9:00 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day - Remembering Rita Hatchett with a Gift ~ Photos by Connie Hom

Remembering Rita Hatchett with a Gift

For Her Dedication 

In Teaching the Weekly Scripture Class

Rita receiving her gift from Carolyn and Shelley

Rita and Carolyn

~ Photos by Connie Hom

Mass on Christmas Day - St. Elizabeth Church - December 25, 2023 ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

 Mass on Christmas Day

St. Elizabeth Church

December 25, 2023

Merceider Williams, Soprano

Offertory gifts from the Umoja Families

~ Photos by Lula Lamb

9:00 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day - Monday, December 25, 2023 ~ Photos by Margaret Rittenhouse

Christmas Day Mass

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Gifts from the Umoja Families to the Church

Offerings from the Umoja Families

~ Photos by Margaret Rittenhouse 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 24, 2023

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 24, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Christmas Greetings!!

Allow me to reflect and share some personal memories of special Christmases in my past.

I was blessed to grow up in a loving family.  My parents went to our local Catholic Highschool, Saint Patrick's, in Wyandotte, MI.  My Dad worked as a beer truck driver salesman.  My mom stayed home and only went to work part-time when we reached Highschool.  My sister, Lori, my brother, Tom and I loved Christmas.

Dad made homemade fudge each year and sometimes homemade Kahlua.

We always had two Christmas trees:  one was in the formal living room, where everything was perfect each year.  My mom would pick a special color for this tree, most often red or gold.  The other tree was in our family room.  This tree we were allowed to decorate with multicolored lights and mismatched ornaments.

After Mass on Christmas morning, we would have breakfast in the dining room; both Mom and Dad shared in all the cooking on Christmas.  Next we would go around, starting with my brother and take turns opening the special gifts from Santa.

Christmas dinner was special with good China, silver and glassware.  All the table leaves were used and we made name tags for any visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles.  A turkey with all the trimmings was the main course.  We would not be allowed to leave the dining room without asking for permission.  "May I please be excused?"

The gifts that were given were often a need, such as underwear and socks, but the best gift was time together as a family.

Blessings to you and yours,

Christmas Blessings

Fr. Jim, Pastor

~ Image Source 

Lighting the Advent Wreath - Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday - December 17, 2023 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Lighting the Advent Wreath

Third Sunday of Advent

Gaudete Sunday

December 17, 2023

8:30 a.m. Mass
Betty Alexis Worrell and Rosann Burford

8:30 a.m. Mass

8:30 a.m. Mass

10:00 a.m. Mass
Tinika and Igor Amouzouvi
Jacob and Essenam and Marcelline

10:00 a.m. Mass

10:00 a.m. Mass

10:00 a.m. Mass

10:00 a.m. Mass

10:00 a.m. Mass

~ Photos by Connie Hom

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday - December 17, 2023

December 17, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Certain Sundays throughout the liturgical year have taken their names from the first word in Latin of the entrance antiphon.  This Sunday's antiphon is "rejoice in the Lord always."  Gaudete (meaning 'rejoice' in Latin) Sunday is a joyous celebration.  Although it takes place during the usually penitential period of Advent, Gaudete Sunday serves as a mid-point break to rejoice in the nearness of Jesus's return.

Thank you to everyone who attended the retreat on Care of Creation and Reconciliation yesterday.  Thank you to Sr. Anns for her wonderful coordination and preparation of the retreat.  Following Pope Francis' letter, Laudate Si, it is important that we learn how we can better care for God's creation and our common home.

Please note, because the Fourth Sunday in Advent and Christmas Eve are on the same Sunday, we have a different Mass schedule for the next two weeks.  Our complete Christmas Schedule can be found in the highlighted yellow box in this bulletin as well as on our website and phone answering machine on extension 3.  Below the Christmas Schedule, you can find information on how to send and receive Christmas cards to and from parishioners as well as how to make a donation for our Christmas flowers if you are interested.

Thank you to everyone for helping with this year's Angel Tree!  We were able to provide gifts for many children and families of our parish and local community.

As many of you know, Mary's and Patrick's wedding is this Friday at 12 p.m.  It will be a big celebration and I hope to see many of you there!  Congratulations to Mary and Patrick on this wonderous occasion!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Image Source

Lighting the Advent Wreath - Second Sunday of Advent - December 10, 2023 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

Sr. Elizabeth Church

 Lighting the Advent Wreath

Second Sunday of Advent

December 10, 2023

8:30 a.m. Mass
Karen and Andy Yesolitis and Family
Chuck, Tricia and daughters,
Emily, Eva, Sophia

10:00 a.m. Mass
Anthony Romanello Family
From left to right:
Diane, Shelylyn
Mary, Anthony, John

Adelaide, Olivia, Anna

~ Photos by Connie Hom

St. Elizabeth Church 

Second Sunday of Advent

November 10, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

We hear that Advent is a season of preparation for the celebration of the coming of Christ at Christmas.  How do we prepare ourselves during this period?

Firstly, is to pray more.  The Five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are traditionally prayed on Mondays, Saturdays and during the season of Advent on Sundays.  Every day at 7 p.m. on Zoom, members of St. Elizabeth Parish pray the rosary together.  All are welcome to join and the link can be found in the E-Bulletin every week.

"Advent is considered the Little Lent as it begins by recalling that Christ will come at the end of the world as Judge, a reminder of the holiness with which we should be prepared to greet the Lord.  Although not strictly a penitential season, the faithful should turn their hearts toward Jesus in prayer, almsgiving and sacrifice."

Another way to prepare ourselves is to go to confession at least once during the Advent season. This Saturday, December 16th, we will have a communal reconciliation service at 12 p.m.  There will be a light lunch in the Parish Hall afterwards.  We will have several priests here to hear confessions.  All are welcome!  We will also have Confessions on December 23rd at 10 a.m.  Please see the flyer in this week's bulletin for a guide to an examination of Conscience and the Act of Contrition.  You are welcome to bring this with you to confession and we will have extra copies available on December 16th and 23rd.

Please consider joining us on December 16th for a parish retreat, led by Sr. Anns James, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.  This will take place before the reconciliation service and will be themed on the "Care of Creation."  Please email Sr. Anns James (anns@stelizcc.org) to register.

Prayer for Advent

Lord, our God, we praise You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, for He is Emmanuel, the Hope of all people.  He is the Wisdom that teaches and guides us.  He is the Savior of us all.  O Lord, let your blessings come upon us as we light two (purple) candles of this wreath.  May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ's promise of salvation.  May He come quickly and not delay.  We ask this in His holy name.  Amen.

(Advent info and prayer from ewtn.org)

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Image Source

Children's Liturgy Group - 1st Sunday of Advent - December 3, 2023 ~Photo by Connie Hom

Children's Liturgy Group

1st Sunday of Advent

December 3, 2023

~ Photo by Connie Hom

 

Lighting the Advent Wreath - First Sunday of Advent - December 3, 2023 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

 Lighting the Advent Wreath

 First Sunday of Advent

December 3, 2023

8:30 a.m. Mass
Anna Cave and children, Lucas and Harper

10:00 a.m. Mass
Luisa Ropa and Chris with children

Emely Cabrera Vasquez, Lesby Obiedo Espinal,
Luisa Teodolinda Saucedo

~ Photos by Connie Ham

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - First Sunday of Advent - December 3, 2023

First Sunday of Advent

St. Elizabeth Church

December 3, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

This Sunday marks the First Sunday in Advent and the first day of the new liturgical year.  "Advent (from, 'ad-venire' in Latin or 'to come to') is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ's second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord's birth on Christmas.  Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple, since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days.  Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas."

Please consider joining us on December 16th for a parish retreat, led by Sr. Anns, 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!  For more information, please click here.

Last week, our annual Christmas Ask Letter was sent out.  I ask that you consider giving a donation, as this is our biggest annual fundraiser.

If you are interested in helping with our giving tree by purchasing gifts, please make sure that all donations are brought to the Parish Office unwrapped by December 12th.

Prayer for Advent

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word.  Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth.  We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.  Amen.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Advent info from usccb.org

~ Image Source 

St. Elizabeth's Nativity Scene Featured at Redeemer's "No Room at the Inn" Exhibit! ~ Information Provided by St. Elizabeth Parish Office

St. Elizabeth's very own Nativity is currently on display at the Church of the Redeemer's Annual No Room at the Inn Exhibit.  All proceeds go to Haiti and local outreach in the Greater Richmond Area.  

For those who wish to only attend the exhibit, tickets are available for Saturday and Sunday.  For more information, please click here to visit their website at No Room at the Inn.

St. Elizabeth Nativity Scene

~ Image Source