FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Sixth Sunday of Easter - Mother's Day - May 10, 2026

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 10, 2026

MOTHER'S DAY

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Happy Mother's Day!  It is quite fitting that the month we honor Mary, Mother of God, is also when we honor mothers and the women in our lives.

Mary has many titles.  Last week, I wrote about praying for her intentions as Mary, the Queen of Peace.  Holy Mother of God, the Blessed Mother, Mother of Perpetual Help, Mother of Sorrows, Mother of Divine Grace are just a handful of the many titles of Mary pertaining to her motherhood.

"Mary's spiritual motherhood springs from her physical motherhood of the Son of God.  By physically bearing Christ through her free, believing acceptance of that mission - Mary also, in faith, gave birth to all Christians who are members of the Mystical Body of Christ.  In other words, she gave birth to the total Christ: head and members."

Mary's spiritual motherhood is grounded in the fact that she is the Mother of God and her motherhood is extended to Christ's disciples and even to all human beings.  In this respect, Mary's cooperation is singular and distinct from the cooperation of all 'other creatures.'  Her intercession does not have the characteristic of priestly mediation (such as Christ's), but is instead situated in the order and analogy of motherhood.  By association Mary's intercession with Christ's work, the gifts given to us by the Lord are presented with a maternal aspect, imbued with the tenderness and closeness of the Mother whom Jesus wanted to share with us (cf. Jn 19:27)." *

Today we honor all mothers, who exemplify the virtues of Mary, those who nuture and support their families and sacrifice for their children.  We honor mothers who grieve the loss of their children and navigate the challenges of infertility.  We also honor our spiritual mothers, religious sisters, godmothers, teachers and all the women who have impacted our lives - who inspire us to walk with Christ and follow his teachings.

Also please see the information below my jot regarding our groundbreaking ceremony with Bishop Knestout on May 24th.  We will have a reception afterwards and ask for volunteers to help.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

* Excerpts from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: Mater Populi Fidelis - Doctrinal Note on Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary's Cooperation in the Work of Salvation.

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St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - First Communion Sunday and Crowning Mary, Queen of Peace - May 3, 2026 ~ Photos by Sr. Beulah Martin

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

First Communion Sunday

and

Crowning Mary, Queen of Peace

May 3, 2026

 

  

~ Photos by Sr. Beulah Martin

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 3, 2026

 St Elizabeth Catholic Church

Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 3, 2026

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Congratulations to our First Communicants this weekend!  This Sunday, Lucy, Bobbi, Zeezee, Leona, Mwenebatu, Jaselia and Jonalise received their next Sacrament of Initiation, the Holy Eucharist.  Congratulations to all of them on this big milestone!

Also special thanks to Mary Romanello for assisting us with our 2026 Parish Directory project and coordinating the photography this Sunday.  I am extremely pleased to announce that we will be holding the groundbreaking ceremony for our new parish center Sunday, May 24th.  We have been waiting for this day for quite some time now and it is the next big step in our construction project.  On this Sunday, Bishop Barry Knestout will be celebrating our 10 a.m. Mass.  Afterwards, we will have the groundbreaking ceremony held outside.  Following the ceremony, we will have a reception and fellowship in our Parish Hall.  All are welcome and invited!  Many thanks to all of those who contributed to our capital campaign to make this project possible whether through financial donations or your much needed prayers.

May is the month of Mary, the Mother of God.  During this month we make a conscious effort to pray to Mary, asking for her intercession for the things we pray for.  One of the many titles for Mary is Queen of Peace.  I encourage you to pray the following prayer for peace in our world and in our lives.

Heavenly Father, you sent your only Son to bring peace to our world.

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary ever Virgin, Queen of Peace,

hear our earnest prayer;

Grant that our times may be tranquil,

That violence may be settled with peaceful dialogue,

and that we may seek to understand and love our neighbor,

so that we may live in peace as one family.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Fourth Sunday of Easter - "Good Shepherd Sunday" - April 26, 2026

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 26, 2026

"Good Shepherd Sunday"

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

This Sunday we welcome the members of the St. Teresa Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  The St. Teresa of Calcutta Conference is made up of members from St. Bridget Catholic Church, Holy Rosary Catholic Church and our parish.  Vincentians work to promote housing stability for low income individuals who live within the three parish boundaries.  The St. Teresa Conference provides payments to landlords for rent and security deposits and to power, water and gas utilities to avert service disconnections.  During the last fiscal year, the conference provided about $70,000 in total direct aid and goods.

If you are interested in learning more or volunteering some time to become a member of the ministry, please see Sister Anns James after Mass or email her at:  anns@stelizcc.org.

I am very happy to announce that we are starting work for our 2026 Picture Directory!  The last time we published a parish directory was in 2021.  Our Parish has changed and grown so much during the time since then, so this seemed like a much-needed project.

Our first photo date will be May 3rd after both Masses.  We will have a few additional dates after that but would prefer to have most photos taken on that Sunday.  Each family will get one photo to be included in the directory.  If you do not want your photo to be included but would still like your contact information published, that is also possible.  Mary Romanello, a St. Elizabeth Parishioner and owner of Romanello Photography, will be working with us for the photography needed for the directory.  We will also need volunteers to help with proofing the directory before it is printed so please let the office know if you would like to help!  Thank you Mary for helping us get started with this wonderful project!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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Miscellaneous Photos from the Third Sunday of Easter - April 19, 2026 - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church ~ Photos provided by Sr. Beulah Martin

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Third Sunday of Easter

April 19, 2026

Miscellaneous Photos

~ Photos provided by Sr. Beulah Martin

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Third Sunday of Easter - April 19, 2026

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Third Sunday of Easter

April 19, 2026

Emmaus Sunday

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

I am very happy to announce that we are starting work for our new 2026 Picture Directory!  The last time we published a parish directory was in 2021.  Our parish has changed and grown so much during the time since then, so this seemed like a much-needed project.

Our first photo date will be on May 3rd after both Masses.  We will have a few additional dates after that but would prefer to have most photos done on that Sunday.  Each family will get one photo to be included in the directory.  If you do not want your photo to be included but would still like your contact information published, that is also possible.  Mary Romanello, a St. Elizabeth Parishioner and owner of Romanello Photography, will be working with us for the photography needed for the directory.  We will also need volunteers to help with proofing the directory before it is printed, so please let the office know if you would like to help!  Thank you Mary for helping us get started with this wonderful project!

Below is a prayer for peace shared by Pope Leo XIV during the Rosary for Peace that was held last Saturday:

Lord Jesus,

you conquered death without weapons or violence;

you shattered its power with the strength of peace.

Grant us your peace,

as you did to the women filled with doubt on Easter morning,

as you did to the disciples who were hiding in fear.

Send forth your Spirit,

the breath that gives life and reconciles,

that turns adversaries and enemies into brothers and sisters.

Inspire in us to trust in Mary, your mother,

who stood at the foot of your cross with a broken heart,

firm in the faith that you would rise again.

May the madness of war cease

and the Earth be cared for and cultivated by those who still

know how to bring forth, protect and love life.

Hear us, Lord of life!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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St. Elizabeth Social Justice Committee Activities - Reducing Nuclear Weapons ~ Photo and commentary provided by Deacon Chris Barrett

Social Justice Committee

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

"Reducing Nuclear Weapons"

Parishioners Chris Barrett and Eileen Tarr met with two of U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan's aides at her district office here in Richmond, including Taylor Thornhill, 2nd from right, former aide to Sen. Tim Kaine.

Chris and Eileen were representing our parish Justice Ministry Committee, as well as the Richmond area Franciscan Justice Circle and were appealing to Congresswoman McClellan to co-sponsor House Resolution 317 to reduce nuclear weapons.

~ Photo and Commentary by Deacon Chris Barrett

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday - April 12, 2026

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Second Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday

April 12, 2026

 

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  This special celebration takes place on the Second Sunday of Easter every year.  This is an important feast in the Catholic Church that originates in the 1930's when Jesus revealed himself to St. Faustina of Poland.  He asked on numerous occasions that a feast day be dedicated to the Divine Mercy and that this feast be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter.  This Feast, which had already been granted to the nation of Poland and been celebrated within Vatican City, was granted to the Universal Church by Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the canonization of Sr. Faustina on 30 April 2000.

On this Sunday, I encourage you to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet using the Rosary:

(Repeat 3 times) O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and the Apostle's Creed

For each of the five decades 

(On each "Our Father" bead of the rosary, pray):

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

(On each of the 10 "Hail Mary" beads, pray):

For the sake of his sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Concluding prayer (Repeat 3 times) Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Pope Leo XIV has reminded us of God's mercy and care for us through his beloved Son.

"All of us are alive today thanks to a relationship, a free and freeing relationship of human kindness and mutual care.  That human kindness is sometimes betrayed.  As for example, whenever freedom is invoked not to give life, but to take it away, not to help, but to hurt.  Yet even in the face of the evil that opposes and takes life, Jesus continues to pray to the Father for us.  His prayer acts as a balm for our wounds; it speaks to us of forgiveness and reconciliation."

-- Pope Leo XIV, Homily, Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents & the Elderly, June 1, 2025

Easter Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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