FATHER JIM'S JOTS ~ Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 27, 2023

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time 

August 27, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

I am pleased to announce that our newly renovated nursery will reopen on Sunday the 27th!  Our Assistant Director of Religious Education, Erin Cleary, has been working tirelessly for the last month to repaint, furnish and revamp the space herself, to make it a more comfortable and versatile room for our young children and parents.

A special thanks to Todd Vaughan for the new flooring that has been placed in the nursery, as well as a big thank you to Miranda for painting the beautiful mural.  The nursery is available for the young children of our parish and their parents, but also for use as a classroom for our new faith formation class (ages 3-5) during the 10 a.m. Mass.  If you'd like to volunteer in the nursery, please contact the Office or Erin Cleary.

After three years of persistence, Mayor Levar Stoney has agreed to meet with leaders from RISC (Richmonders Involved in Strengthening Our Communities) and VCORE to discuss gun violence and asking him to implement Group Violence Intervention (GVI) - an evidence-based tool that has cut gun violence in half in cities across the country.  During this meeting, RISC members will conduct a prayer vigil outside.  All RISC members and others are encouraged to attend!  As a church, we are Pro-Life; being for sensible gun legislation is a pro-life issue.  It's time to take a stand, VOTE and put our thoughts and prayers into ACTION.

Tuesday, August 29th at 4:30 p.m., at City Hall's East Marshall St. entrance!

During this vigil, they will pray for a successful meeting, hear testimonies, pray for the hundreds of lives that have been lost to gun violence since they first proposed GVI  to the Mayor in 2020, and end the evening with a press conference.  They will conclude around 6:15 p.m.  For more information, please contact Nancy Kunkel:  804-212-6777.

Lastly, I would like to say a big thank you to Edith Jeter, the Director of the Office of Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, for the generous gift of the restoration of a set of bells used during the Consecration.  These 100-year-old bells are the original bells that have been used since the founding of the church.  Thanks to parishioner, Marie Barrow, they were saved and now have been restored.  They will be used at our Centennial Close of Ceremonies Mass on Sunday, November 19th.

Summer Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS ~ Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 20, 2023

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 20, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

In my absence, Msgr. Walter Barrett is celebrating Sunday Mass this weekend and Deacon Chris will be leading Communion services at the usual daily Mass times, 12 noon on Wed., Aug. 23 and Fri., Aug. 25.  I will be returning at the end of this upcoming week.

As we approach the end of August and beginning of September, we prepare ourselves to celebrate the "Season of Creation."  Since 2015 Pope Francis has been encouraging the Church to celebrate a "Season of Creation" in sync with other Christian denominations around the world.  Although not a liturgical season; as such, like Advent and Lent, it is a month during which we are invited to focus in particular on how we relate to the whole of Creation.  The "Season of Creation" starts September 1, The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and ends October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology for many Christian denominations.  Throughout the month-long celebration, the world's 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home.

Let the children lead us!  As we prepare for a month of prayer and reflection with the "Season of Creation" after the 10 am Mass, next Sunday, together with children and youths of our community, we will decorate a logo that will remind us of our call as Christians to honor and consider our place in God's Creation. Pope Francis has added care of creation to the traditional lists of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

This Season of Creation we are invited to 'Let Justice and Peace Flow Like a River.' That means giving serious consideration to the soul-searching question Pope Francis poses to us in his 2015 encyclical letter, Laudati Si:  "What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?"

Summer Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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CATCHING UP! - St. Elizabeth Jazz and Food Festival - August 5, 2023 ~ First Photo by Beverley Bryant + Rest of Photos by Connie Hom ~ (no photos of the bands available)

St. Elizabeth Jazz and Food Festival

August 5, 2023

Photo by Beverley Bryant

Rest of photos by Connie Hom

 

CATCHING UP! - St Elizabeth Ice Cream Social - July 23, 2023 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

St. Elizabeth Ice Cream Social

July 23, 2023

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 13, 2023

 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 13, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation.  As I will be out of town on that day, Fr. Richard Mooney will be celebrating Mass at 12 p.m.  So please mark your calendars for Mass at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15th.

Thank you so much to everyone involved for making this year's Jazz and Food Festival such an amazing success!  Due to the success of the festival our net total was $35,325.00!  Wow!!  Please see our Facebook page for pictures!

Jazz Festival Special Thanks to:

Tim Timmons, Larry Williford, Eva Wiznerowicz, Connie Hom, Margaret Rittenhouse, Cathy Woodson, Maureen Petruzella, Erin Cleasy, Karen Yesolitis, Frank Gracias, Marshneil D'Souza, Barbara Vaughan, Michelle Jordan, Dave Tindall, Valerie Smith, Katrinia Murray, Ann Tindall, Mone Walker-Williams, Mary Walker, Astrid Jones, Edith Scott, Frances Pope, Nancy Kunkel, Shari and Mike Ballweg, Carlyn and Bill Pearlingi, Margie Powers, Barbara Randall, Chris Barrett, Anne Gibbons, Sr. Anns James, Lucy Thompson, Maria Barrow, Rosemary Overton, Paulette Wright, Amanda and andrew Kalna, Mary Odindo, Joshuah Pursley, Helena Nelson, Jane DeBernardo, Michele and John Alouf, Tommie Williams, David Woodburn, Beverly Bryant, Cheryl Curbeam, Anthony Romanello, Mary Downes Amrhein, Mary Carter Hyman, Rob Gabriele, Adrien DeLoach, Catherine and David Hendrick, Anna Cave, Shelly and Mike Anderson, Anne Holton, Bob Cohn Jeff Sulik, Theresia, Sr. Francisca, Olive Kambio, Amani Kadiga, Abedi Shishi, Marie Jeanette, Bosco and Fabrice.

Summer Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Image Source

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Feast of the Transfiguration - August 6, 2023

 Feast of the Transfiguration

August 6, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

Thank you so much to everyone involved for making yesterday's Jazz and Food Festival such an amazing success!!  Without the help of everyone, this would not have been possible.  Thank you to the Jazz Festival Committee, Parish Staff and countless volunteers who worked during the planning of and the day of the festival!

It was wonderful to bring back such an amazing event after a break due to the pandemic.

Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation.  As I will be out of town on that day, Fr. Richard Mooney will be celebrating Mass at 12 p.m.  So please mark your calendars for Mass at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15th.

Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday

Holy God, mighty and immortal,

You are beyond our knowing,

Yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ,

Whose compassion illumines the world.

Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ,

Who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity,

The same Jesus Christ, our Lord,

Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Summer Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 30, 2023

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church 

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 30, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

Today, July 30, 2023, we dedicate the Painting of Sister Thea Bowman (1937-1990) who is on the road to Sainthood.  There are 5 steps to Sainthood:

1. Death

2. Servant of God

3. Venerable

4. Blessed

5.  Saint

Sister Thea is now "Servant of God" and her cause to Sainthood is official.  Sister Thea Bowman's life was always one of Gospel joy, enduring faith and persevering prayer even in the midst of racial prejudice, cultural insensitivity and debilitating illness.  During her short life (52 years), many people  considered a religious Sister undeniably close to God and who lovingly invited others to encounter the presence of God in their lives.

Today, across the United States, schools and parishes assist needy students; we also assist with housing and food for the poor and elderly.  We are inspired by Sister.  In her honor, books, articles, catechetical resources and visual media productions have been written or created documenting her exemplary life, spiritual life, spirituality and ministry, prayer cards, statues and stained-glass windows bear her image all attesting to Sister Thea's profound spiritual impact and example of holiness for the faithful.  Today, we are honored to dedicate this portrait of Sister Thea Bowman painted by our own parishioner Margaret Rittenhouse.

Please cut out the special prayer on the flyer about the life of Sister Thea and display it in your home.  Sister Thea Bowman, pray for us.  Click here for the flyer. 

A big thank you to everyone who helped out with the Ice Cream Socal last week.  It was a hit! Thank you to Coordinators: Carolyn and Buzzy Lawler.  Musicians:  Buzzy Lawler, Dan Lancaster, Marion Hodges, Senator Tim Kaine, Jeff Sulik, Steve Wiley, Erin Flynn and Jessica L'Heureux.  Team Leaders:  Cory and Vern Hall, Jane DeBernardo, Karen Carter, Margaret Rittenhouse and Erin Flynn.  Ice Cream Scoopers:  Bob Cohn, Cliff Wright, Mike Henrich, Jacob Saunders, Cheryl Curbeam, David Woodburn, Rob Gabriele, Gary Williams and Dan Burns.  Helpers:  Maria Barrow, Anna Cave, Paulette Wright, Edith Scott, Helen Henrich, Annemarie Pancham, Beverly Bryant, Ericka Campos, Paty Weiss, Monique and Carl Moody, Frank Gracias and Marshnell D'Sousa.

See the Good News Section of this bulletin for pictures of this event!

Summer Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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