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

05/01 - Sabrina Thompson

05/04 - Samuel Walker

05/08 - Chansay and Kenise Ford and Jerimah Henderson

05/09 - Betty Alexis

05/11 - Robert Fitzgerald and Annella Kaine

05/17 - Ya-Sin Miller and Gwendolyn Woodruff

05/18 - Sr. Maureen Carroll

05/19 - Anitra Green and Jacqueline Hall

05/20 - Maeola Strother

05/23 - Danielle Smith

05/26 - Robert Fitzgerald

05/31 - Rev. James Arsenault

Katie and Scott Stell Renew Their Wedding Vows ~ Sunday, April 28, 2013

Katie and Scott renewed their wedding vows during Mass on this day.

Photos by M. A. Allen and Amy Williford Brew

Following the Voice ~ Fourth Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 13:14, 43-52

Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5

Rev 7:9, 14b-17

Jn 10:27-30

On this Sunday, John the Evangelist again speaks of Jesus as a good shepherd.  One who cares for his sheep and whose voice is recognized by the sheep he leads.  The sheep follow him because they know his voice and trust him...  The good shepherd rewards this trust by being watchful for danger and by taking care of his sheep; feeding them and searching for them when they wander off.  He will keep them safe...

Jesus tells us that we are to believe in him, to trust him and to follow him, for his voice speaks the words of eternal life.  He feeds us with his Body and Blood in Holy Communion and if we happen to wander off, Jesus searches for us, sends his Holy Spirit to guide us and to bring us home again.

In the First Reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas have become shepherds to the Gentiles of Antioch, who with much joy came to believe and trust the Good News that Paul and Barnabas taught.  They listened to the voice of these Apostles, and from them, the Good News spread through the whole region.

We can take consolation in the psalmist's words as he praises the Lord whom he trusts and whose kindness and faithfulness endures forever.  He acknowledges that "...the Lord is God; he made us, his we are, his people, the flock he tends."  We believe that too... and thank God for it.



Image Source

Confirmed: TyShell Jones

TyShell Jones was among this year's group of young men and women who were confirmed at St. Michael's Catholic Church this Easter season.  His parish family had been able to follow his progress from his experiences at the Confirmation Retreat earlier this year to his Confirmation on Friday because he so willingly and enthusiastically shared those experiences with us.

After Mass last Sunday, TyShell and his family treated the parish to cake and punch to celebrate this important step as a young Catholic.

TyShell is already taking an active role in our parish by participating as an usher, along with his grandpa, Shelton Jones.

Congratulations and best wishes to TyShell!


~ Photo used with permission

The God of the Second Chance ~ Third Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13

Rev 5:11-14

Jn 21:1-19

"Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something."  John the Evangelist sets the scene this week by reminding us that even though Jesus had revealed himself to the apostles after his resurrection, they were still not ready to proclaim him to the world.  Instead, the apostles went back to work.  For Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel and Zebedee's sons, that meant going fishing.

After working all night, the apostles had caught nothing and they were discouraged.  As dawn broke, they saw Jesus on the beach, tending a fire.  He called out to them and asked if they had caught anything.  "No", they replied.  So Jesus told them what they needed to do.  The apostles trusted Jesus' words... and we know what happened.  The nets filled to the breaking point, as they struggled to bring the catch ashore.  Jesus had given them a second chance.

Our God is full of surprises...  Not only had Jesus made sure that their night's work was not in vain; but he welcomed them ashore by cooking breakfast for them.  We know that wonderful things can happen when people gather to eat together, and this time was no exception.  Jesus used this appearance at the beach to show his friends that their love for him would be vitally important in carrying on his work.

Jesus questioned Peter three times as to Peter's love for him.  "Feed my lambs...feed my sheep..." was Jesus' command to Peter and the other apostles.  Only through their love and commitment to Jesus and to the Father, could the Good News be proclaimed and spread.

Peter was given three chances to change his mind about Jesus, there on the beach.  Here we are reminded once more of the three times Peter denied Jesus in the high priest's courtyard not many days before.  This time, however, there was no hesitation... no fear... and no denial.  Peter had also been given a second chance.

We are grateful for the many "second chances" we receive from our loving Father during our lives here on earth.  When we have done wrong, we believe and know that the Lord is holding out his hand to us in forgiveness.  All we need to do is to grasp it in repentance.

In thankfulness, the psalmist sang:  "I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me."  We can pray the same.



Image Source:  Galilee Sunrise by Karen Anne Graeser at CES

The Renovated Organ Played on Easter Sunday

John DeMayo at the organ

The St. Elizabeth 1905 Moller Organ

Ms Flaherty and Mr. DeMayo

The old St. Elizabeth organ, renovated by John DeMayo of the Organ Historical Society of Virginia, was played during the Easter Sunday Mass at St. E's to a large group of visitors and parishioners.  Ms Flaherty played Easter hymns for our entrance and closing songs and an interlude during Communion.  The Gospel Choir did the rest.

The photographs were taken by Ethel Cooley.

April Birthdays at St. E's ~ Provided by Ethel Cooley

04/06/13 ~ Christopher Mahone

04/08/13 ~ Michelle Jordan and Ann Tindall

04/09/13 ~ Peggy Beverly

04/17/13 ~ Margaret Pittman

04/18/13 ~ Kenneth Ford

04/23/13 ~ Rosemary Overton

04/29/13 ~ Katie Stell