only recognized Jesus when they were at the table, fellowshipping with Him, during the breaking of the bread, which is one of the symbols Jesus used at the Last Supper. After He vanished, they were aware that their "hearts were burning within them as Jesus was speaking to them."

After the crucifixion, the two disciples were disappointed. Seems they might have lost hope. They probably had expectations from a human perspective. We, as believers, cannot be like those disciples. Jesus walks with us in our lack of understanding. He asks us to surrender our difficulties to Him.

Do we recognize Jesus in our day-to-day lives? Sometimes we too miss Jesus because we might expect Him to come to us in different circumstances. We have to have faith; to be able to walk with Christ daily.

Jesus didn't say the Gospel is "easy news;" but it is "Good News." We have to persevere in our journey. One day we will reach our destiny if we follow His direction and reflect on the true meaning of Christ in our lives.


~ Third Sunday of Easter ~

Parish Council Discernment ~ by Phyllis Booth

On Saturday, April 5, 2008, the Nominees for Parish Council and St. Elizabeth's Parish Council met at All Saints Catholic School. Continental breakfast was provided by the principal, Ken Soistman. Seven nominees were present. They were Almetia Strother, Meiko Timmons, Lula Lamb, Jay Schwermer, Ken Soistman, Barbara White and Barbara Vaughan. Two nominees were excused due to prior engagements. Dawn Crutchfield from the Office for Black Catholics was the facilitator.

The meeting opened with prayer, followed by a brief description of the process. Nominees and Parish Council members gave a brief synopsis of their present life, ministry activity and what talent or skill they bring to the council.

The agenda for the day consisted of three questions for those present to reflect on and discuss. The nominees were divided into two groups with Phyllis Booth aiding Ms. Crutchfield as a facilitator. Since the duty of the council is one of vision, the members gave much thought on how to improve what we have as a church; yet grow in the community and become part of the plans currently being considered for changes in the diocese.

The groups were receptive of each question, showed respect for the opinions of others and displayed a willingness to tackle an assignment.

Fr. Andrew thanked the nominees for their participation and explained the next step in the process. The day ended with prayer by Jay Schwermer.