Beautiful Article about Sr. Cora in the Global Sisters Report - Don't Miss This one!

 

Don't miss this beautiful Question and Answer Article in the Global Sister Report about our own St. Elizabeth's parishioner, Sr. Cora Marie Billings.

Q and A with Sr. Cora Marie Billings on Black Catholicism and her life of "firsts"

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First Sunday of Advent - November 28, 2021 - Lighting the Advent Candle ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Lighting the Advent Candle

First Sunday of Advent

November 28, 20212

Blessing the Wreath

Lighting the Candle

Fr. Mike Sprinkling the Holy Water

~ Photos by Connie Hom

First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021 - Williford 50th Wedding Anniversary - Renewing of Vows ~ Photos by Connie Hom

Deacon Chris reading the vows.

Fr. Mike Schmied offers the Blessing.

~ Photos by Connie Hom

Fr. Jim's Jots - First Sunday of Advent - November 28, 2021

 First Sunday of Advent

November 28, 2021

Fr. Jim's Jots

On this Sunday, November 28th, we close out the month of Black Catholic History Month and usher in Advent.  Advent is a time of preparation for the feast of the Incarnation - Christmas.  We light four candles on the Advent wreath, all purple except for the third week, Gaudete Sunday,  the pink candle.  In Latin, Gaudete, means "Rejoice," the Lord is near.

I hope that you will enjoy the special Advent booklets that are in the back of church.  Please take one home and pray for Christ's Peace during this special time of waiting for the Lord.

Also, I encourage you to pray for peace in our country and throughout the world during this time.

Advent Blessings,

Fr. Jim

First Sunday of Advent 2021 - Willifords 50th Wedding Anniversary - A Marriage Blessing by Fr. Mike Schmied ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

First Sunday of Advent 2021

November 28, 2021

Celebrating Larry and Barbara's 50th Wedding Anniversary 

Mass and Homily by Fr. Mike Schmied

The Williford Family, Children and Grandchildren

(Click Photos to enlarge)

~ Photos by Lula Lamb

St. Elizabeth Church Christmas Angel Tree - Take a Tag! ~ Info by Cecilia Hull

 Christmas Angel Tree!

Sister Tiberh put together an Angel Tree for our families.  Look for the Angel Tree in the church.  Grab a tag.  Each tag is for a child, teen or family in the parish.  You will purchase the gifts and deliver them to the parish office.  

If you do not want to shop for a family, you can donate gift cards for Food Lion and Walmart.  You can drop off the gift cards or mail them to Sister at the parish office.  The mailing address is 1301 Victor St., Richmond, VA 23222.

~ Info from Cecilia Hull

In Memory of Ethel "Cookie" Cooley ~ A Poem by Henry Van Dyke

In Memory of

Ethel "Cookie" Cooley

March 31, 1949 - November 14, 2021

 

I am standing upon the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength.

I stand and watch her until at length,

she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says:  "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight.  That is all.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says:

"There, she is gone!"

there are other eyes watching her coming,

and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:

"Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

~ Henry Van Dyke ~

Fr. Jim's Jots - Feast of Christ the King of the Universe, November 21, 2021

 Feast of Christ the King of the Universe

November 21, 2021

Fr. Jim's Jots

While I am away in Michigan for Thanksgiving, enjoy the following prayer:

Father, we thank you for your abundant mercy and grace toward us.  We honor you this day as we gather together with family and friends full of gratitude.  We thank you for this meal and the hands that prepared it.  We thank you for your bountiful provisions.  We ask that you equip and encourage us to serve others who are in need.  May we be good stewards of your creation and of all our talents and Blessings.  We proclaim glory and honor to you.  

Bless us, O Lord and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Wishing and prayers for safe travels and a loving Thanksgiving,

Fr. Jim

PS. If you are able to help our needy, please take a paper Christmas ornament off the tree in the back of Church.

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Baptism Photos for November 14, 2021 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Baptisms at St. Elizabeth Church

November 14, 2021

(Click Photos to enlarge)

~ Photos by Connie Holm

Fr. Jim's Jots - Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 14, 2021

 Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 14, 2021

Fr. Jim's Jots

Greetings!

Throughout November we have been celebrating and remembering Black Catholic History Month.  We had a wonderful kickoff with a retreat hosted by the Office for Black Catholics from the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.  The retreat ended last Saturday with a special Mass celebrated with Bishop Barry Knestout.  Special thanks to our Gospel Choir, hospitality folks and the Community Life ladies who hosted the reception.

We are called to learn about and pray for the 6 American Black Catholics who are on the road to Sainthood.  They are Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, Servant of God Julia Greely, Servant of God Mother Mary Lange, Venerable Mother Henriette DeLille, Venerable Father Augustus Tolton and Venerable Pierre Toussaint.  During this month of November, read and learn more about their lives and pray that their journey to Sainthood progresses.

Reading God's Word:  We now have the Reading God's Word book for the Church year, cycle C 2022.  We only have about 30 copies left and the cost is $10.00 per copy.  You can purchase one at the back of the Church after Sunday Mass.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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St. Elizabeth Children Preparing for Baptism at St. Elizabeth ~ Photos made available by Cathy Woodson

 St. Elizabeth Children Preparing for Baptism

Sr. Cora Marie Honored! ~ Photo Provided by Connie Hom

 Sr. Cora Marie Billings Graduate Resident Minister at Villanova

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Black Catholic Retreat Mass with the Bishop, November 6, 2021 ~ Photos by Connie Hom, Commentary by Mary Ann Allen

Black Catholic Retreat Mass with the Bishop

St. Elizabeth Church

November 6, 2021

Bishop Knestout preaching the homily

All Saints School Choir

I was able to attend the Saturday Sessions of the retreat via ZOOM.  The keynote speaker, Dr. Tia Pratt spoke on Racism in the Catholic Church and gave an excellent explanation of the Critical Race Theory in relation to the Church and society.  So different from the misconceptions that many people have about this theory.  

I was really happy that the Retreat Mass was also presented on ZOOM.  The combined choirs of Holy Rosary and St. Elizabeth sang during the Mass. The young people's choir from All Saints School gave a mini concert before Mass and sang the Meditation song after Communion in Swahili. It was a wonderful celebration that was followed by a reception in the parish hall.

Commentary by Mary Ann Allen 

    

Black Catholic Retreat Reception at St. E's after the Retreat Mass, November 6, 2021 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Reception after Black Catholic Retreat Mass with the Bishop

November 6, 2021

Phyllis Booth with the Bishop

Connie Hom with the Bishop

Members of Holy Rosary Parish with the Bishop

Fr. Jim's Jots - Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 7, 2021

 Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 7, 2021

Fr. Jim's Jots

Greetings!

Your help is needed!  This sure has been a challenging year for St. Elizabeth but we are managing to keep going with the grace of God.  I am so pleased we hosted the closing Mass for the retreat "Our Faith Our Story: Black Catholic Identity and Culture."  A big thanks to all who helped in any way with the Mass and reception.  Special thanks to the Community Life ladies!  They have been hosting receptions for countless events.  Thank you ladies; you are a blessing and we never take for granted your countless workings of hosting charity and hospitality.

November is a month when we remember our Faithful departed.  We have "The Book of the Dead" in the front of the church by the Crucifix.  Please write the names of any relatives or friends who have died this past year.  My mother, Patricia Arsenault, died less than two weeks before she was able to get the vaccine for COVID.  It was a painful and difficult death.

We as a community have had so many loved ones die throughout this past year.  Our Sisters and Brothers have gone to rest in the Peace of Christ.  May the Lord now welcome them to the table of God's Children in Heaven.  With faith and hope in eternal life, let us assist them with our prayers.

Let us pray to the Lord also for ourselves.  May we who mourn be reunited one day with our Loved Ones, together may we meet Christ Jesus when he who is our life appears in Glory.  Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon them.  May the Souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.  Please sign "The Book of the Dead" and remember your loved ones.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim 

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ELECTION DAY!!! Time to vote!

 

Today is election Day 2021!  

GO VOTE!!!

If you need information about voting, check out the information on the Virginia Department of Elections website:

https://www.elections.virginia.gov/

LOGO DESIGN CONTEST for St. Elizabeth's Centennial Celebrations

St. Elizabeth is having a logo design contest for St. Elizabeth's 100th Anniversary celebration.  Share your artistic talents by designing a logo for the celebration.  The winner will receive a $50 gift card.  

The theme of the celebration is "Beacon of Hope."  You will find the submission guidelines on our website at:  https://stelizcc.org/centennial-logo-contest/.  

Deadline for submission is Wednesday, November 17th.

Faith Formation for Adults ~ You are invited!

 

FAITH FORMATION FOR ADULTS!

You are invited to join our monthly Family of Faith prayer series.  The virtual sessions are one Wednesday a month at 6 p.m. on Zoom.  Rita Hatchett will facilitate.  Topics and dates are as follows:

November 17:  Jesus teaches us how to pray and the Our Father

December 15:  The Our Father first three petitions

January 19:  Our Father last four petitions and the Holy Spirit and Prayer

February 16:  Praying to the Virgin Mary and Expressions of Prayer

March 16:  Praying with Scripture and Forms of Prayer

April 13:  The Battle of Prayer and the Communion of Saints

The sessions are open to all adult St. Elizabeth parishioners.  Contact Rita by emailing: rhatchett1@verizon.net OR TEXT 804-229-1999.

Fr. Jim's Jots - Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 31, 2021

 Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 31, 2021

Fr. Jim's Jots

As we close out the month of Mary Mother of the Rosary, we welcome November and the Solemnity of All Saints on Monday, November 1st with a Mass at 5 p.m.  On Tuesday, we remember All Souls Day.

I hope you will plan on attending the Holy Day Mass in honor of all the saints.  We as a Roman Catholic Church are blessed to have countless men and women who are powerful witnesses of faith, sacrifice, and love throughout salvation history.  May you look to the saint you were named after.  If you are not named after a saint or don't have a Confirmation saint's name, I hope you will pick a Saint to help you and watch over you and your family.  It is a pleasure to light a candle and pray the Lord will help us through the intercession of a saint.

The saint I pray to the most is Mary Mother of God.  I was born on May 31, the feast day of the Visitation, ordained a Deacon on December 8, the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, and ordained a priest on May 13, the feast day for Our Lady of Fatima.  The Blessed Mother has watched out for me all my life.

If you are thinking about getting confirmed or perhaps becoming a Catholic, please contact Chris and Beng Metzger at Metzger.christopher@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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