FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Second Sunday of Lent - March 1, 2026 - The Transfiguration

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Second Sunday of Lent 

March 1, 2026

Feast of the Transfiguration

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

 Greetings,

This week we continue our collections for the Annual Diocesan Appeal.  If you would like to give with cash or check, you can pick up an envelope from one of the ushers or you can give online by scanning the QR code in this bulletin.  I am happy to announce that we are already halfway to our goal of $17,970, having received $9,095 from 17 households.  Thank you to all who have contributed financially and with your prayers.  St. Elizabeth receives lots of support from the Diocese every year and we get back much more than our Annual Appeal Goal.  So far in 2026, we have received $38,000 in grants from the Diocese.  There are a few more grants that we apply for annually that are due later in the year that are not yet part of this total.

Thank you to all who assisted with the Prayer Service and Stations of the Cross with the Diocesan Office for Black Catholics (OBC) this past Friday.  It was wonderful for Fr. Tochi Iwuji, Director of the OBC, to invite us to be part of this event and to host it.

I attended a gathering of Christian clergy at First Baptist Church on February 27th concerning immigration in Richmond.  Fr. Shay Auerbach, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Southside and myself attended to represent our parishes and Catholics in Richmond.  The statement that was issued during this meeting stated: "To all our fellow Christians: this is a moment that calls for moral seriousness not indifference.  We do not presume that every Christian must respond in the same way.  But are convinced that none of us is permitted to respond with silence, cruelty or apathy."

This meeting of clergy in Richmond continues the efforts asked by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) last year.  Below is an excerpt from the November 12, 2025 statement from the USCCB regardfing the treatment of immigrants in the United States.  I encourage you to read the entire document online or at our link in our E-Bulletin.

"Despite obstacles and prejudices, generations of immigrants have made enormous contributions to the well-being of our nation.  We as Catholic bishops love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity.  For this very reason, we feel compelled now in this environment to raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity.  Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants.  We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation's immigration laws and procedures.  Human dignity and national security are not in conflict.  Both are possible if people of good will work together."  - USCCB on Immigration (November 12, 2025)

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - First Sunday of Lent - February 22, 2026

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

The Temptation of Jesus

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

May we as a Catholic people embrace this special time of 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Please see the Lenten calendar that is included in this bulletin and join us this Friday for the Black History Month Stations of the Cross and Prayer Service with Bishop Barry Knestout at 5:30.  We will share a light meal in the Parish Hall afterwards and all are welcome to bring a meatless dish to share.

We still have rice bowls available for you to pickup and drop your change in.  The funds collected in the rice bowls help the poor through Catholic Relief Services.  Keep the rice bowls until Easter and return them the two Sundays following Easter Sunday.

This week we kick off the Catholic Diocese Annual Appeal.  Saint Elizabeth has a goal this year of $17,970.  I hope and pray that you can help by contributing to this Diocesan Annual Appeal.  As a parish, we get back from the Diocese than our goal.  We have received the following grants in 2026 from the Diocese:

Fuel and Hunger Grant:  $24,000

Respect Life Grant:  $14,000

Black and Indian Grant:  $2,000

Total:  $40,000

Please give to the Annual Appeal.  It sure is a great blessing to our parish.

A very special thanks to our parishioners who spoke at Mass during Black History Month.  Thank you Charles Curbeam, Tinika Amouzouvi-McIntosh and Shelley Anderson - Great job!  It was so wonderful to hear your stories of being Black, Catholic and members of St. Elizabeth.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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Black Catholic Legacy in the Richmond Diocese Featured on EWYN!

Click HERE

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ASH WEDNESDAY 2026 - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - February 18, 2026

 ASH WEDNESDAY

February 18, 2026

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 15, 2026

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 15, 2026

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Today is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time before Lent starts.  During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms and we practice self control through fasting.  We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully.  Ash Wednesday Mass will be at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the church and Adoration will follow the 5 p.m. Mass.

Here are three tips to deepen your relationship with God during the 40 days of Lent. 1) Participate in the sacraments.  2) Help those in need around you.  3) Sacrifice something that's hard for you.

There are three main components of Lent:  Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.  Making a commitment to do more of these things helps deepen our relationship with God.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has an online database of prayers for different causes and occasions:  www.usccb.org/prayers.  If you need a place to help you get started to add more prayer to your life, I encourage you to go to this website and find some different prayers that are meaningful to you. 

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics.  In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

For Catholics, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59.  When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as, two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.  All Catholics aged 14 and up abstain from consuming meat that is not fish or shellfish as abstinence laws consider that meat comes from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs --- all of which live on land.

By the usher's table are materials for Scripture readings and reflections and Catholic Relief Rice Bowls.  These materials are free and I encourage all households to take one of each for their family.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

~ Information regarding Lent from usccb.org

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 8, 2026

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 8, 2026

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings, 

I want to say thank you to the children who participated in our rescheduled celebrations of Catholic Schools Week.  We had originally planned to do this on Jan. 25th but we cancelled due to the snow.  We have over 20 children in our parish who attend Catholic schools in Richmond.  Are you interested in enrolling your child in a Catholic school?  Our parish partners with All Saints Catholic School and Cristo Rey Richmond High School, please visit their websites or speak to our Religious Education Director, Liz Wiznerowitz (religioused@stelizcc.org).

Lent starts on Wednesday, February 18th with Ash Wednesday.  Please see the Lent callendar that is in this bulletin to stay up to date with all of the events our Parish has planned.  There is Stations of the Cross every Friday (except Feb. 27th and Good Friday); and throughout the 40 days leading up to Easter, Confessions, Adoration and more!  You can also visit our website at stelizcc.org/events/ to see our live calendar.

We have a variety of Black History Month events planned for the month of February.  If you did not get the flyer in last Sunday's bulletin, please see the flyer on the kiosk by the front doors or in th E-bulletin.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 1, 2026

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 1, 2026

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

We will have Mass at the usual times this Sunday:  8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.  I hope everyone was able to stay safe during the past week due to the weather conditions.

This Sunday we read the story of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount from Matthew's Gospel.  Below is an excerpt from Pope Francis' 2020 General Audience regarding the Beatitudes.  This is a wonderful breakdown on the meaning of the Beatitudes and how as Christians, we should apply them to our daily lives.  I recommend you read the entire message online if you are able, but these excerpts touch on the core of the message.

This passage, which starts the "Sermon on the Mount", illuminated the lives of the believers and also that of many non-believers.  It is difficult not to be touched by these words of Jesus and the desire to understand them and welcome them ever more fully is righteous.  The Beatitudes provide the "identity card" of Christians - this is our identity card - because they outline the face of Jesus himself, his style of living.

...the "mount" recalls Sinai, where God gave Moses the Commandments.  Jesus begins to teach a new law:  to be poor, to be meek, to be merciful...  These "new commandments" are much more than a set of rules.  Indeed, Jesus does not impose anything but reveals the way of happiness - his way - by repeating the word "blessed" eight times.

...the reason behind the Beatitudes is not a current situation, but rather, the new condition that the blessed receive as a gift from God:  because "theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven", because "they shall be comforted", because "they shall inherit the earth" and so on.

But what does the word "blessed" mean?  Because each of the eight Beatitudes begins with the word "blessed".  The original term does not mean one with a full belly or one who is doing well, but rather, it is a person who is in a condition of grace, who progresses in God's grace and progresses on God's path:  patience, poverty, service to others, comfort...  Those who advance in these things are happy and shall be blessed.

In order to give himself to us, God often chooses unthinkable paths, perhaps the path of our limitations, of our tears, of our defeats.

The Beatitudes always bring you to joy.  They are the paths to reach joy.  It will do us good to take Matthew's Gospel today, chapter 5, verses 1-11, and to read the Beatitudes - perhaps a few more times throughout the week - in order to understand this very beautiful path, so sure of the happiness the Lord offers us.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

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FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 25, 2026

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 25, 2026

 FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

As you know, we are closed this Sunday due to winter weather.  There will be no Mass this Sunday, in person or online, as unsafe travel conditions are grounds for dispensation from the Sunday Mass Obligation.  Please stay home, stay warm and stay safe!

Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed 2026 as a special Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi.  This special year will take place from January 10th, 2026 to January 10th, 2027; the later date being the 800th Anniversary of St. Francis' death.  The life of the Poor Man of Assisi shows that God's mercy works in history also through people who have opened their hearts to his actions.

Therefore, the jubilee is an opportunity for the faithful to rekindle their faith, strengthen their relationship with God and with the community of the Church.

You can click here to read the full letter from Pope Leo XIV to the Ministers General of the Conference of the Franciscan family.  A significant element of the document is the care shown for the sick and the elderly who cannot leave their homes; they may unite themselves spiritually to the celebration of the Year of Saint Francis by offering to God their prayers, sufferings and daily difficulties of life and by committing themselves to fulfilling the usual conditions as soon as this becomes possible.

In the document of the Apostolic Penitentiary, we read these words:  "This Year of Saint Francis should encourage all of us, each according to his or her own possibilities, to imitate the Poor Man of Assisi."  What message does the life of Saint Francis offer to modern man?

For today's person, living in a world of consumerism, this is an extremely timely invitation to moderation, responsible use of goods and placing God and neighbor above material possessions:  it is a matter of "being" more than "having."

Not least, St. Francis also shows that peace is born from a converted heart, not from self-interested declarations or compromises without truth.  In a world marked by conflicts, social violence and insecurity, his life is a call to build peace based on the Gospel of Christ, the only Redeemer of humanity!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

(Notes on the Jubilee Year of St. Francis adapted from vaticannews.va)

 

 

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