The Catholic News Agency (CNA) Article Concerning Affordable Housing At St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - September 27, 2025 ~ Written and Provided by Daniel Payne, CNA Staff

Apartments built at Virginia parish 

highlight faith-led efforts to address housing 

Pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk, VA - A St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Event - September 16, 2025 ~ Photos provided by Mary Romanello, Romanello Photography

 A St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Event

Pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception

September 16, 2025

Immaculate Conception is the oldest parish community in the Diocese of Richmond and it is the only African-American Basilica in the United States.

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Affordable Housing - Buildings Are Going Up! ~ Photos by Larry Williford

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Affordable Housing: Buildings going up!

September 23, 2025

 

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and Commonwealth Catholic Charities Groundbreaking Event, September 21, 2025 - Affordable Housing in Highland Park ~ Photos by Mary Romanello, Romanello Photography

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Affordable Housing  in Highland Park

Commonwealth Catholic Charities Groundbreaking Event

September 21, 2025

 

 

The land that comprised the old St. Elizabeth School, the old convent (Sitterding House) and most of the St. Elizabeth Park grounds will be turned into much needed affordable housing in Highland Park.

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 14, 2025

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

September 14, 2025

Fr. Jim's Jots

Greetings,

You will notice that the color of the altar cloths, the vestments that Deacon Chris and I wear and the colors in this bulletin are not green, but red!  The Exaltation of the Cross honors Christ's Cross, an instrument made sacred by the Lord's offering of Himself upon it for our salvation.  It is celebrated in both Catholicism and Orthodoxy on September 14.

You can learn more about and get resources on this feast day by visiting:  missions.ewtn.com/seasonsandfeastdays/exaltationofthecross/

Commonwealth Catholic Charities is celebrating their groundbreaking for their affordable housing project that is taking shape behind our Parish on our former school grounds on September 21st.

Because of this our 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, September 21st will be short as the groundbreaking ceremony will start at 9 a.m.  All are invited to stay after the 8:30 Mass or come at 9 a.m. to attend.  Bishop Barry Knestout will be present for the groundbreaking and he will also be celebrating our 10 a.m. Mass.

If you are not planning to attend the 9 a.m. groundbreaking, but will be attending 10 a.m. Mass, please plan to arrive early to account for parking as we expect to have many people here for the event at 9 a.m. who will stay for 10 a.m. Mass.  After 10 a.m. Mass, there will be a light reception provided by Commonwealth Catholic Charities of sweet breads, pastries and coffee.  All are welcome to attend.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor 

~ Image Source

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Parishioners Attend VCRJ Speaker Series - Saturday, September 13, 2025 ~ Photos by Debbie Boisseau, Content by Cathy Woodson

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

VCRJ Speaker Series

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Several St. Elizabeth parishioners attended this event planned and sponsored by the Office for Black Catholics, Faith & Resilience Series.  Virginia Catholics for Racial Justice (VCRJ) and Journey for Change were the two organizations asked to participate. 

Sr. Cora Marie, Anne Gibbons, Anne Marie Pancham and Debbie Boisseau from St. Elizabeth attended.

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 7, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 7, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Commonwealth Catholic Charities is celebrating their groundbreaking for their affordable housing project that is taking shape behind our Parish on our former school grounds on September 21st.

Because of this, our 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, September 21st will be short as the groundbreaking ceremony will start at 9 a.m.  All are invited to stay after 8:30 Mass or come at 9 a.m. to attend.  Bishop Barry Knestout will be present for the groundbreaking and he will also be celebrating our 10 a.m. Mass.

If you are not planning to attend the 9 a.m. groundbreaking, but will be attending 10 a.m. Mass, please plan to arrive early to account for parking as we expect to have many people here for the event at 9 a.m. who will stay for the 10 a.m. Mass.  After 10 a.m. Mass, there will be a light reception provided by Commonwealth Catholic Charities of sweet breads, pastries and coffee.  All are welcome to attend.

On October 5th after the 10 a.m. Mass, we will hold a Catholic Funeral Planning presentation led by Catholic Community Foundation of Richmond.  They will provide information and resources on how to prepare in advance for a Catholic funeral and your last wishes after your passing.  They will also be able to answer any questions you may have about this process.  This information can be extremely valuable to families after a loved one passes as it makes the process of planning the funeral and celebrating their loved one's life very easy and manageable.  Light refreshments will be served during the meeting.  Please see the bulletin or the flyer on the kiosk by the church front doors for more information!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor  

 ~ Image Source

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Events - Back to School Photos 2025 ~ Photos Courtesy of Mary Romanello, Romanello Photography

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Events

Back to School Photos 2025

"Our Beautiful Children"

(Click photos to enlarge)

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 31, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 31, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

I would like to thank Msgr. Walter Barrett for visiting St. Elizabeth's and celebrating our Sunday Masses.  Because I am away there will be no weekday Masses on September 3rd and 5th.

Today, we have a second collection to support the victims of violence in Gaza.  In a letter to the U.S. bishops, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops asked U.S. Dioceses to consider taking up a voluntary special collection to support the efforts of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association  (CNEWA).  Both organizations have well-established partnerships with the Catholic Church in the region to allow them to respond quickly and efficiently.  For more information on this second collection and the organizations that our Diocese supports, please click on the links above.

The Ministry Sign-up Fair is next Sunday!  There is a flyer with all the details in this Bulletin, but I encourage anyone who wants to learn more about our ministries and support our church to attend.  The majority of our Parish programs and our Sunday Masses rely on the support of our Ministries!  At just Sunday Mass:  Hospitality, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Choir, Altar Linens, Altar Servers and Media (Zoom) have integral roles in supporting our Parish.  We have additional 15 ministries that support our parishioners and neighborhood outside of Sunday Mass.  We will have coffee and donuts as well!

Lastly, I would like to ask that you keep the victims of those who were killed or injured in the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on earlier this week in your prayers.  I went to high school with the grandfather of one of the children who were killed.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

~ Image Source 

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Housing for the Community - September 3, 2025 ~ Photos by Larry Williford

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Housing for the Community

September 3, 2025

Work continues as the land is readied for the construction of affordable housing for the community.

There will be a formal Commonwealth Catholic Charities groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, September 21, 2025 concluding with Mass with Bishop Knestout.

  

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 24, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 21, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

I would like to thank Msgr. Walter Barrett for visiting St. Elizabeth's and celebrating our Sunday Masses.  This weekend I am at St. Michael Catholic Church in Glen Allen assisting with selling our raffle tickets.  I would also like to say a big thank you to the volunteers who are selling raffle tickets as well.

 I will be out of town next Sunday as well, so Msgr. Barrett will be celebrating our Masses on the 31st of August as well.  Because I am away there will be no weekday Masses on August 27th and 29th and on September 3rd and 5th.

On the 31st of August, Bishop Knestout has asked that parishes take up a second collection for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association and Catholic Relief Services to support their work of assisting the victims of violence in Gaza.  The second collection will take place on Sunday, August 31st after Communion.  For more information on this second collection and the organizations that our Diocese is supporting, please see the Bishop's letter posted on the kiosk in the lobby of the church.

 Lastly, you may notice that the bulletin is starting to fill up now that summer is winding down!  We are a busy parish and have many upcoming events and activities.  Thank you to everyone who has been part of planning and running all of these wonderful activities!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

  

~ Image Source