FATHER JIM'S JOTS - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 16, 2025

ST. ELIZABETH CATHOLIC CHURCH

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 16, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Special Thanks to all who helped with extra food and funds for our Thanksgiving baskets.

Next Sunday, we as a parish celebrate our annual Homecoming.  Our parish Homecoming is an opportunity to welcome old and new members of our community.  Please extend a welcome for friends, family and former members to attend both the 8:30 or 10:00 am Mass.  All are welcome.  A reception will be held after both Masses and we will need help with set-up and clean-up.  If you are interested in helping with setting up, please arrive before 8:30 am Mass.

 I will be away for my family's Thanksgiving in Michigan and will be departing after Homecoming.  This is my annual opportunity to be with my family where we celebrate three holidays:  Thanksgiving, Hanukkah (which is 8 days of celebration starting on Dec. 14 to Dec. 22) and Christmas.  I have not been able to be home, so I celebrate Christmas at Church with You.

Wishing all a safe and happy Thanksgiving and if you're traveling, safe travels.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - November 9, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

November 9, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Today we celebrate the feast day of the "Dedication of St. John, the Lateran Basilica".  The Basilica of St. John Lateran is celebrated annually on November 9th.  It commemorates the dedication of the Cathedral Church of Rome, which is the official seat of the Pope by Pope Sylvester in 324 AD.  The land was given by Emperor Constantine when the Church was no longer persecuted.  It is the oldest church in Rome and the "Mother Church of all Churches".

We are called to be the Church of living stones to all our brothers and sisters.  Your help is needed.  We need help with Thanksgiving food baskets.  The parish of Our Lady of Lourdes is providing Thanksgiving baskets for 10 families and we are grateful, but we have been receiving calls and need more help.  We need 5 more turkeys and the following items:  hams, stuffing or dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie or any dessert.  Please drop off all items in the parish office, 1301 Victor St. on Wednesdays, November 12th or 19th, or Friday, November 14th from 1 to 4 p.m.  Thanks for your help.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - The Commemoration Of All The Faithful Departed - November 2, 2025

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

The Commemoration Of All The Faithful Departed

All Souls Day

November 2, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

This Sunday, November 2nd, we commemorate All the Faithful Departed "All Souls Day".  You are invited to write the name of deceased loved ones in our Book of the Dead which is in front of church near the crucifix.  We will have this Book of the Dead available throughout the month of November.  May the Souls of all the Faithful departed rest in peace.

Mark your calendar for our parish Homecoming on November 23, 2025.  We will be hosting a reception after both the 8:30 and 10:00 o'clock Masses.  If you wish to help and bring cookies or a breakfast bread, it would be greatly appreciated.  Please invite former members and family members to this Homecoming.

We are looking forward to the start of our construction of our new parish center.  We are waiting for the final permits from the City of Richmond; then we can start construction.

Have you ever thought of becoming Catholic or are you in need of the Sacrament of Confirmation?  Please contact Chris Metzger at ocia@stelizcc.org.  What a great way to start the New Year by joining the OCIA and learning more about our Catholic Faith.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 28, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 30, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Please mark your calendars for our annual Homecoming celebration on November 23rd!  St. Elizabeth Catholic Church is a parish with much history and we invite former parishioners and students of the St. Elizabeth Catholic School that closed in 1982 to join us for Mass and a reception after both the 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Masses.  I welcome you to invite any friends and family who were members of the Parish or attended the former school to join us for Mass and the reception.  After the 10 a.m. Mass that Sunday we will hold the drawing for the Annual Raffle!  There are four weeks left to purchase your tickets so visit the front of the Church after Mass any Sunday until Homecoming to get your tickets.

We will need volunteers to assist with the set-up, cleanup and serving of food during the receptions.  If you are interested in helping, please let Eva in the Parish Office know:  evabalkarli@stelizcc.org 

The Funeral Mass for our Brother in Christ, Burton Robinson, will be on October 31st at 12 p.m.  Because of this, there will not be a weekday Mass on Friday, but all are invited to the Funeral Mass.

By decision of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and confirmed by the Holy See, whenever the Solemnities of Mary, Mother of God (January 1), the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15) or All Saints (November 1) fall on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligastion to attend Mass is lifted.  This year, All Saints Day is on a Sunday so there will not be a Mass on November 1st.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 19, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 19, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

I thank Msgr. Walter Barrett for celebrating our Masses this Sunday.  Earlier this past week, I was attending convocation for the priests in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.  After convocation, I left for Michigan as my niece got married this weekend.  I am thankful for the time spent with my family.

I will not return to Richmond until Thursday, October 23rd so there will be no weekday Mass on Wednesday, October 22nd.

The weather is getting colder, the seasons have changed and we are quickly approaching the end of Ordinary Time.  We only have 5 Sundays left until we celebrate Christ the King Sunday which marks our last Sunday before Advent starts.  During this time let us continue to reflect on the life of Christ in the Scriptures.  This liturgical season is a time for growth and maturation.  What have we learned during this time?  What lessons have we imparted from the Scriptures and the teachings of Christ that we can make efforts to implement in our lives?

Today is the third Sunday of the month so we are taking up our second collection for Haiti.  For more information about what our support does for our twinning partner, Beyond Borders, please see this bulletin!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

  

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St. Elizabeth parishioner, Cathy Woodson, shares photos of her visit to St. Joseph Oratory, Montreal ~ Commentary by Cathy Woodson

 St. Joseph Oratory of Mount Royal

Montreal, Canada

October 2025

I recently visited St. Joseph Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal.  It was a powerful experience.  Here are several pictures.  St. Joseph's was founded by Saint Andre and dedicated to St. Joseph.  

(Click photos to enlarge)

 ~ Photos by Cathy Woodson

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 12, 2025

ST. ELIZABETH CATHOLIC CHURCH 

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 12, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

 Greetings,

We are called to be witness and live out our baptismal promises to reject evil and sin and believe in the light of Jesus Christ which NO darkness can extinguish.  We live in challenging times but as Catholic Christians, may we be united with people of good will to stand firm against the evils of discrimination and racism.

"First they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.  Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.  Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me."

- Martin Niemoller - German theologian in the 1930's

VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo urged the worlld's 1.4 billion Catholics to care for immigrants, pressing ahead a message of welcome for immigrants.  Pope Leo, the first U.S. Pope told thousands of pilgrims celebrating Mass at St. Peter's Square that immigrants should not be treated with the coldness and indifference or discrimination.  The Pope called on Catholics to "open our arms and hearts to welcome them as Brothers and Sisters."

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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