FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Feast of Christ the King - November 26, 2023

Feast of Christ the King

November 26, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

This Sunday we welcome Msgr. Walter Barrett as I am in Michigan and will return this Friday.  This Sunday, the Feast of Christ the King, marks the last Sunday of the liturgical year.  Next week we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent.  Please consider joining us on December 16th for a parish retreat, led by Sr. Anns James, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  We will have a Communal Reconciliation Service afterwards.  You do not need to attend the retreat to attend reconciliation.  We will have several priests here to hear confessions.  All are welcome!  More information on the December retreat will be shared in next week's bulletin.

I thank Msgr. Walter Barrett for celebrating Sunday Mass and our Deacon Chris Barrett who will conduct Communion Services on Wed., Nov. 29th and Fri., Dec. 1st, at 12 noon.

As it is the first Friday of December, we will have an hour of Exposition and Adoration on Dec. 1st.  All are welcome.

Prayer for Christ the King Sunday

Lord, Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King.  The beginning and end of all things, You have made your Church to be a people that bears witness to the goodness and beauty of your kingdom.  By your Holy Spirit, You have united us as one body, called to live as one family of God.  Fill our hearts with your grace, that we would be close to You by being close to the vulnerable and marginalized.  Give us the patience to share one another's burdens.  And give us the courage to always be friends of the truth.  May we remain with You always. Amen.

Greetings,

Fr. Jim

(Prayer from usccb.org)

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More Photos of the Centennial Mass are on the St. Elizabeth Website!!! ~ Livestream of Centennial Mass - See Links Below!

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Website

Livestream of the Centennial Mass with Cardinal Wilton's Homily

St. Elizabeth Church - Centennial Closing Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory - Sunday, November 19, 2023 ~ Photos by Cecilia Hull

 St. Elizabeth Church

Centennial Closing Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory

Sunday, November 19, 2023

~ Photos by Cecilia Hull

St. Elizabeth Church - Centennial Closing Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory - Sunday, November 19, 2023 ~ Photos by Monique Moody

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

 Centennial Closing Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory

Sunday, November 19, 2023

~ Photos by Monique Moody

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 19, 2023

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 19, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

Today, we celebrate Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington.  Thank you to Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Fr. Charles Cortinovis and Msgr. Walter Barrett for celebrating with us this Sunday!  This Mass is our final celebration for our Centennial Year.  Mass is at 9 a.m. and please join us after Mass for a reception in the Parish Hall.  Over the past year, we have celebrated this momentous occasion with monthly events and programs.  I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in making our Centennial Anniversary such an amazing success!

I would especially like to thank Connie Hom, who was our coordinator for anything related to the Centennial and all the monthly events.  Connie and those on our Centennial Committee have planned, prepped and worked immensely to make all of these celebrations so wonderful!

I will be visiting my family in Michigan for Thanksgiving.  In place of Weekday Mass, Deacon Chris will conduct Communion Services on Wed., Nov. 29 and Fri., Dec. 1, at 12 noon.  There will be no weekday Mass the week of Thanksgiving as we are out of town.  For more information on Mass/service schedules and office hours, please see further down in the bulletin.  I wish everyone safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Centennial Closing Mass - November 19, 2023 ~ Photos by Cathy Woodson

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Centennial Closing Mass

November 19, 2023

Liturgical Dancers

Deacon Chris

Cardinal Gregory

~ Photos by Cathy Woodson

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Centennial Closing Mass - November 19 2023 ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Centennial Closing Mass

November 19, 2023

Church is packed!

Monsignor Barrett

~ Photos by Lula Lamb

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 12, 2023

 Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 12, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

Next Sunday we welcome Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington.  He is the first African-American Cardinal.  Cardinal Gregory is a long-time personal friend of our own Sr. Cora Marie Billings, RSM.  This Mass will be the closing Mass of our historic Centennial Year.  100 years as a Beacon of Hope and Faith in the heart of Richmond.  All are invited to the one Mass next Sunday at 9 a.m.  This Mass will not be streamed on Zoom but on our Facebook page.

As we remember the past, we are planning for the future.  In 2018 we started a St. Elizabeth Planning Committee.  During COVID, the committee was on hold and has now in the Fall of 2023, started again with representatives from Parish and Finance Councils and some other members.  They are Barbara Vaughan, Patrick Merone, Cathy Woodson, Gary Williams, Pat Cleary, Kim Bragg, Ken Soistman and Adrien DeLoach.  We are looking at options for St. Elizabeth and reviewing how best to plan for the future.  We will keep you posted and feel free to contact anyone on the Planning Committee.

Special thanks to Connie Hom, Anne Gibbons, Eva Wiznerowicz, Edith Cooley Scott, Mike Henrich and Tommy Williams, who cleaned the church last week to get ready for our big closing centennial Mass.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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FR. JIM'S JOTS - Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 5, 2023

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 5, 2023

FR. JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

November is Black Catholic History Month.  As many may have noticed, we have a prayer for the Prayers of the Faithful that started this Sunday in recognition of this important month.  There are 6 African Americans on the road to Sainthood.  These important men and women are Father Augustus Tolton, Venerable Henriette DeLille, Servant of God Julia Greeley, Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, Venerable Pierre Toussaint and Servant of God Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange.  Let us pray that their cause for canonization may be moved forward.  Each weekend in November a special prayer for their cause of canonization will be shared in the bulletin.  Click here to learn about Servant of God Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange and a prayer for her canonization.

I would like to say a special thank you for all of those who helped with the Church cleanup yesterday morning.  Our Centennial Closing Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory is on Sunday, November 19th at 9 a.m.  The Catholic Standard, a global Catholic Newspaper located in the Diocese of Washington, wrote an article of an interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on the celebration of his 50th Anniversary of Ordination.  Click here if you are interested in reading this article.

Prayer for Peace in the Middle East

God of all creation, bring justice and peace to our world.

Teach us to be peacemakers.  Guide us in our pursuit of

justice and the common good.  Inspire us to welcome all, forgive 

all and love all.  Direct us as we walk in the shadow of Jesus; the

Way, the Truth and the Life.  Inspire us to perceive the world

through your eyes, that we might find hope and joy each day,

supportive of each other, for the sake of your Kingdom.

- Author Unknown

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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