Every weekday or Sunday Mass I say includes, during the Eucharistic Prayer, prayers for our sister parishes in Haiti (St. John the Baptist), Appalachia (Holy Family), and here in Richmond (St. Elizabeth).  We have a relationship with every one of these churches.  Haiti is the most distant and the most difficult to get to.  Appalachia is simply a long (5 hours) drive.  But St. Elizabeth Parish is only 20 minutes away. 
 
Many people from St. Michael take advantage of this nearness and visit St. Elizabeth on Sundays every so often.  While Fr. Jim is their parish priest, I get to sneak over there once in a while.  I go to celebrate Mass with them, and Fr. Jim has a chance to be seen by us at St. Michael at the early Sunday Masses now and again!
 
As we enter the month of July this weekend, we are only a little more than a month away from the Jazz & Food Festival at St. Elizabeth.  This is a really great event that I don’t always get to attend, because I take off the early weeks of August.  Last year I had a chance to attend, and it was a blast!  The music is great with lots of fellowship, good food, and other entertainments.
 
A couple of times this month, we will have people here selling raffle tickets for a drawing at the Jazz & Food Festival.  Yes!  You just might win the prizes, but regardless, you are helping St. Elizabeth Parish in a very real way.  This is their principal fundraiser for the year, and they really appreciate our help.  So, if you see them out there, please consider buying a raffle ticket or two (or more!).
 
The parish of St. Elizabeth is alive and well.  Let us continue to pray for them and give our support to them so that they can remain a vibrant Catholic presence in the Highland Park neighborhood of Richmond!
 
Peace and love,
 
Fr. Dan