Transformation Retreat Report ~ Rosemary Overton

On June 24, 2008, I delivered to Alan, a member of the Transformation Retreat Team, 52 gift toiletry and "sweet" packages for the retreat held on June 26-29, 2008. St. Elizabeth's was very generous. Wanda and Gayle and friend assisted us with the gifts.

St. Elizabeth's also paid for one client to attend the retreat. Individual donations to pay for a client to the retreat are welcomed. Any amount is appreciated; and can be sent to Wanda Rue at 823 Park Ave, Richmond, VA 23220. Her telephone number is 804-353-0060.

St. Elizabeth will be supplying packages for fifty people for the retreat scheduled for September 17-21, 2008. We need everything, especially toiletries for men. We do have a nice supply of shampoos.

Thank you so much for your generosity and love.

Peace and Love,

Rosemary

HIV/Aids Ministry Report ~ Rosemary Overton and Vivian Sullivan

Vivian and Rosemary attended the HIV/Aids Workshop at St. Paul Baptist Church, June 2-5, 2008. It was a very informative and enjoyable workshop. We received a different perspective on HIV/Aids. It was not so much on the medical aspect of the virus/disease, but its impact on people who are educating and caring for people according to the teachings of the Bible.

Our task in completing the workshop is to educate family, friends and those in our communities regarding what HIV/Aids is, how to prevent the virus/disease and to refer or care for those who have HIV/Aids.

Peace and Love,

Rosemary Overton
Vivian Sullivan

I Was There ~ by Diane Neylan

A friend of mine recently sent me this link. I don't normally read "chain" emails, but for some reason, I clicked on the link. I thought all of you might appreciate the sentiments expressed.

Here's the direct link to the site.

http://www.passionup.com/fun/fun4528.htm?e=louiseungro@hotmail.com&f=froggiemad1@cox.net&h=bb08c6204ace9eec&mp=1&confirm=1

Diane Neylan

Welcomed into God's Family ~ by Genelle Frizzelle

Dear Father Andrew and members of Saint Elizabeth's,

My husband and I would like to thank you all for making Keira's Baptism such a blessed event. The Mass and the Baptism Ceremony were both very special to us.

Our family members and friends that were able to attend remarked how much they enjoyed visiting Saint Elizabeth's and truly enjoyed the Mass and music. Saint Elizabeth's is a special parish filled with special people. We are so glad you were all able to help us thank God for blessing our lives with our beautiful daughter, Keira, and helping us to officially welcome Keira into God's Family.

Sincerely,

Jon, Genelle and Keira Frizzelle


Notes on Keira's Godparents: Barbara Vaughan is Keira's local Godmother. My sister, Annette M. Strasbaugh and my brother, Michael J. LaMothe, are her other Godmother and Godfather. They both live in Northern Virginia.





~ Photographs by Genelle Frizzelle ~

Twinning with Haiti ~ by Phyllis Booth

Fr. Andrew stated: "...that to receive freely, one must give freely." St. Elizabeth's has received freely from the community and now we have an opportunity to give freely. This opportunity was explained by one of our own, Mrs. Patrice Schwermer, Associate Director of Haitian Ministries.

The Parish Council, at its June 20, 2008 meeting had discerned again, the idea of twinning with the Haitian people. Sixty parishes in the Diocese of Richmond have a twinning relationship with Haiti.

The proposal for St. Elizabeth is to twin with the New Jerusalem Orphanage that houses Deaf Children. Currently, there are seven girls and fifteen boys ranging in age from seven to fifteen with three teachers who teach sign language and other community children. The school needs school supplies and sign language aids.

In 1894, Haiti became the first independent Black Nation in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti is the third hungriest nation in the world. Only 5% to 10% of the children finish elementary school and the life expectancy is fifty-four years of age. The yearly income is $400.00 a year. American Media only report the unrest and social disorder from Haiti. The poverty, lack of medicine and moral issues are hidden from the news reports.


Mother Teresa once said, "The rich save the poor and the poor save the rich" because a relationship is developed. In twinning, St. Elizabeth hopes we'll work toward gifting each other.

The Parish Council discerned three areas that are needed for this project to work:

1. Leadership
2. Committee Focus
3. Communication with Parishioners

Youth involvement is desired on the committee, also.


Things that can be implemented immediately:

School Supplies
Pen Pals
Prayer Relationship
Cards and Letters

Possible Cost of Twinning:

Teacher Materials - $100.00
DVD Player - $100.00
Trip to Haiti - $1400.00 per adult and per youth. A Diocesan trip to Haiti occurs several times a year.

The proposal was accepted by the Parish with great enthusiasm and a committee was formed immediately after Mass.



~ Photos by Patrice and Jay Schwermer ~

~ 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

Congratulations to Our 2008 Graduates!

Graduating from Elementary to Middle School

Treshawn McCall ~ From Miles J. Jones Elementary to the I.B. Program at Lucille Brown Middle School...


Graduating from Middle School to High School

Heather Rapp ~ From Chandler Middle School to John Marshall High School...

Ricardo Sullivan ~ From Douglas Wilder Middle School to Henrico High School...

Kenneth Ford ~ From Chandler Middle School to John Marshall High School...


Graduating from High School

Ashanti Williams ~ From Highland Springs High School to Virginia State University...

Courtney Jones ~ From John Marshall High School to Virginia State University...

Rodnesha Randall ~ From Kennedy-Armstrong High School to Virginia State University...

Angela Gilbert ~ From John Marshall High School to J. S. Reynolds Community College...

Micole Jordan ~ From Highland Springs High School to Maryland State University...

Kenise Ford ~ From John Marshall High School to VCU (Full scholarship - Ranked 3rd - Richmond City Police Scholarship)...

Chansay Ford ~ From John Marshall High School to UNC-Charlotte (3 1/2 full scholarship - Ranked 6th - National Honor Society, FBLA, JROTC)...

Stanley Lamb ~ From Highland Springs High School to St. Paul's College...

Nat Kaine ~ From Maggie Walker Governor's School...

Elizabeth Anne Allen ~ From Neoga Senior High School, Neoga, Il. to Lake Land College...

Cain Coleman ~ From Highland Springs High School...

Zuri Sullivan ~ From J. F. Kennedy High School to Harvard University, Merit Scholar...


Going Forward

Mieya Timmons ~ B.S. Mass Communications from Hampton University - Fall 2009 to Howard University, Broadcasting Teacher Corps...

Olufunke Owolabi ~ Cappella University - PHD Candidate, Industrial Psychology...

Sasha Sullivan ~ University of Denver...

The Kingdom of God is at Hand ~ by Ronnie Archer

God's WORD is powerful because it reminds us that God chooses the weak, to be strong.

In this Sunday's reading,we hear about the love, protection, the commands and the compassion of God. In the first reading, God is telling the Israelites how HE took care of them, "bearing them up on eagles' wing"... using the analogy of a mother eagle, "catching" her young in mid-air on her wings, while teaching it to fly. God promises the people a more fulfilling life, if they will keep His covenant.

The second reading tells us how much God loves us, not only when we are godly, but while we are sinners, as well. Some might consider, and have the courage to die for a righteous person; someone in our family, maybe. But Christ died for all of us, the good and the bad, the weak and the strong.

In today's Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shows great compassion for the crowds, because "they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd." Summoning His twelve disciples, Jesus said: "The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few." Jesus shared His gifts with them, giving them authority to cure every disease, to cast out demons, and to raise the dead, telling them "to go to the lost sheep of Israel"... making this proclamation: "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Jesus shared His gifts; therefore we are to share ours. Christ died for us ALL, weak and strong, good and bad.

Jesus called and sent His disciples as laborers, to "gather the lost." Through them, and those who followed them, Jesus' good news spread throughout the land. We also are called to be "laborers" and spread the good news of His Kingdom. "Without cost we have received; without cost we are to give."


~ Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

St. Elizabeth Summer Adult Formation Schedule ~ Cathy Woodson

When: Monday, June 16th - Thursday, June 19th
Where: In the Church Hall

Come and share in this opportunity to learn about people living among us, their struggles and desires, and to reflect on ways we can open our hearts and be a beacon to all God's people.

Theme: Building an Understanding Heart with God's People

Time: 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

6:00 Light meal (some presenters may join us for the meal) **

6:30 Opening Prayer

6:45 Presentation/Discussion

7:45 Closing Prayer

Who should attend: All Adults and Young Adults

Monday, June 16

Presenter: Annette Khan, Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond

Annette will share her experiences and ideas that promote working together in cooperative community service among religious organizations in metropolitan Richmond.

Tuesday, June 17

Presenter: Carol McElhinney, Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Office

Carol will share stories about immigrants and refugees living in the Richmond community and share with us who is coming into Virginia. We are one global village.

Wednesday, June 18

Presenter: Ed Smith, Commonwealth Catholic Charities of Virginia

Ed will share an overview of the struggles and needs of families living in our community; how Catholic Charities programs address the needs and what's changing with families.

Thursday, June 19

Presenter: Melba Gibbs will share the struggles of homelessness in our community. (St. Elizabeth members have donated hot cups/coffee/bathroom tissue to Freedom House. Members have also delivered coats and blankets to people sleeping in Monroe Park).

** Important note: Please sign up in the back of the church if you plan to share in the light meal each evening; this will help with meal planning.

St. Elizabeth Youth Day ~ by Ken Soistman and Mildred Green

Sunday, June 1st, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church held a Youth Day at All Saints Catholic School. Fifteen of the Parish youth showed up for the day's events. The day started at 11 a.m. with an opening prayer followed by an icebreaker where everyone had to introduce someone else. Almost everyone was a little shy to do this but quickly got over it.

A candlelight prayer service was then held with everyone reading different selections followed by the passing of lit candles. After this, the group was divided into 2 groups based on age. Each group then spent about an hour in discussion and activities.

Next on the agenda, a group favorite, was lunch. Everyone feasted on hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries until they couldn't eat any more. However, everyone found just a little more room for ice cream!

Following lunch, there was time to just "fool" around playing basketball, talking or just relaxing. At 2 p.m., everyone was brought together to share what he or she thought about the day and whether he or she would like to do it again. The over-all feeling was that they would like to get together again in early August to plan future events. There was even talk of having a "lock down" in the near future.

Overall, it was a great fun day that all seemed to enjoy.

Mildred Green had some additional information about the Youth Day. The event was very well attended. Among the youth who attended were Traven Carter, Micole Jordan, Robert Fitzgerald, Stanley Lamb, Corey Vaughan, Amanda Vaughan, Deshawn Goodwyn, Isreal Murray, Treshawn McCall, Nicole Moore, Tyshell Jones, Heather Rapp, Angela Gilbert, Todd Vaughan and Chelsea Vaughan. Guest speaker was Sr. Gretta Barnes.

Gathering to say Grace together before a lunch of hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, soda and ice cream.

Katrinia Murray helps the elementary age group with Crafts. Deshawn Goodwyn, Isreal Murray, Chelsea Vaughan and Todd Vaughan are making Father's Day cards.

Angela Gilbert wears a pensive look during the Youth Day event.

Robert Fitzgerald and Stanley Lamb

Enjoying lunch are Nicole Moore, Angela Gilbert, Heather Rapp, Amanda Vaughan, Corey Vaughan, Chelsea Vaughan, Todd Vaughan, Stanley Lamb, Robert Fitzgerald and Micole Jordan.

~ Photographs taken by Ken Soistman ~

God's Love and Mercy ~ by Cathy Woodson

God loves us and calls each of us to show love and mercy for all. Reading, studying and internalizing the scriptures helps us to understand and know God's love for us.

God has a plan for each of us. God's guidance and direction allows us to experience the joy that comes with opening our hearts. When we love God with all our heart and soul, we are able to see through the delusions and false advertisements that can lead to a feeling of emptiness and searching.

Our love for God allows us to experience the living waters and gifts that should flow from us to others. God's love takes us beyond good deeds and sacrifices. It takes us to others. We are called to show mercy and compassion to all and we learn to be dependent only on God.

We become the clay and God is the potter, shaping us according to God's plan for us.


~ Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

Keira Anneliese Frizzelle Baptism

"...every perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

Genelle and Jon Frizzelle
invite you to share in their joy
and to witness as their daughter

Keira Anneliese
receives the Sacrament of Holy Baptism
Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 8:30 a.m.
St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church
2712 2nd Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23222

There will be a short reception following Mass at the Church
Friends and Family are then invited to a casual lunch celebration
at the Frizzelle's home from 12:00-3:00 pm
7511 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23294

Please RSVP (804) 241-1112
Email: Genelle67@yahoo.com

Easter Vigil Slide Show Now On St. E's Website

The Easter Vigil Slide Show showing Ken Soistman's beautiful photographs is now on the St. Elizabeth's Website. Please click http://stelizabethcc.org/ and go to the Parish Life page where you will find the Easter Vigil link.

June Birthdays at St. E's ~ Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday, Everyone!






06/03 ~ Joyce Coy
06/05 ~ Ernest Ponton
06/06 ~ Gabriel McDonough and Vince Neylan
06/08 ~ Angela Gilbert
06/10 ~ Larry Williford
06/11 ~ Mary Threadgill
06/13 ~ Traven Carter
06/16 ~ Barbara Williford
06/18 ~ Angela Cotman
06/21 ~ Sierra Green
06/23 ~ Steven McDonough
06/24 ~ Scott Stell
06/25 ~ Nicholas Stuart
06/29 ~ Chanda Kim Ford


~ Serve others with eagerness. It will make your heart dance! ~
~ Author Unknown ~

Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest

Last Sunday, Fr. Andrew called Frances Pope and Mary Ann Allen to stand before the congregation to be officially recognized as St. Elizabeth's designated worship leaders in the event that a priest is unavailable to celebrate Mass for our people.

Frances and Mary Ann recently attended a diocesan workshop for those deacons and lay worship leaders who had been chosen from their parishes to conduct the Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest rite. With many parishes facing the possibility of not always having a priest available, the Diocese of Richmond has encouraged parishes from all over Virginia to send parishioners to attend local workshops in their areas to prepare themselves for this rite.

Thus, in case of emergency with no priest available, Frances or Mary Ann or both together will be able to conduct a service which is essentially a Liturgy of the Word, with or without Communion. This honor also includes the permission to give a reflection on the Sunday Readings which would take the place of a priest's homily, which is generally denied to those not ordained.

Another important part of this rite is a prayer for vocations to the priesthood. The absence of a priest to celebrate Eucharist and the substitution of this rite by the worship leader highlights this loss for us. Even though the Word can be broken open for our people, there can be no Consecration of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Communion can be distributed to our people only if there are enough consecrated Hosts in the tabernacle.

However, the Sunday Celebration does have a positive aspect to it and that is, this rite gives a parish the opportunity to worship together as a community despite not having a priest available. We do not anticipate the lack of a priest at this time, but our people now know that steps have been taken to insure that we can stay together as a community.

On a personal note and I know I speak for Frances too, when I say we are very grateful to be able to serve you in this way. Be assured that we approach this responsibility in humility and prayer; and we hope you will keep us close to your hearts.

St. E's Summer Adult Faith Formation Alert ~ Cathy Woodson

St. Elizabeth Summer Adult Faith Formation will take place the week of June 16th thru June 19th (Monday - Thursday) from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Church Hall. The theme this year will be "Building an Understanding Heart with God's People."

Our program will create opportunities to learn about people living among us, their struggles and desires, and to reflect on ways we can open our hearts and be a beacon to all God's people.

The following organizations will be with us: Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond, Commonwealth Catholic Charities of Virginia, Freedom House, and Refugee and Immigration Services. The presenter schedule will be in the bulletin, on the blog and posted on the board beginning Sunday, June 8th.

Daily schedule:

6:00 p.m. ~ Light Meal
6:30 p.m. ~ Opening Prayer
6:45 p.m. ~ Presentation and Discussion
7:45 p.m. ~ Closing Prayer

Congratulations to Christianna Moss, State Discus Champion!

Congratulations to Christianna Moss, granddaughter of Frances Pope! Christianna prevailed last Saturday and won the State Championship in Girls Discus on her last throw from her position in sixth place.

This is not the last that we will hear from this fine young lady, who is a student at Patrick Henry High School.


~ Photograph from the Richmond Times-Dispatch ~

"We Have a Choice!" ~ by Ronnie Archer

Today's readings instruct us as to how we must live in order to obtain eternal life in Christ; and the consequences of our choice in not following Jesus' commands.

In the first reading, Moses told the people to "take these words of mine into your heart and soul; there is a blessing for obedience and a curse for disobedience."

The second reading reminds us that we all have sinned and are deprived of God's glory--but--we "are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation through faith, by the shed blood of Jesus."

Today's Gospel is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, which refers to everything that Jesus has said about good works and the fulfillment of His Law.

We hear the parable of the house that was built on sandy ground, and when the winds and rains came, collapsed; and the house that was built on solid rock; when the winds and rains came, withstood, and did not collapse.

Likewise, if we are not rooted in the Word of God, we will not be able to withstand. We become more powerful and resistant to the trials and evils of the world if we are deeply rooted in His Word.

We need to continuously try to imitate Jesus Christ... what Christ preached, He practiced.

God sets before us life and death. It is up to us to choose. God is patient and compassionate as He guides us to Him. His Word is eternal. Let His Son, Jesus Christ, shine through us.

Give God all the glory. It belongs to HIM!


~ Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

Belmead Intergeneration Day, April 5, 2008 ~ by Treshawn McCall

When I went to St. Francis and St. Emma, I learned some very interesting facts about the history of both schools. St. Francis was a boarding school for young black ladies and St. Emma was a military school for young black men.

The lady who started St. Francis was a nun named Sr. Katherine. She opened the school in 1899. Later on, she started Xavier University and other schools throughout the country.

St. Francis and St. Emma closed in the early 1970's. Sr. Katherine Drexel was also the founder of the Blessed Sacrament Nuns. Edward Morrell and wife, Louise Drexel Morrell were the founders of St. Emma.

The other youths attending from St. Elizabeth's were Lauren Cotman and Chelsea Mahone, with their grandmother, Mrs. Jackie Hall; and Angela Gilbert and Heather Rapp along with their guardian, Ms. Melvon McMillan. Ms Mildred Green, Ms Shawn McCall and Mrs. LaVerne Braxton also attended.

We took a tour of both properties. We also had lunch on the lawn of St. Emma's. I had a very informative and enjoyable day.

St. Francis School Building

Slave Grave Sites at Belmead













Placard at Grave Sites













Memorial to Former Workers