St. Elizabeth Church - Dominic's Eagle Scout Project for our Parish - June 2025 ~ Photo and Commentary by Eva Wiznerowicz

St. Elizabeth Church

 Dominic's Eagle Scout Project

June 2025

 

~ Eva's Commentary: Dominic is a Boy Scout who made and gifted these tables and benches to Saint Elizabeth for his Eagle Scout Project to achieve Eagle Scout.  They are located in the Parish Office yard and will be an amazing place to gather and fellowship.

  

Vacation Bible School, June 16 - 20, 2025 - St. Elizabeth, St. Paul and Holy Rosary Churches at the Cathedral ~ Photos and commentary provided by Eva and Liz Wiznerowicz

 St. Elizabeth Church

Vacation Bible School

June 16 - 20, 2025

~ Commentary by Eva:  Vacation Bible School was hosted at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart from June 16 to June 20.  The program was a collaboration between St. Elizabeth and Holy Rosary Catholic Churches and the Cathedral.  14 children from St. Elizabeth attended.  This year's theme was the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the children learned about St. Margaret Mary of Alacoque, St. Gertrude, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Servant of God Julia Greeley.  All these important and holy women had a connection to the Sacred Heart. 

~ Further Commentary by Liz:  VBS was hosted by Cathedral with St. Paul, Holy Rosary and St. Elizabeth.  We had 14 students and 2 adult volunteers (Eva and me).  It was June 16-20 with about 60 kids in attendance.  The theme was "Our Home in the Sacred Heart of Jesus".  The kids learned about the Sacred Heart, about the Saints devoted to the Sacred Heart and played games and did crafts to reinforce the message.  We finished each day with Mass in the Cathedral.

Celebrating Our Choir Director, Kim Ford's Graduation from Nursing School! - St. Elizabeth Church - June 15, 2025 ~ Photos provided by Eva Wiznerowicz and Sr. Beulah

 St. Elizabeth Church

A Parish Celebration

Kim Ford's Graduation from Nursing School

June 15, 2025

(Eva's Photos)

(Sr. Beulah's Photos)

 

Love Transforms Hate! - Peaceful Demonstrations - Washington DC - June 2025 ~ Photo provided by Deacon Chris

~ Love Transforms Hate ~

Peaceful Demonstrations

Washington DC

June 2025 

Anne Gibbons

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Church - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - June 22, 2025

St. Elizabeth Church

Feast of Corpus Christi

July 22, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

 Corpus Christi

Greetings!!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi.  This feast honors Jesus Christ, Really, Truly and Substantially Present under the appearances of bread and wine.  As Roman Catholics, we are called to believe in the real presence of Christ.  This theological truth is called transubstantiation (when, at the Consecration of the Mass, the priest says the words which Christ Himself pronounced over bread and wine, "this is My Body," "This is the chalice of My Blood," Do this in remembrance of Me.)

This past week was Vacation Bible School!  We collaborate with the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Catholic Church for our annual VBS.  This year 14 kids from our parish attended.  Also, a special thank you to the Cathedral for the use of their wonderful classroom space and the many volunteers from our church that helped make it such a success for all of the kids!

Also, please pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.  Our New Holy Father has engendered a renewed interest in religious life, especially with the charism of a life directed to God and service to others.  Our world today could surely use more vocations.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

~ Image Source

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Church - Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity - June 15, 2025

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

St. Elizabeth Church

June 15, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Happy Father's Day!!

On this Most Holy Trinity Sunday, we give thanks for how God our Father has revealed Himself to us in the Trinity.

God the Father - Creator and author of all life in the Heavens and on Earth.  Please take time to pray and give thanks for the beauty of life and all Creation.

God the Son - Jesus our Redeemer, who entered human history as both God and Man to give us the gift of eternal life through His resurrection and our Baptism.  Pray to Jesus and have Him help us with the challenges of daily life in both our joys and sufferings. 

God the Holy Spirit - the giver of the Gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord.  Pray to the Holy Spirit and pray for one of the gifts to help you and your spiritual life on earth to be closer to Christ and to Love others.

Congratulations and special thanks to Kim Ford on the milestone accomplishment of her Nursing Degree.  We are proud of Kim and know she will be successful in her career.  Please join us for a reception after the 10 a.m. Mass today to celebrate Kim Ford.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

~ Image Source

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Church - Pentecost Sunday - June 8, 2025

St. Elizabeth Church

Pentecost Sunday

June 8, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Today we celebrate Pentecost!  The feast is celebrated on the 50th and final day of the Easter Season.  The Greek word "pentekoste" means "fiftieth."  Pentecost is considered to be the birthday of the Church as it marks the the start of the disciples answering Jesus' call to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,

and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful

by the light of the Holy Spirit,

grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise

and ever rejoice in his consolation.

Through Christ our Lord.  Amen

Next Sunday, we will be celebrating the graduation of our Choir Director, Kim Ford.  We will have a reception after the 10 a.m. Mass.  If you are interested in bringing a dish for the reception you are welcome to do so!  More information about the event can be found in this bulletin.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Diane Neylan from the Choir or the Parish Office.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

 

~ Image Source

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - The Ascension of the Lord - St. Elizabeth Church - Sunday, June 1, 2025

St. Elizabeth Church

Solemnity of the Ascension

Sunday, June 1, 2025

 FATHER JIM'S JOTS

This Sunday, we are delighted to have Msgr. Tom Miller as our priest celebrant.  I would like to thank him for celebrating Sunday Masses while I am away.  I will return to Richmond on Thursday, June 5th, so we will not have a weekday Mass on this upcoming Wednesday.  We will have Mass at 12 p.m. this Friday and since it is the first Friday of the month, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held for an hour after the Mass.  You do not have to stay the whole hour and I encourage everyone to attend if able.

Thank you to everyone who sent in your or your student's graduation information!  We will be celebrating with a special flyer next week.

Next week will be Pentecost Sunday.  Please signup to bring a dish for our International Potluck after Mass.  You can scan the QR Code in this bulletin or call Eva in the Parish Office (804-329-4599, ext. 10) to get signed up.  Since we hear about the Word of the Lord being understood in different languages in the Scripture reading next week, we want to celebrate our cultural diversity and experiences.  Please bring a dish to share that is important to your family or culture.

Every year our Parish applies for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond grant for Home Missions.  In the past, we have used this grant for the following:  updating the hall bathroom, a new sound system and marble in the vestibule.  This year we are using the Home Mission Grant to have a new AED Defibrillator with a 7-year Warranty included case, storage Wall Cabinet, etc.

We will be holding a CPR/First Aid/AED training with the American Red Cross in on a weekend in July.  If you are interested in attending, please contact the Parish Office.  There are ten spots available; more information about the date and time will be shared as soon as possible.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

 ~ Image Source

Annual Swahili Mass at St. Elizabeth Church - Celebrant: Rev. Fr. Gerald - Saturday, 5/31/2025 ~ Photos by Eva Wiznerowicz

 Annual Mass in Swahili

St. Elizabeth Church

Celebrated by Rev. Fr. Gerald

Saturday, May 31, 2025

 

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Church - Sixth Sunday of Easter - May 25, 2025

St. Elizabeth Church

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 25, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

This Monday we celebrate Memorial Day, the official start of Summer.  I am blessed and thank you all for your kindness last weekend in remembering my anniversary of 36 years of Priesthood.  I was ordained at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on May 13th, 1989.  This week I will be in Michigan to celebrate my birthday on May 31st.  I was born in 1957 so this year I will be 68 years old.

Please take the time to read a good book this Summer!

Below is my summer reading list:

"Come Forth" by Fr. James Martin S.J.

"Searching for and maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe

"A Painted House" by John Grisham

It is also a great idea to read the upcoming readings for Sunday or even weekday liturgy.  You can read the Scripture for each day.

This year we are not hosting a Jazz Festival due to the fact that we should be having our groundbreaking for our new parish center in late summer/early Fall.  We have submitted our plans to the City of Richmond and are waiting their approval; and we thank our building committee, the Diocesan Building Committee and Bishop Knestout for their help and input.  We also thank you, all of you for your prayers, gifts and pledges.  If needed, Capital Campaign envelopes are in the back of church.  Please remember to mark in the memo line of your check:  Capital Campaign.

Commonwealth Catholic Charities is planning on starting the construction of their affordable housing project sometime this summer.

Thank you to all who supported our Haiti Ministry and Haiti Partner, Beyond Borders.  The collection last Sunday was $741.00.  Your generosity will enable us to donate $500.00 a month.  Safe travels and enjoy this Memorial Day weekend!

Summer Blessings,

Fr. Jim

 ~ Image Source

Baptisms at St. Elizabeth Church - Fr. Jim's 36th Ordination Anniversary Cake - Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 18, 2025 ~ Photos provided by Eva Wiznerowicz

 St. Elizabeth Church

Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 18, 2025

BAPTISMS

Fr. Jim's 36th Ordination Anniversary Cake