Fr. Jim's Jots - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2.23.2020

Fr. Jim's Jots!

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Throughout Lent, we're challenged to repent from sin and turn to the Lord.  I invite you and encourage everyone to attend Mass more frequently, pray the Stations of the Cross which will be available on Fridays at 5:30 p.m., and to mark your calendars to participate in our Communal Reconciliation Service, her at Saint Elizabeth on Saturday, March 14th at 10:30 a.m.  All are invited to participate and lunch will be available afterwards.

Prayer  - The Act of Contrition

Oh my God! I'm heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments; but most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life.  Amen.

This is, but one example of an act of contrition. Any prayer of contrition is permitted to be prayed and to celebrate the sacrament.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Image Source: Our Lady of Fatima Church

Decorating the Altar for Easter, 4.20.2019 ~ Photo by Eddie Gorman

Thanks to all who helped decorate the Church for Easter!  Beautiful!

Photo by Eddie Gorman

Holy Thursday 2019 - Mass of the Lord's Supper - Footwashing and Adoration, 4.18. 2019 ~ Photos by Janet Stern

Footwashing

Adoration

~ Photos by Janet Stern

Holy Thursday 2019 ~ A Williamsburg family visiting St. Elizabeth on Pilgrimage ~ Photo by Janet Stern

When Janet Stern arrived at St. E's Thursday morning to open the church, she found this Williamsburg family, just arrived, who were on a pilgrimage to Richmond to visit seven Catholic churches on Holy Thursday.  They were observing an ancient Catholic tradition described below.

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"The tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday probably originated in Rome, as early pilgrims visited the seven basilicas as penance.

The Via Francigena was an ancient pilgrim route between England and Rome.  It was customary to end the pilgrimage with a visit to the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul.

In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII declared the first Holy Year, granting a special indulgence to those, who meeting the requisite conditions, visited St. Peter's Basilica and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.  Over time the number of prescribed churches increased to seven.

The tradition of visiting all seven churches was started by Saint Pilip Neri around 1553.  He and a few friends would gather before dawn and set out on their "Seven Churches Walk.

These pilgrimages were designed to be a counterpoint to the raucous behavior of
Carnival.  The Walks became very popular and began to attract others." *


* Wikipedia

Children's Liturgy, Palm Sunday - 4.14.2019 ~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

Fr. Jim's Jots - Palm Sunday, 4.14.19

Greetings!

HOLY WEEK! This week, the Church and all the faithful throughout the world celebrate the holiest week of the year.  Please join us on Holy Thursday, 7 p.m. when we celebrate a call to service, as we wash feet in remembrance of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the institution of the Eucharist remembered.

On Good Friday, we begin with the Stations of the Cross at 12 noon.  There is also a Stations of the Cross in Church Hill (see flyer for details; this is sponsored by Richmond Pax Christi.)  At 7 p.m., we begin the most moving Good Friday, with the reading of the Passion of the Christ, the Communion service, reception of Holy Communion and the Veneration of the Cross, with music lead by our choir; that is very sacred, solemn and spiritually moving.

The great Easter Vigil; begins at 7 p.m. with fire outside, to remember that Jesus is the light of the world.  We celebrate the risen Christ, special readings are proclaimed, Confirmations and the Catechumenate are welcomed into the church.  We will again sing the Gloria; please bring bells to ring during the Gloria.

Easter Sunday, Alleluia, Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m.  May you truly set this week aside as a holy week and be spiritually renewed in the life of our risen Lord!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Image Source

Passiontide: Do you remember why we covered the statues? ~ Photos and article by Janet Stern

The 5th Sunday of Lent is historically known as "Passion Sunday" which ushers in the final two weeks of Lent, called "Passiontide."  Passiontide is characterized by a heightened celebration of Lent as Easter approaches, reaching its peak during Holy week.  During this period the faithful redouble their Lenten penances.

It is also customary on this day to shroud all the sacred images in the churches with purple cloths, save the Stations of the Cross.  On Good Friday the crucifixes are unveiled, while the other sacred images are unveiled on the afternoon of Holy Saturday in preparation for the Easter Vigil.

This imagery calls to mind how Christ hid his Divinity during his Passion and death, no longer performing miracles until his Resurrection from the dead.  Likewise, the holy images are veiled in imitation of their Lord, their glory being unveiled with the joy of the celebration.

Thanks to Donna Gorman for working late into the night to complete these covers for our statues.


~ Photos by Janet Stern
~ Excerpt taken from Morning Offering

Young People's Stations of the Cross, 4.5.2019 ~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

Stations through the eyes of Mary - 4.5.19 ~ Photos by Janet Stern

~ Photos by Janet Stern

Fr. Jim's Jots - Fourth Sunday of Lent, 3.31.2019

- The Prodigal Son Returns -

Fr. Jim's Jots

Greetings!

A special thank you to all those who helped with last Sunday's Celebration, when we welcomed as a parish, His Excellency Bishop Barry Knestout.  From start to finish, it could not have been a better welcome or celebration. The Altar Servers did a wonderful job, the choir sang fabulously, the Ministers of Hospitality were warm and welcoming and the reception downstairs, prepared by the Community Life Committee, could not have been more delicious and beautiful.  Thanks to all who helped!

Please join us this Saturday at 11 a.m. when we will have four priests and participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation/confession.  As Catholics, we are asked to participate in this sacrament a minimum of twice a year.  Those two times are Advent and Lent.  A light lunch will be provided afterwards, in the parish hall.

Lenten Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Picture found on Redeeming God

Bishop Knestout Meets Our RCIA Candidates After Mass, 3.24.2019 ~ Photo provided by Chris Metzger

St. E's RCIA Candidates

~ Photo by Chris Metzger

Fr. Jim's Jots ~ Third Sunday of Lent, 3.24.19

Fr. Jim's Jots

Greetings!

This weekend St. Elizabeth is excited to welcome His Excellency, the Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of Richmond, to celebrate Mass with us and bless and dedicate our statue of the Sacred Heart in honor of the students of Bishop Van de Vyver School. Special thanks to Mr. Earl Taylor for his safe keeping of the statue and donating it to St. Elizabeth.  Special thanks to the Community Life Committee for helping with the reception after Mass today.

Forty Days of Life: you are invited to attend Mass on Friday, March 29 at 12 noon and then to gather and carpool to 118 N. Boulevard, Richmond to pray the Rosary for Life.  This is the site where abortions take place in Richmond.  Please join Fr. Jim for this Pro-Life prayerful witness.

Our parish Reconciliation Service is Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m. We will have four priests to assist in this important sacrament of God's love, forgiveness and mercy.  A light lunch will be provided afterwards.  I'm counting on a good turnout, so please plan on attending.

Mark your calendars: St. Elizabeth will have a Newcomer's Welcome Brunch/Reception on April 28 after the 9 a.m. Mass, from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. in the parish hall.  All newly registered members within the last six months and anyone wishing to register are welcome to attend.

Lenten Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Artwork from Newport-Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church

Fr. Jim's Jots - March.17.2019 - Second Sunday of Lent - The Transfiguration

The Transfiguration - Theophanes the Greek, 1408

Greetings!

Happy St. Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish be with us all, whether we be Irish or not!

We continue to journey through Lent. This Friday we will have Stations of the Cross, March 22 at 5:30 p.m. With a fish fry ($10) before and after. Please join us.

Sunday, March 24, His Excellency, Bishop Barry Knestout will be in attendance for Mass.  Please watch the bulletin and bulletin inserts and participate in all the activities and have this lead to a very spiritual blessing.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

Thought of the day:  "Don't let the tail wag the dog."



Photo found on the website: Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes

Diocese of Richmond: Catholic Men's Conference - 3.24.2018 - Williamsburg, VA

Fr. Jim's Jots - First Sunday of Lent, 3.10.19

Fr. Jim's Jots

Greetings!

Special thanks to Mr. Earl Taylor, now a 92 years young former student of Van de Vyver Catholic School, who had safely secured and stored the statue of the Sacred Heart now in a place of honor.  We remember the students, faculty and staff of this wonderful school.  We invite all former alumni of Bishop Van de Vyver School to attend a Mass celebrated by Bishop Barry Knestout on Sunday, March 24th at 9 a.m.  All are invited, with a lite reception immediately following Mass.

We ask that you participate in all the special Lenten activities, by certainly attending Sunday Mass, 9 a.m., as well as Stations of the Cross and a special Lenten Retreat, Saturday, March 23rd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; as well as, our 5th Sunday Social Justice Committee Service Project with Coordinator Deacon Chris, scheduled for March 31st.

Our Reconciliation Service with a total of four priests and lunch is Saturday, April 6th at 11 a.m.

Most importantly, may this Lenten time be a spiritual renewal and spring time to repent from sin and turn to Christ.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Photo from Diocesan

Fasting and Lent - In the Words of Pope Francis

Ash Wednesday 2019 - Distribution of Ashes ~ Photos by EJCooley

Ash Wednesday 2019

~ Photos by EJCooley

Lenten Retreat 2018 - A Walk Through Holy Week with Deacon Calvin Bailey ~ Photos by Connie Hom

St. Elizabeth Lenten Retreat, March 24, 2018

~ Photos by Connie Hom

Family Stations of the Cross - 3.16.2018 ~ Information and Photo by Connie Hom

This is the picture from last Friday.  The Stations of the Cross theme for this Friday was the Family.  Liz had a really good booklet with 7 different readers.  This is the picture of the readers with Father Jim plus a few more children.  It was very reflective and the children were terrific!


~ Information and Photo by Connie Hom

Lenten Retreat, Holy Rosary Church, 3.14.2018 ~ Photos by EJCooley

Fr. Lee

Fr. Chester (seated)

~ Photos by EJCooley