FATHER JIM'S JOTS ~ St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 5, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 5, 2026

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

It is now October!  Wow, the time is going by fast!

First, I would like to congratulate the Gospel Choir for their wonderful concert last week and thank all the groups that performed with them!

This upcoming Saturday is Catholic Fest!  This celebration, held by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, will last all day at the Diamond.  There will be food, music, fun for all, and Mass with Bishop Barry Knestout.  This is a free, all-day event on October 11th from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Scan the QR on the other page of this bulletin to learn about the schedule, what you can and can't bring with you and for information on how to get there!

After Mass on October 12th, I will be leaving Richmond to attend the Diocese's convocation for priests.  Because of this, there will be no weekday Masses on October 15th or October 17th.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim., Pastor

~ Image Source 

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Season of Creation Pilgrimage at St. Michael's - October 4, 2025 ~ Photos and Commentary by Connie Hom

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

   Season of Creation Pilgrimage at St. Michael's

October 4, 2025

Pilgrims of Hope with St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and St. Michael's around the Lake House at St. Michael's.  A pilgrimage in celebration of the Jubilee Year "Season of Creation" and St. Francis of Assisi.

It was a beautiful blue sky morning with Father Jim Arsenault, pastor of St. Elizabeth and began with a prayer and blessings.  Reflections were read throughout the walk. By the grace of God, a rainbow appeared!

What a wonderful way to reflect on the beauty of creation that surrounds us.  

(Click on photos to enlarge)

 

  

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 28, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 28, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

I would like to invite everyone to the concert that our Gospel Choir is holding to celebrate their 47th Anniversary!  It will be later today in the church at 4 p.m.  There will also be music performed by our Swahili Umoja Choir, the choirs of Holy Rosary and St. Bridget Catholic Churches, and The Chapel.  There will be a light reception in the Parish Hall afterwards.  Congrats to the Choir!

I am encouraging everyone who is interested to sign up for the Catholic Funeral Planning Seminar next Sunday.  We need to estimate how many people are planning on attending to make sure there will be enough materials and refreshments for everyone.  To sign up, call Eva in the Parish Office (804-329-4599 ext.10) or send her an email (evabalkarli@stelizcc.org).  This is a free seminar and lead by Maggie Keenan, Director of Planned Giving for Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond.  The information provided in the seminar will be helpful for Wills, Trusts, Catholic Advanced Medical Directives, Catholic Funeral Mass & Burial Planning and Guardianship.  I encourage you to attend and sign-up today!

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Haiti collection last Sunday.  The total collected was $788.00.  These funds will be used to support our twinning partner organization, Beyond Borders.  Thank you for your prayers and financial support!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

~ Image Source

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 21, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 21, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

Today we celebrate the groundbreaking of Commonwealth Catholic Charities Affordable Housing Project, Greenway Village.  I would like to welcome Bishop Barry Knestout and Deacon Bob Young, as well as Deacon Ron Reger and the rest of our guests who are here on behalf of CCC.  Affordable Housing is something that Richmond and our Highland Park neighborhood needs and we are delighted to be collaborating with CCC to make this project a reality.  There will be a reception after this Sunday's 10 a.m. Mass.  All are invited to attend.

This Sunday is the Third Sunday of the month, so we also have a second collection for Haiti this weekend.  Our Haiti Ministry partners with the organization, Beyond Borders.  Beyond Borders is a Haiti-based group that helps people build movements to liberate themselves from oppression and isolation.  In Haiti and the United States, they are bringing people together for just and lasting change.

They support movements in Haiti to:  End child servitude, guarantee universal access to quality education, prevent violence against women and girls, replace systems that oppress the poor with systems that support dignified work and sustainable livelihoods.  Our Parish sponsors a family in Haiti and supports Beyond Borders via a monthly contribution because of the wonderful generosity of our parishioners.  Thank you for your contributions to this collection, whether through financial support or your needed prayers.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

 ~ Image Source

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