Part 1: First Holy Communion at St. Elizabeth, 4.28.19 ~ Photos by EJCooley

~ Photos by EJCooley

Part 2: First Holy Communion at St. Elizabeth - 4.28.19 ~ Photos by EJCooley

The Children receive their First Communion Certificates!

Group Photo of the 1st Communion Class

~ Photos by EJCooley

Looking out for each other at St. E's, Sunday 4.28.19 ~ Photo by Eddie Gorman

Little Hugh walked away toward the basement door. So the two girls took his hands and walked him back to his Mother.


~ Photo by Eddie Gorman

Invitation to a Celebration! Fr. Jim's 30th Ordination Celebration! 5.15.2019

Fr. Jim's Jots - 2nd Sunday of Easter, 4.28.2019

Fr. Jim's Jots

Greetings!

Congratulations to Thaddeus Haines, Charles Geissler, Nora Sturdervant, Ryan Sturdevant, Sandrine Uwineza, Fabrice Niyitanga, Remy Shishi, Magdeleine Shishi and Benjamin Shishi.  How wonderful it is to have so many young people receive their First Holy Communion!

Special thanks to the parents of our youngsters and their teachers, Almetia Strother, Liz Wiznerowicz and Annie McEntee.  I am so happy to have such a nice group of young people to celebrate this important sacrament and to welcome the Lord Jesus into their lives.  May you all be blessed and close to Christ and the Eucharist all the days of your lives.

Thanks to all who worked so hard to have Holy Week and our Easter Liturgies so prayerful and beautiful.  We are blessed with our Gospel Choir, Lectors, Ministers of the Eucharist, Altar Servers, Connie Hom, Janet Stern, E. J. Cooley and all who decorated.  Thanks to Donna Gorman for the purple covering of the statues and Eddie Gorman, for hanging them and fixing the pews.  Special thanks to The Community Life Committee for the receptions and a special thank you to Deacon Chris Barrett.

Easter Joy,

Fr. Jim Arsenault

~ Image Source: Clipart Library

Lent 2019 - The Scripture Class held a Seder Meal ~ Photos by Rita Hatchett and Connie Hom, Article by Rita Hatchett

This year, the Scripture class is studying the Book of Exodus.  One of the three feasts that are to be held each year according to Exodus is Passover. God instituted a commemorative meal: fire-roasted lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread (Ex.12:8).  The Lord told the Israelites to "observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever." (Ex.12:24 ESV), even when in a foreign land.  

Then God passed over the Israelites who painted their door with the blood of a lamb during the 10th plague on Egypt, the death of the firstborn of man and beast.  This is a commemoration of their liberation by God from slavery in ancient Egypt and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of Moses.

Jim Weinberg and wife, Rosanne Bocciarelli officiated at the Seder.

This decorative pocket holds the Matazo; the candles are lit by the mother.  The Seder plate has an egg which represents the cycle of life, the lamb shank bone serves as a visual reminder of the sacrifice that the Israelites offered immediately before leaving Egypt and that Jews continued to offer until the destruction of the Temple around 70 AD.

On our plates were samples of the main Seder plate minus the lamb shank and egg.  A piece of Matzo, the unleavened bread, a sweet mix of fruits, wine or honey, and nuts symbolized the mortar that the Israelite slaves used to construct buildings for Pharaoh.  Ten drops of wine are dropped on the plate representing the 10 plagues on Egypt.  Parsley, the second bitter herb, represents the bitterness of slavery.  Beet horseradish allow us to taste the bitterness of slavery.  Each item is eaten during different parts of the Seder. 

Jim led the readings and prayers and we responded.  Upper Left, Karen Carter.  Not pictured, Connie Hom.

Kathleen Berry, Frances Pope and Dorothy Mitchell

Debbie Bosseusi, Donna Gorman and Jane DeBernardo.  Debbie won the prize for the hidden Piece of Matzo, which is a game for the children at the end of the Seder.

This is the book used during the Seder and is called the Haggadah.  Notice the spine of the book.  It is read back to front.  Instead of 4 cups of wine (Ex. 6:6-7) representing where the four different terms of deliverance are employed, we took 4 sips.  There is a 5th cup at the head of the table set out for the Prophet Elisha who never died but went up to heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kgs. 2:11).  During the Seder readings, the door is opened and closed for him.  Elisha is for Jewish people who Jesus is for Christians.

Carolyn and Buzzy Lawler, Marie Masse, Edie Gorman, Rosaria Corstanza, Phyllis Booth and Bob Cohn.

The small bowls of salty water represent the tears of the Israelite slaves.  The bitter herbs (parsley) are dipped into it and then eaten.

At the near end of the table: Rita Hatchett, Cassandra and Walker Bland.  There was a Question and Answer period which lasted 1 1/2 hours.  The time went so quickly.  We all wished we had more time before the real food came out.  Rosanne and Jim were fantastic and we were grateful to have them share this with us.


~ Article by Rita Hatchett

~ Photos by Rita Hatchett and Connie Hom

The Bible Study Group helps Phyllis Booth celebrate her 92nd Birthday! ~ Photo by Marie Masse

Phyllis Booth celebrating her 92nd Birthday!
March 8, 2019

~ Photo by Marie Masse

Easter Sunday Mass at St. Elizabeth with Baptism, 4.21.2019 ~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

Fr. Jim's Jots, Easter Sunday, 4.21.2019

He is risen!

Fr. Jim's Jots

Congratulations, Tinika McIntosh-Amouzouvi, Allison Bogdanovic and Fritz Geissler. Welcome! We need your involvement, input and leadership. Thanks to the RCIA team, Beng and Christopher Metzger.

As you can see, so many people have made this past Lent and Easter so very special.  To the many I have not listed by name, thank YOU for all your love and time, talent and services to this parish of St. Elizabeth Church.  We are truly blessed.

Congratulations and welcome to our newest Christian, baby Justin Mugisha who was baptized Easter Sunday and to her mother, Bora Ougistene.

EASTER BLESSINGS!

Fr. Jim

Easter Sunday Baptism at St. Elizabeth, 4.21.2019 ~ Photo by EJCooley

Signing with the sign of the cross...

~ Photos by EJCooley

Decorating the Altar for Easter, 4.20.2019 ~ Photo by Eddie Gorman

Thanks to all who helped decorate the Church for Easter!  Beautiful!

Photo by Eddie Gorman

Holy Week, 4.18. 2019 - 4.20.2019 ~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

~ HOLY THURSDAY ~

~ GOOD FRIDAY ~

~ HOLY SATURDAY ~

Blessing the Fire

The church is dark.

RCIA Graduates and their Sponsors

~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz