Our New Altar Server ~ St. Elizabeth Church ~ 2.23.2020 ~ Photo by Liz Wiznerowicz

13 year old Remis

 ~ Photo by Liz Wiznerowicz

Fr. Jim's Jots - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2.23.2020

Fr. Jim's Jots!

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Throughout Lent, we're challenged to repent from sin and turn to the Lord.  I invite you and encourage everyone to attend Mass more frequently, pray the Stations of the Cross which will be available on Fridays at 5:30 p.m., and to mark your calendars to participate in our Communal Reconciliation Service, her at Saint Elizabeth on Saturday, March 14th at 10:30 a.m.  All are invited to participate and lunch will be available afterwards.

Prayer  - The Act of Contrition

Oh my God! I'm heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments; but most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life.  Amen.

This is, but one example of an act of contrition. Any prayer of contrition is permitted to be prayed and to celebrate the sacrament.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Image Source: Our Lady of Fatima Church

Fr. Jim's Jots, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2.16.2020

Fr. Jim's Jots

How we long to be known!  Earlier this month, I had the privilege to accompany eight of our high-school students to the Diocesan Youth Conference at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. From February 7 to February 9, these young people were immersed in a community of young believers, their mentors, and their pastors, in a journey to become known.

The conference opened to a loud gathering of over 1,200 teens from all over the diocese.  Amongst the crowd could be found waving flags, banners and posters.  Cardboard cut-outs of pastors, seminarians stood out above the crowd.  Rowdy as any homecoming football game crowd, the kids danced, sang and laughed together.  But a very special spirit had come over these young people.  These same kids celebrated Mass together the following day.  After spending most of Saturday in learning sessions about saints, vocations, Catholic history, music, science and prayer, these same 1,200 knelt reverently at Adoration, praying silently and peacefully until nearly midnight.

Still, kids will be kids!  In between programs, teens let off steam in a room full of inflatables to jump and play on and were entertained by a talented magician.  And interspersed between it all was food!

What does it mean to be known in a day where everyone's private business is splashed over social media?  What does it mean to be known in a day where children don't share with their parents?  What does it mean to be known to a God who has counted every hair on your head?

As these young people come to know themselves, I ask that you take time to get to know them as well.  It was an honor to share this experience with our teens.

God Bless,

Liz Wiznerowicz

~ Special thanks to the youth who attended our Diocesan Youth Convention:  Eva, Miranda, Jerimah, Abedi, Mateo, Fabrice, Yves, Noe and Liz Wiznerowicz.

St. Elizabeth's Youth on Valentine's Day! 2.14.2020 ~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

St. E's Youth Attend the Diocesan Youth Conference, February 7-9, 2020 ~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

Fr. Jim's Jots ~ Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ 2.9.2020

Fr. Jim's Jots

Throughout the month of February, we are called to embrace and celebrate Black History Month.  I thought it would be a good time to print and have each of us reflect on our parish MISSION STATEMENT!

"We, the members of Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church, in Highland Park, in the city of Richmond, Virginia, embrace our ethnic and cultural diversity and are called to grow in our relationship with God and one another through formation at all levels.

With a Christian goal of social justice, we will continue to work toward unity and diversity in support of all our ministries, to evangelize and to be good stewards of our resources."

As a parish, we have adopted a mission statement that challenges us to celebrate our diversity and work for social justice.  The times we live in are challenging for us, to respect people of different opinions, backgrounds, education, cultures and languages.  But this is our faith; we are mandated to follow the example of Jesus "to love one another as I have loved you."

Black History Month gives us this opportunity to pray and reflect on an end to injustice, prejudice or indifference and racial divisions.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Image Source: Homily Hub

Candlemaking at St. E's - To be blessed on Candlemas Day, Sunday, 2.2.20 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

~ Photos by Connie Hom

February Birthdays - 2020 ~ Provided by EJCooley

Eleanor Astrop

Sr. Cora M. Billings

Katrinia Bledsoe

Amy Brew, Phillip Brew, Fabrice Karremera

Eva M. Chiles

Katherine Crowl

Donna Gorman, Joshuah Pursley, Karemera Uwase

Jennie Green

Tyronna Jones

Senator Timothy Kaine

Anne Holton, Jason Plageman

Joshuah Pursley

Thomas Smith

Elizabeth Ruffin

Thomas Smith

James Strother

Joan Sturdevant

Michele Surat

William Thomson, Kenneth Williams

Cathy Woodson

Image Source: Happy Birthday Wishes