FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 28, 2024

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 January 28, 2024

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

This Friday, February 2nd, is the first Friday of February so we will be having Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  This year we and the Diocese are continuing to emphasize Eucharistic Revival.  Please consider attending Mass on February 2nd at noon and staying for Adoration.  We have had a few people attend but would like to have more.

Every Sunday, we will be sharing a new reflection on the Eucharist.  Meditate on these reflections, so that we can all learn about the Eucharist's place in our lives.  Through prayer, adoration and formation may we grow to be closer to Jesus and the Eucharist.

This year, National Catholic School Week is January 28th to February 3rd.  We have many youths in our parish that attend Catholic schools:  All Saints, Cristo Rey and St. Gertrude's to name a few.  Over this past winter, our Education Ministry worked with several of our families to help 14 children from our Parish apply to All Saints Catholic School.  A Catholic education is a wonderful gift that we are able to provide for our children.

Thank you to all of you for taking part in our second collection for our present and future students enrolled in Catholic Schools.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 21, 2024

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

In about two weeks will be the beginning of February and the beginning of Black History Month.  As usual, we will have many events and activities to celebrate and remember black history. On Sunday, February 11th, I and hopefully a group from our parish will be attending the opera, Sanctuary Road, by the Virginia Opera.  This opera is based on the writings of William Still, an abolitionist, historian and conductor of the Underground Railroad.  If you are interested in attending, call 866-673-7282 and mention that you are coming with the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church to get the discounted group rate.

This past Wednesday marked four weeks until the start of Lent.  How the time has gone by.  Christmas is still a recent memory for many and yet, here we are preparing for our next liturgical season.  Let us spend these next few weeks thinking on what we will do to have a fruitful Lenten journey this year.

Ash Wednesday Masses will be at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on February 14th and during Lent we will have Stations of the Cross every Friday in the church.  I encourage you to come to one or several of our Stations as each week will be something different.  Every week, the Stations will be led by a different group or ministry of our church.

If you are a young adult or an adult who has not received any or all of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation) but you are interested in doing so, please reach out to Chris Metzger (metzger.christopher@gmail.com) to join our OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults).  Members of OCIA usually receive their sacraments at Easter Vigil Mass, so it is not too late to join.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 14. 2024

 St. Elizabeth Church

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 14, 2024

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

With the New Year 2024, we are challenged to use our gifts to build up the Kingdom of God.

A Kingdom of Truth

A Kingdom of Justice

A Kingdom of Wisdom

A Kingdom of Peace

Please consider using your gifts and talents to help St. Elizabeth Parish in our various ministries and committees.  We partnered with a local organization called Richmonders Involved in Strengthening our Communities (RISC).  They work to hold our public officials accountable and solve critical community problems.  Please join and support RISC and help in an ecumenical way to join other faith communities to make a difference in our Richmond Area.  They are holding their annual network meeting at St. Elizabeth Parish next Sunday.  All are welcome to join.

We partner with St. Bridget's Catholic Church and Holy Rosary Catholic Church in the St. Teresa of Calcutta Chapter of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul.  They assist our local community with Financial Aid, Prison Ministry, Thrift Stores, Disaster Relief, Counseling and much more.  More volunteers as representative of St. Elizabeth's are needed, please contact the office if you are interested in joining.

Our Haiti Ministry was recently renewed with a partnership with the Haiti organization, Beyond Borders.  If you are interested, please email Cathy Woodson (cwood329@gmail.com) or Anne Gibbons (gibbons@lynchburg.edu).

Later in this bulletin is information on our Hospitality Ministry led by Rita Hatchett.  More volunteers are needed for our 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.

If you are interested in bringing Communion to and visiting our sick and homebound, you can contact our Deacon Chris Barrett (cbarrett@stelizcc.org) for more information.  Deacon Chris can also be contacted about our Justice Committee which meets monthly about issues facing our community.

Our Church is growing!  Every Sunday we see so many youth and young children go to Children's Liturgy of the Word with Liz, Erin and Denise.  If you are interested in helping at Children's Church or assisting with faith formation on the weekends, please email, religioused@stelizcc.org.

All hands and your help are needed.  May we together renew the face of the Earth.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim 

 

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Feast of the Epiphany - January 7, 2024

Feast of the Epiphany

January 7, 2024

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

Epiphany has several meanings, including "manifestation" or "sudden insight."  In the context of the feast we celebrate today, it means Jesus was manifested to the world.  The Magi represent the world and the different peoples from whom they came.  Of the gifts that the Magi presented to Jesus, St. John Chrysostom said, "For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense, the honor of God, by myrrh, the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, Myrrh as Man."

On Epiphany it is  Christian tradition to pray for the blessing of our homes.  Below is a prayer that we can use to ask God for his Blessings in the New Year.

Prayer for Epiphany

Lord God of heaven and earth,

you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation

by the guidance of a star.

Bless this house

and all who inhabit it.

Fill us with the light of Christ,

that our concern for others may reflect your love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is a department of the central administration of the Catholic Church that deals with doctrinal issues related to the Catholic Church.  In a formal declaration published Dec. 18 and approved by Pope Francis, it will be possible to bless same-sex couples.  If you would like to have your relationship blessed, please reach out to Fr. Jim.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS ~ Feast of the Holy Family - December 31, 2023

Feast of the Holy Family

December 31, 2023

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

This Sunday we will have an evening Mass for Peace at 5 p.m. to celebrate the vigil of the Feast of Mary, Mother of God.  We will have a potluck afterwards.  So far, we have had many people sign up.  I am looking forward to seeing all of the wonderful dishes!  If you have not signed up to bring a dish yet, you can do so by clicking on link in my Jot in the E-Bulletin.

January 1st marks the World Day of Peace for the Catholic Church.  This tradition started with Pope Paul VI in 1967 and continues on to today.  On this day, the Holy Father shares a special message inviting all people to reflect on the important work of building peace.

In the second appendix of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find the "Formulas of Catholic Doctrine."  In these, a common theme of peace can be found.  The second commandment of love is "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  In the Beatitudes, we hear, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."  One of the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit is Peace.  We are called to forgiveness, patience and kindness, through the spiritual works of mercy.  These are just a few of the many ways that we are called to be examples of peace for the world around us.

We read in Sacred Scripture that, "The work of justice will be peace; the effect of justice, calm and security forever." (Isaiah 32:17)

Let us now pray for God's blessing in the new year.

Remember us, O God;

from age to age be our comforter.

You have given us the wonder of time,blessings in days and nights, seasons and years.

Bless your children at the turning of the year

and fill the months ahead with the bright hope

that is ours in the coming of Christ. 

You are our God, living and reigning, forever and ever.

Amen.

Blessings to you and yours,

Fr.Jim, Pastor

(Prayer from usccb.org)

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Fourth Sunday of Advent - Lighting the Advent Wreath - December 24, 2023 ~ Photos by Connie Hom

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Lighting the Advent Wreath

December 24, 2023

Today, the Nuns of our parish were invited to light the Advent candles.  From the left, Sr. Beulah Martin, Sr. Elena Henderson, Sr. Jean Marie Craig, Sr. Maureen Carroll and Sr. Tiberh

 

~ Photos by Connie Hom