FR. JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 25, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 25, 2024

 FR. JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

How good is it to be back in Richmond!

Last week my jot featured our census numbers from the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years.  According to our reports, our church has grown in numbers with 70 new individuals registered since last year.  Wow!  As our parish grows so does the need for our ministries.  We have over 25 ministries at our parish that support our church and neighboring community through stewardship, outreach, unity, fellowship, education, youth programs, worship and so much more.  Whether you are interested in helping during or outside of Mass, there is a ministry that would benefit from your talents and skills!  On September 8th, you will get to meet all of our ministry leaders after both Sunday Masses and speak to them about the work their ministry does.  (Enjoy a cup of coffee and a doughnut too!)  If you are not already involved in a ministry, please consider joining one and further contribute to the life of our parish!

Erin Cleary, who has been working as our Assistant Director of Religious Education for the past year and a half is leaving our office as she has gotten a new position at an accounting firm in Richmond. During her time with us, Erin has worked on our grant applications, social outreach, teaching, assisting with coordinating our religious education programs, and more.  The community of St. Elizabeth and I thank Erin for her wonderful work with us and wish her well at her new position.

Are you interested in keeping up with the events at St. Elizabeth Parish?  As we move into September, our church's regular activities and events will start back up again. Our website calendar is regularly updated and displays all of our upcoming events.  Bu clicking "Subscribe to Calendar" button below the online calendar, you can add our parish schedule to your personal calendar on Google, Apple, or Outlook/Microsoft.  Visit stelizcc.org/events.  

Blessings to you and yours,

Fr. Jim Arsenault, Pastor

 

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Photos from the 14th Annual St. Elizabeth Catholic Jazz and Food Festival, Part 1 - August 3, 2024 ~ Photos by George Strother

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church 

Jazz and Food Festival

August 3, 2024

~ Photos by George Strother

Photos from the 14th Annual St. Elizabeth Catholic Jazz and Food Festival, Part 2 - August 3, 2024 ~ Photos by George Strother

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Jazz and Food Festival

August 3, 2024

~ Photos by George Strother

  

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 18, 2024

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 18, 2024

 FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

This Sunday, Msgr. Walter Barrett is here to celebrate Sunday Masses while I am away.  Deacon Chris Barrett will be leading Communion Services on Wednesday, August 21st and Friday, August 23rd at 12 p.m. in place of weekday Mass.  I will return on Saturday, August 24th in time for the Masses on the 25th.

Last week, I shared our net total of funds raised from the Jazz Festival.  This week we had a few more donations come in and our total now has been raised to $33, 221.38!  Wow!  Thank you to all for your generous support both monetarily and through service to make our Jazz Festival happen!

Last week we completed our annual fiscal year census reports that provide us with statistics on how our church is growing.  You can see the chart below how our church has grown in just the past year.  If you are not registered as a member of the Parish, but would like to do so, please get in contact with Eva (evabalkarli@stelizcc.org) in the Parish Office to get started. Having all the people who are regularly involved in the church registered as a member helps us provide more accurate information for our annual reports.

Registered Parishioners in 2023:  350

Registered Parishioners in 2024:  420

Baptisms in 2023:  9

Baptisms in 2024:  19

Confirmations in 2023:  0

Confirmations in 2024:  6

RCIA in 2023:  1

RCIA in 2024:  2

Marriages in 2023:  0

Marriages in 2024:  4

Blessings to you and yours,

Fr. Jim Arsenault

 

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Deacon Chris Barrett and Anne Gibbons Make a Pilgrimage to the Gravesite of Venerable Augustus Tolton ~ Photos provided by Anne Gibbons

Chris Barrett and Anne Gibbons, members of Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church in Richmond, made a pilgrimage to Quincy, Illinois on August 8th, to visit and pray at the Father Tolton Memorial Wall at St. Peter's Church, where the Venerable Augustus Tolton was baptized, served as a priest and is buried. 

This exquisite series of granite plaques depicts scenes from Fr. Tolton's short but full life.

 ~ Photos provided by Anne Gibbons

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church 

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 11, 2024

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

On Thursday morning, I leave to my trip to Alaska.  I will be gone until Saturday, August 24th.  I know that some parishioners and families from St. Elizabeth's and St. Mike's will be joining me, so I look forward to seeing some familiar faces during my travels.  While I am gone, Msgr. Walter Barrett will be celebrating Masses on August 18th.  Deacon Chris Barrett will be leading Communion Services on Friday, August 16th, Wednesday, August 21st and Friday, August 24th at 12 p.m. in place of the weekday Mass.

 Our Annual Jazz and Food Festival was last week.  We raised a net total of  $29,786.20.  Thank you to all who were involved to make this event happen.

The Winners of the 2024 Jazz Festival Raffle Tickets!

~ 1st Prize $1000.00 - Ms Brenda Feria - wishes to donate the $1000 back to St. Elizabeth, Parishioner of St. Michael's

~ 2nd Prize $500.00 - Mr. Dennis Altamonte - wishes to donate $100.00 back to St. Elizabeth, Parishioner of St. Michael's

~ 3rd Prize - Rev. Mr. Andrew Ferguson - wishes to donate $150.00 back to St. Elizabeth, Parishioner of St. Michael's

Total monies given back to St. Elizabeth from the raffle are $1250.00.  We wish to thank Fr. Dan Brady for letting St. Elizabeth's sell Raffle tickets at St. Mike's.  As well as a special thanks to Karen Yesolitis, Eva Wiznerowicz and several volunteers for spending the weekend of July 20th/21st at all the St. Mike's Masses to sell tickets.

A few weeks ago, I wrote on how we received $5000.00 in funds from the Diocesan Home Mission Grant.  These funds are going towards updating the bathrooms in the Parish Hall.  This work was started this past week and should be completed soon.  We will provide another update in next week's bulletin.

With concern over the possibility of increased violence in the Middle East, the USCCB is encouraging all parishes to join in the following prayer for the Peoples of the Holy Land.

"As the Jewish community observes a day of mourning this week for lives destroyed through war and persecution, we pray for an end to the war in the Holy Land, and to all war.  That all hostages may be released, that the displaced may be able to return home and that all people of faith might work together to rebuild what has been broken.  We pray to the Lord."

Blessings to you and yours,

Fr. Jim Arsenault

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Sr. Elena's 50th Anniversary Mass and Celebration - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - August 11, 2024 - Photos by Connie Hom

St. Elena's 50th Anniversary Mass and Celebration

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

August 11, 2024

~ Photos by Connie Hom

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 4, 2024

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 August 4, 2024

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

This Sunday we celebrate two Baptisms!   Congratulations to Daniel Morales and Heng Rui Wang and Patrick and Regine Merone on the baptisms of their children!

Yesterday was our 14th Annual Jazz and Food Festival.  I would like to thank all of those involved who helped make this event such a successful day for our Parish.  Thank you all of those involved who have helped in planning and festival preparation including Larry Williford, Eva Wiznerowicz, Barbara Vaughan, Cathy Woodson, Phil Brew, Margaret Rittenhouse, David Woodburn, Connie Hom, George Strother, Adrian DeLoach, Dan Burns, Karen Yesolitis, Ken Soistman and Kevin Kitrick.  Also, many thanks to our day-of volunteers.  The assistance of all of our volunteers is what makes this event possible for our parish!  So far, we have raised over $15,000 in sponsorships and over $20,000 on raffle ticket donations.  In next week's bulletin, we shall share the total amount raised from fundraising before and on the day of the festival.  Many thanks to all of our sponsors and to those who contributed through the raffle for your generosity.

Next Sunday, we will be celebrating Sr. Elena Henderson's 50th Anniversary of Religious Life.  Sr. Elena is a Sister of the Blessed Sacrament and a longtime friend of St. Elizabeth Parish.  Please join us at the 10 a.m. Mass and for a light reception to follow to celebrate this important milestone.

Please mark your calendars for Mass for the Feast of the Assumption.  We will have a Vigil Mass on August 14th at 6 p.m., but no noon Mass that day.

Blessings to you and yours,

Fr. Jim Arsenault

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