FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 25, 2023

 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 25, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

Great News!!!  Pope Francis has advanced the Sainthood of Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, a Black religious sister who founded the country's first African American religious congregation in Baltimore in 1829.  The recognition of Lange's heroic virtue and advancement of her cause from Servant of God to Venerable was announced by the Vatican in a decree signed on June 22.  The Church will now need to approve a miracle attributed to her intercession before she can be beatified.

Elizabeth Lange immigrated to the United States from Cuba in the early 1800s.  Recognizing the lack of education for the children of her fellow Black immigrants, with a friend she established St. Frances Academy in her own home and with her own money to offer free schooling to Baltimore's African American children.  Please pray Venerable Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange to help our parish and our newest families.

Please note that both Fr. Jim and Deacon Chris are away; therefore no daily Mass on the following dates:  6/26, 6/30 and July 5th, 2023.  The parish office will be closed on the July 4th holiday and will reopen Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

Blessings and Peace,

Fr.Jim

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FR. JIM'S JOTS - Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 18, 2023 - Father's Day 2023

 FATHER'S DAY 2023

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 18, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

Last Friday, June 16th 2023, we as a church celebrated "The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus" feast.  The Catholic Diocese of Richmond has several Churches named in honor of the Sacred Heart; most notably, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.  We are pleased as a parish to have a statue of the Sacred Heart in our church.  This special statue was formally in the Bishop Van de Vyver School in Richmond.  As Catholics, we should look to the Sacred heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary and try to follow an example of our hearts being "open or exposed" to a love of Christ and ALL people.

Special thanks to Liz, Kenya, Erin, Eva and all the many volunteers who helped make this week's summer school a huge success.  How important the gift of learning is in supporting our newest parishioners.  See the photo in the good news section of this bulletin to see their group from the first week of their two-week program!  This is indeed a gift for all their lives.

Congratulations to all recent graduates from Grade School, High School and University.  May your futures be blessed with happiness and success.

We need your help to volunteer for the Jazz Festival.  This is a parish-wide all hands-on-deck!!! With your help, the Jazz Festival will be a success.  Please contact Ron Timmons at ratimmons88@gmail.com.  We also need your help to sell and purchase Jazz Festival raffle tickets.  The front ticket sales pay for the contracts of bands and expenses.

Take some time to read a Spiritual book this summer or visit one of our Richmond/ Washington museums or spend a day in a park enjoying God's creation.

Blessings and Peace,

Fr. Jim

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The Centennial Anniversary June Breakfast - Sunday, June 11, 2023 ~ Photos by Karen Yesolitis

The Centennial Anniversary June Breakfast

St. Elizabeth Church

June 11, 2023

The goal for our monthly Centennial Anniversary celebrations is to have the parishioners gather and socialize on a monthly basis.  The breakfast was hosted by the Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  All the food: ham biscuits, chicken salad croissants, fruit and rice medley was provided by Kevin Kitrick.

- Connie Hom -

~ Photos by Karen Yesolitis

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Feast of Corpus Christi - Sunday, June 11, 2023

 Feast of Corpus Christi

June 11, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

Corpus Christi, "also known as the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, honors Jesus Christ, Really, Truly and Substantially Present under the appearances of bread and wine.  This Presence happens through the change which the Church calls transubstantiation ('change of substance'), when at the Consecration of the Mass, the priest says the words which Christ Himself pronounced over bread and wine, 'This is My Body,' 'This is the chalice of My Blood,' 'Do this in remembrance of Me.'  Christ comes to us in this humble form, making Himself vulnerable, out of love for each one of us.  Yet, as God Himself, the Body and Blood of Christ deserves our utmost respect and love, as well as our adoration."

"Every year the Feast of Corpus Christi invites us to renew the wonder and joy for this wonderful gift of the Lord, which is the Eucharist."  - Pope Francis

Jazz Festival Raffle Tickets are on sale in the back of Church or in the parish office.  I hope that everyone will purchase a book or two or take some home and sell tickets.  We need your help to pay for the upfront expenses of the Jazz Festival.  Please take home a book or two today.  We are also now looking for businesses to be sponsors for the Jazz Festival.  If you have a business or friends with a possible sponsor, please contact the office and we can give you the sponsorship packet to email.

Blessings and Peace,

Fr.Jim

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Adult Faith Formation and Scripture Class End of Session Dinner - Saturday, June 3, 2023 ~ Photos by Rita Hatchett

 Adult Faith Formation and Scripture Class

End of Session Dinner

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Some members of the Adult Faith Formation and Scripture Class celebrated the end of their sessions at the Golden Corral on Saturday, June 3rd.  No certificates were given this year as the Book of Psalms was not completed.  This class will continue in September.

 

~ Photos by Rita Hatchett

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Feast of the Most Holy Trinity - June 4, 2023

 Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

June 4, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

June brings together many different celebrations, sacred and secular.  The Church celebrates June as the month of the Sacred Heart and observes such important solemnities as Pentecost (This year, the last weekend in May), Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi.  This weekend we celebrate Holy Trinity Sunday.  The Holy Spirit makes the work of the Trinity for our salvation present among us; He reminds us of what Jesus, who reveals to us the Father, taught.  We are made in God's image and likeness.  We reflect the life of God.  And the Trinity shows us what the life of God is like:  A life-giving, loving communion of persons.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."  2 Corinthians 13-14

Jazz Festival Raffle Tickets are on sale in the back of Church or in the parish office.  I hope that everyone will purchase a book or two or take some home and sell tickets.  We need your help to pay for the upfront expenses of the Jazz Festival.  Please take home a book or two today.  We are also now looking for businesses to be sponsors for the Jazz Festival.  If you have a business or friends with a possible sponsor, please contact the office and we can give you the sponsorship packet to email.

Blessings and Peace,

Fr. Jim

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