Repent and believe in the Gospel...

First Sunday of Lent

Gen 9:8-15
Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1 Pet 3:18-22
Mk 1:12-15

In Mark's Gospel, we see Jesus being drawn to the desert by the Spirit, where he remained for forty days. Those forty days were not days of prayer only... We read that Jesus was tempted by Satan. We understand what temptation is in our own lives; but for Jesus, this temptation was a radical one because it was all about FAITH. Would Jesus be able to resist the snares of Satan or would he succumb to Satan's lies? We know that he defeated Satan... and his Father sent the angels to minister to him.

Jesus' time in the desert strengthened him and became the preparation for the beginning of his ministry of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. As time goes on, we see Jesus often leaving the crowd and going off by himself in order to renew himself by prayer and fasting.

We need this kind of renewal also... Our forty days of Lent are a preparation time for us through which we can strengthen our own faith by prayer, fasting and alms giving. Through these practices, we come to appreciate more fully the sacrifice Jesus made for us by his suffering and death on the cross; and the meaning of his glorious Resurrection.

We ask the Lord to make his ways known to us and to teach us his paths; because we acknowledge him as our savior. (Ps 25:4-5)


~ Image: Jesus in the desert - CILent 2012

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) ~ What it means to be a Christian

In honor of Black History Month, we invited Rev. Mr. Calvin Bailey, deacon at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, to be our guest homilist on this Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
Ps 41:2-3, 4-5, 13-14
2 Cor 1:18-22
Mk 2:1-12

What does it mean to be a Christian? In order to answer that question, one must pose two others: The first is, do we really believe that Jesus is Lord? And if we do believe this, where is our faith in God?

When we look at Mark's Gospel, we see that Jesus has returned to his home in Capernaum. So many people have gathered there to hear him, that there is no longer room for any more. We don't know whether these people were believers or non-believers, or only curiousity seekers. But we do know that four or five of them DID believe, and they were not going to be detered by the difficult circumstances in which they found themselves. Even though their way was blocked, they went to great lengths so that their friend, the paralytic man, would be able to experience the presence of Jesus and perhaps, be healed.

These people were believers in the Lord and they had faith that Jesus would heal their friend. Their complete faith and trust in him is an example of what it means to be a Christian.

We ask ourselves why we go to church. Just because we attend Mass does not mean we are believers. If we are just following the crowd, we are the paralyzed ones. We are paralyzed by our lack of faith. What Jesus is looking for from us is to be "all-weather" Christians. Christians who have a deep faith and trust in God, no matter what is happening in their lives.

As we look back at the obstacles that Black Catholics had to face even in our churches, we see that the road was not easy for them. But we recognize that by their deep faith and trust in God, they were truly all-weather Catholics, who knew that eventually everything would be alright.

Our God is a faithful God, just as Paul tells the Corinthians in the second reading, who "has put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts..." (2 Cor 1:22)

Lord, heal my soul... We believe and trust in you.



~ Image: The Paralytic Man by James Tissot

Black History Month Reflection ~ Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) ~ by Phyllis Booth

Our guest homilist on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. George Clements, decided to focus on OUR STORY - not the readings of today or a phase of Black History.

He stated that OUR STORY - is the story of Black Catholics. Our Story is depressing; not a good story. It's a story of slavery, Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, racial barriers in education, discrimination in housing, jobs, police repressions, etc. Our story is unique because our faith was a work in progress toward triumph. Our Faith helped our ancestors to overcome all the degradation of the slave master.

Our American Story is not the blatant lie being told. Our ancestors worked the farms, built houses, minded the children, improved and invented tools and machines to improve their masters' lot as well as their own. OUR Story was a work in progress. In Virginia - Richmond, VA, we were relegated to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Told to go there and stay in your place; to accept separate unequal housing, wages, schooling and social events. Our story included several brave White Catholics and Protestants who worked to improve the plight of Black Americans. Many White Catholics gave their time and talent and walked to Selma with the students and our ancestors. Several gave their lives to the cause.

From this work in progress, Bishops Russell and Sullivan and our present Bishop de Lorenzo worked to improve race relations and lay involvement among the churches and priests in the Diocese of Richmond. The Diocese of Richmond has one Black Monsignor and several African and other international priests. We have Archbishop Gregory in Atlanta, GA. Many dioceses in the nation are closing schools and churches. Bishop de Lorenzo doesn't plan to close St. Elizabeth. We must continue to BE A WORK IN PROGRESS - evangelize, increase our membership, train catechists to teach our children, train new leaders in the role of Sacramental preparation, continue to raise our weekly/monthly contributions and to maintain a realistic budget.

Our Story is a story of past hatred. There is no such thing as the good old days. The good old days will come when Blacks and Whites will work, play and live together. Our Catholic Story is not what we want it to be, but we are MOVING ON UP!

This is OUR STORY! THIS IS OUR SONG!


~ Image: Black History Poster

This is why I have come ~ A Reflection on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23
Mk 1:29-39

In this week's Gospel reading, Mark describes a day in the life of Jesus as he pursues his ministry of preaching the Kingdom of God. We see a compassionate Jesus who does not hesitate to heal Peter's mother-in-law, as well as every stranger who has come to listen to his words of hope and salvation; and to be healed of their afflictions. Can you imagine the joy of those people who placed their trust in his healing power and were freed from their diseases and the demons who possessed them. It was just as the psalmist writes: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Ps 147:3)

We can see also, how physically and emotionally drained Jesus would become as he gathered the people to himself and healed them. We see how Jesus would have to find time to rest and recuperate from his continuous activity. Mark tells us that Jesus would often retreat to a deserted place to pray. His prayer would unite him with his Father whose Spirit would fill him with renewed energy and strength to continue his teaching about the Kingdom and to care for the people.

What does all this have to do with us today? Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, tells us what the life and death of Jesus meant to him. To Paul, Jesus' message about the Kingdom was so important and so powerful that he would do everything in his power to spread the Good News. Paul endured shipwrecks, imprisonment, exhausting travels, weakness, illness and disappointment... all in the name of Jesus Christ. Even though Paul was a free man, he tells us that he made himself a slave to all; that he would do whatever was necessary to convert as many people as possible. "All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it." (1 Cor 9:23)

What does the life and death of Jesus mean to us?


~ Image found at St. Norbert College Website

February Birthdays at St. E's ~ provided by Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday, Everybody!






02/01 ~ Anne Holton Kaine

02/02 ~ Lauren Cotman

02/03 ~ Elizabeth Ruffin and Jennifer

02/04 ~ Jennie Green

02/06 ~ Cathy Woodson

02/07 ~ Eva Chiles

02/09 ~ Thomas Smith

02/10 ~ Amy Williford

02/11 ~ Sr. Cora Marie Billings

02/15 ~ Kenneth Williams

02/17 ~ Alexandra Williams

02/23 ~ Katrinia Murray

02/25 ~ Stanley Glover and Tyronna Jones

02/26 ~ Kamryn Beverly, Morgan Jaquez and Tim Kaine

02/28 ~ James L. Strother, Sr.


~ A person can't stumble when he's on his knees. (Unknown)


~ Image by Webweaver