FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 3, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

August 3, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

I would like to thank everyone who has participated in the raffle so far!  We have handed out almost 2000 tickets and so far, have received $2,380.  Thank you for your generosity.  To learn about how you can get more raffle tickets, please see this bulletin.

 I encourage all of us to reflect on how we can continue to embrace the teachings of Christ and His Church.  Our Parish holds Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the First Friday of every month.  We pray the rosary as a group every night on Zoom at 7 p.m. (visit the E-Bulletin to get the link to join).  In September, we will be taking a Pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception to learn more about the oldest parish community in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and enrich our faith as Pilgrims of Hope. To join us, click the link in this bulletin or call the Parish Office.

Consider joining one of our many ministries that work to support our community during our Sunday Liturgies and in our neighborhood every day.

St. Elizabeth has the following Ministries:

Altar Linen Cleaning, Altar Servers, Art & Environment, Bereavement Support, Building and Grounds, Gospel Choir & Cantor, Community Life, Education Ministry, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Food Pantry, Faith Formation, Haiti Outreach, Homebound & Sick, Hospitality, Human/Social Concerns, Justice Committee, Lectors, Media (Zoom), Family Ministry.

Want to learn about the work that each ministry does?

Visit our website at www.stelizcc.org/ministry/ to find all the details and contact information.  On Sunday, September 7th, we will have our annual Ministry Sign-Up Fair where you will be able to speak with our Ministry Leaders to learn more and find the right ministry for you!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor 

 ~ Image Source

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 27, 2025

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 27, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS 

Greetings,

Special thanks to Liz Wiznerowicz and her team of volunteers who have helped for the past two weeks at Tusome Summer School, hosted at All Saints Catholic School.  The first week there were 27 students; the second week there were 31 students and a total of 51 volunteers over the two weeks.  The students were tutored in reading, English and Math.

A few weeks ago, the American Red Cross did a training in CPR and how to use our new AED Defibrillator.  We purchased the Defibrillator and had the Red Cross training with a Grant from the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.  The following individuals (Sr. Mary Mwangi, Domonique Edwards, Yao Thompson, Denise Letendre, Rosemary Overton, Beverley Bryant, Miranda Wiznerowicz, Katrinia Murray Bledsoe, Rita Hatchett and Aimerance Fariala) from our parish took the training in CPR and how to use the Defibrillator which is now mounted on the wall in a special AED Cabinet near the rear of the church by the statue of St. Joseph.

The Parish Raffle is off to a great start.  Thanks for your help.  We are asking each household to purchase 3 books of tickets, a total of $60.  You can get your raffle tickets at church or in the parish office.  The drawing will be on Homecoming Sunday in November.  For more information, please see this bulletin.

Thank you to everyone for your generosity in our Haiti collections last week.  The collection total was $669.00.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor 

~ Image Source

 

A Little Early History of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Rev. Thomas Edward Mitchell, Third Pastor Of St. Elizabeth's ~ Letter provided by Fr. Jim

 

 

July 27, 2025

Dear Fr. Arsenault,

Although I reside in Northern Virginia, I receive St. Elizabeth's bulletin by email weekly and enjoy reading of parish activities.  That interest accrues from the fact that my maternal uncle, Thomas Edward Mitchell, was the third pastor of the church from 1947 until his death in 1950.  Before that assignment, he was the first Dean of Social Work at the Catholic University of America, Director of Catholic Charities of the Richmond Diocese, Parochial Vicar in several Virginia parishes and a seminarian at St. Mary's in Baltimore and the North American College in Rome.  He was ordained at St. John Lateran's Church in Rome in 1927.  I am  attaching several articles from "The Catholic Virginian" written about him at the time of his death.

When he was on the faculty at Catholic University, "Uncle Tom" became an important presence in my life during my growing up in Staunton and Washington.  I admired him greatly.  I am writing a short account of his priestly life, that includes a brief but productive time at St. Elizabeth's, when he reopened the parochial school.  Research for that work will take me to Richmond in the coming months, at which time I hope to make your acquaintance.

(Final paragraph omitted since not relevant to the history of St. Elizabeth)

I join Uncle Tom in asking God's blessings upon you and your parishioners of St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

(Mr.) Ashley L. Hawken

 

A Joyful Day! - Milandu "Nene" Kizenge, Parishioner of St. Elizabeth Gains Citizenship! - June 4, 2025 ~ Photo and Commentary by Anne Gibbons and Deacon Chris Barrett

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

June 4, 2025

Welcoming a New Citizen

On June 4, 2025, parishioner Milandu "Nene" Kizenge became a U.S. Citizen.  Originally from the Republic of the Congo, Nene came with her two sons through a refugee resettlement program in South Africa five years ago.  She has since been joined by her husband Denis and now has a third son.

We are so proud of Nene and all our African families who work so hard to make a new life for themselves.  Joining her for the happy occasion were (left to right) Leslie Saul, Anne Gibbons, Nene, Nancy and Joe Kunkel.

 

CPR/First Aid/AED Training at St. E's - July 12, 2025 ~ Photos and Commentary by Eva Wiznerowicz

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

CPR/First Aid/AED Training

July 12, 2025

On July 12th, 10 parishioners volunteered to receive Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED training from the American Red Cross.  The training took place in the Parish Hall.  The cost of the training and the purchase of the AED was covered by the Diocesan Home Mission Grant.  St. Elizabeth Catholic Church applies for this grant every year and this year's application for the AED and training was approved.

The AED has been installed by the statue of St. Joseph in the Church.

~ Photos and Commentary by Eva Wicznerowicz

FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 20, 2025

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 20, 2025

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!

Today is the third Sunday of July which means we are holding a second collection to support our Haiti Ministry and twining partner, Beyond Borders, that works toward overcoming poverty, preventing violence and developing local leadership in Haiti.  Thank you for your ongoing support, prayers and generosity!

I'm sure you noticed the construction on site and that Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) has started moving ground for the affordable housing development.  Note that our parking lot which is half on CCC's property will be used.  We will, however, regain parking spots once the building project is completed.

The official ground breaking ceremony for CCC will take place on Sunday, August 24 at about 9:10 a.m. in between our 8:30 a.m. Mass and 10 a.m. Masses.  Msgr. Walter Barrett will be here on that Sunday, as well as, Bishop Barry Knestout at the 10 a.m. Mass.  I will be at Saint Michaels in Glen Allen selling raffle tickets and the priest celebrant at all 5 Masses.  This date was planned before the date of the Bishop coming for CCC's groundbreaking.  I am sorry to miss the groundbreaking, but Fr. Dan at St. Mike's made plans to be away and we need the raffle funds.

Please see the info in the bulletin about the pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Mary the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday, September 16th departing St. Elizabeth at 8 a.m. and returning about 5 p.m.  The cost is $50 if you want to go.  But if the cost is too expensive, see Fr. Jim.  Seats are limited.  The signup has already started.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

~ Image Source 

 

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - RISC Ministry Celebration at 2nd Baptist Church - June 2, 2025 ~ Photo and Commentary by Anne Gibbons

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

RISC Ministry Celebration

2nd Baptist Church

June 2, 2025

RISC - Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities, an organization made up of congregations from throughout Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield.  RISC uses the power of large numbers of organized people to solve critical community problems.

Members of St. Elizabeth RISC joined in the annual Justice Ministry Celebration held on Monday, June 2nd at Second Baptist Church where we celebrated the accomplishments of the past year.

St. Elizabeth members from left to right are David Liggan, Joan Izzo, Sister Tsega, Cheryl Mayo, Anne Gibbons, Sister Mary, Larry Williford, Connie Hom  and Bob Cohn.

 

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Pentecost Witness for Justice and a Moral Budget - June 10, 2025 ~ Photos and Commentary by Anne Gibbons

 St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Pentecost Witness for Justice and a Moral Budget

Washington, DC

June 10, 2025

Pentecost Witness for Justice and a Moral Budget was a public event held at the U.S. Capitol on June 10th, after Pentecost Sunday, to advocate for the needs of vulnerable populations and a more just budget.

Christians from a variety of denominations, including several Catholic organizations, held a procession, vigil and had opportunities for faith leaders and congregants to meet with senators.  Anne Gibbons was one of St. E's attendees at this witness.

The event aimed to address cuts to healthcare, nutrition programs and other vital social services that impact marginalized communities.