FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Feast of the Nativity - December 25, 2022

 Feast of the Nativity

December 25, 2022

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

A special thanks to all who have made this a wonderful and special Christmas!!

I wish to thank Deacon Chris, our Parish staff, our choir and Scott.  As well as thank you to Connie Hom for our beautiful Christmas trees and all our countless volunteers.  You make the spirit of Christmas come to life.

A Christmas Prayer

Jesus

He came not to a throne, 

But to a manger.

He lived not as a King,

But as a servant.

He chose not a kingdom,

But a cross.

He gave not just a little,

But everything.

+ Fr. Jim

~ Image Source

It's Time to Return to the Waning Days of Advent: The O Antiphons of Advent ~ Contributed by M. A. Allen

The "O" Antiphons of Advent

Beginning December 17th and ending on December 23rd, people who daily pray The Liturgy of the Hours will find themselves praying the great "O" Antiphons.  Each day during the next seven days, a different name describing Christ found in the Old Testament is used during Evening Prayer or Vespers.

Here they are:

December 17 - O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other mightily, and sweetly ordering all things:  Come and teach us the way of prudence.

December 18 - O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai:  Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

December 19 - O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer:  Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

December 20 - O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut, you shut and no one can open:  Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in the darkness and the shadow of death, Isaiah had prophesied.

December 21 - O Morning Star, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness:  Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

December 22 - O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one:  Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

December 23 - O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior:  Come and save us, O Lord our God.

*************

I wrote this article a few years ago on my personal blog, "Now is the Time" and decided to use it (with minor changes) here on our parish blog.  I thought the O Antiphons were an interesting subject especially since they are so appropriate during this Advent time.



  

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 18, 2022

 Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 18, 2022

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Elizabeth,

May the Lord bless you and yours this Special Advent and Christmas Season.  Our Lord Jesus Christ was born to live among us.  Jesus, our Redeemer, gives us the promise of Life Eternal through His Birth, Death and Resurrection.  We, as Catholic Christians, are called to care for all our brothers and sisters.  We share our common home, the Earth.  We are also called to live in Peace with all peoples and creation.

I am praying for you and your families.  At Christmas time I reflect and give thanks for the memories of my youth, growing up in a happy home with loving parents and my sister and brother.  In our family home in Wyandotte, Michigan, we had two Christmas trees, one formal one in the living room which my mother often decorated with special colors like gold or red and a themed tree in the family room.  My sister, brother and I were allowed to decorate this tree.  We used lights of different colors and ornaments.  My Dad would make fudge and dinners were special in the dining room with place settings, name tags and a centerpiece with the chandelier decked out with red velvet ribbons.

We went to the early Christmas Mass.  Afterwards, when home, we would take turns opening up Christmas gifts and would have a big breakfast.  After dinner we would visit my cousins.  The gift I remember the most each year was new underwear and socks.

Happy Christmas,

+ Fr. Jim Arsenault, Pastor

Lighting the Advent Wreath for the Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 18, 2022 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Lighting the Advent Wreath

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 18, 2022

Cathy Woodson - 8:30 a.m. Mass

Sr. Tiberh - 10 a.m. Mass

~ Photos by Connie Hom

Fr. Jim's Homily with the Children - Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 18, 2022 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Fr. Jim's Homily with the Children

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 18, 2022

~ Photos by Connie Hom

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Gaudete Sunday, December 11, 2022

Third Sunday of Advent 

Gaudete Sunday

December 11, 2022

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

It's beginning to look like "Advent-Christmas."  Special thanks to Connie and her crew from Buckingham Greenery for the beautiful Christmas trees in the church.  Wow!  They are beautiful!  We also wish to thank a special anonymous donor for the new freezer in the church kitchen.

I hope you noticed the new church lighting.  Due to the age of the old light bulbs and the fact that they were no longer available, our lighting has been updated to new LED.  The lights are brighter, use less electricity to operate and should last much longer.  What a difference; now I can see your faces!

Please mark your calendars and attend our communal penance service this Saturday, December 17th at 12 noon.  We will have several area priests to help with the Advent sacrament of Confession.  A light lunch will be provided.  Please plan on attending.  There is NO wrong way to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation.

Private individual confessions at church confessional from 10 a.m. - 12 noon on Christmas Eve.

Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve - Program beginning at 5 p.m.  Christmas Eve - Mass at 6 p.m.

Christmas Day - Mass at 9 a.m., December 25, 2022

The parish office will be closed from Monday, December 26th and will reopen January 3rd.

Masses on Sunday, January 1, 2023 will be the regular schedule - 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Advent Blessings,

Fr. Jim

We Need a CHRISTMAS MIRACLE For Our Angel Tree!!

 

We need A MIRACLE!!!  We have 37 names left on our Angel Tree.  37 children and adults who are hoping you will give them a beautiful Christmas. For some, this Christmas will be their first Christmas in the United States after settling here from another country.

To get a name from the Angel Tree, email umojafamilyministry@gmail.com or call the parish office (804) 329-4599 ext. 17.  Leave a message with your name and phone number.  HURRY!  To bring Christmas to all the families on our Angel Tree, we need gifts (unwrapped) dropped off at the parish office by Saturday, December 17th.

Visit our website: https://stelizcc.org/advent-christmas-schedule to find out how you can make sure every family in our 2022 Angel Tree gets gifts this Christmas.

If you work for a business or community service group who is looking for a community service project this Christmas, email umojafamilyministry@gmail.com or call the parish office (804) 329-4599 ext. 17 to offer your help!

~ Image Source

Bread for the Hungry - December Centennial Anniversary Project - December 11, 2022 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Bread for the Hungry

In Honor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

December Centennial Project

8:30 a.m. Mass - History read by Paulette Wright

Bread given

10:00 a.m. Mass - The History was read by Sandrine and Uwase

Bread given at the 10:00 a.m. Mass

The committee that worked on this project were Paulette Wright, Erin Flynn and Edith Scott.  Support by Liz Wiznerowicz and Mary Odina. "We had many loaves of bread to give to our community.  Big thank you to all our parishioners."

~ Photos by Connie Hom

Lighting the Advent Candles - Gaudete Sunday - Third Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2022

 Gaudete Sunday

Third Sunday of Advent

December 11, 2022

Lighting the Advent Candles

8:30 a.m. Mass - Shelley Anderson - In memory of a Cousin

10 a.m. Mass - Lula Lamb - in memory of her husband Robert and mother, Katherine

Fr. Jim - Lula

~ Photos by Connie Hom

Watch the Centennial Mass on Facebook!

 Watch the Centennial Mass on Facebook!

Photo by Maria Barrow

If you missed the wonderful Centennial Mass with Bishop Knestout, you can watch it in its entirety  HERE!  (Please be patient. The link will play for a minute and then starts as Sr. Cora comes in with the Introduction.)

Lighting the Advent Wreath on the Second Sunday of Advent - Theme of the Week: Longest Married Couple! - 12.4.2022 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Second Sunday of Advent

Theme: Longest Married Couple

8:30 a.m. Mass - Mary Ann and Jimmy Flanagan - 45 years of Marriage

10:00 a.m. Mass - Deacon Chris' Sister - Tia and Sandy Bisignano - 52 years of Marriage

~ Photos by Connie Hom

 

"THE GIVING OF BREAD" - Gaudete Sunday - December 11, 2022 - Don't Forget to Bring a Loaf of Bread to Mass!

December Centennial Anniversary Activity

Gaudete Sunday

Third Sunday of Advent

December 11, 2022

As we prepare to celebrate Saint Elizabeth of Hungary's dedication, commitment and love for those who suffered, please join our church family for the December Centennial Anniversary Activity.

St. Elizabeth distributed hundreds of loaves of bread to the poor daily.  In her honor, on December 11th, we ask every family to bring a loaf of bread to be shared with our brothers and sisters who find themselves in need.

We are reminded that God will come to save his people and provide for our needs in the Third Sunday of Advent readings.  Please join us as we make this a special event for our church community.  We welcome every loaf of bread in Jesus' name during the Offertory gifts.  The bread will be distributed during the week by the Social Concerns Ministry.

Thanks to all of you for your participation, dedication and love for our church, and your willingness to share that with which God has blessed you.

"We are made loveless by our possessions."

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

~ Image Source

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Second Sunday of Advent - December 4, 2022

 Second Sunday of Advent

December 4, 2022

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

This Thursday, December 8, 2022 is the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation.  We will be having Mass at 12 noon. Please plan on attending in person or on Zoom.

As a Catholic people, we are blessed to have a close and special relationship with Mary, the Mother of God.  As your priest, I have a devotion to Mary and I hope you do too.  Please pray to Mary our Mother to guide our parish now and in the future so are loving and kind to all we meet.

Join us for the communal Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Elizabeth on Saturday, December 17th at 12 noon.  A light lunch will be provided.  I can think of no better way for all Catholics when preparing for Christmas than to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession.  May we be at peace with God and All.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim