St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Blog

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

~ Image Source

Labels: 3rd Sunday of Easter 2026, Fr. Jim's Jots

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

Labels: Social Justice Committee Activities 2026

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

~ Image Source

Labels: |||Divine Mercy Sunday 2026, Fr. Jim's Jots