8^th Grade Welcome to Youth Group

St. E's Youth Ministry invites 8^th Graders to Youth Group with the annual end-of-year celebration on Sunday, May 22, 7-9 PM in the School's All-Purpose Room. The celebration honors 8^th graders as they complete middle school and move on to high school. Check out the invitation video on our parish's YouTube page. Registration is required to participate. Simply go to stelizabethchurchmd.org/youthgroup

Living Your Marriage as a Sacrament - Getting Your Marriage Convalidated in the Catholic Church
Through various circumstances, Catholics may find themselves in a civil marriage or a marriage that took place before a non-Catholic minister. In time, many couples seek to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Church. When this can be accomplished, the liturgy that constitutes the union as a true sacramental marriage is called a convalidation. A convalidation is a new, free act of consent by each spouse, which expresses the outward sign of the gift of self that they exchange before God and the Church.

St. Elizabeth Church is ready to offer pastoral and spiritual support to couples seeking to celebrate matrimony in the Church. The preparation is uniquely tailored to address opportunities for enriching the couple's relationship. The convalidation may be celebrated as simply or as ornately as you wish. Please contact Mary Theresa Heneghan, Director of Christian Formation, to discuss your situation at mtheneghan@stelizabethchurchmd.org. She will provide you with the information needed to help you convalidate your marriage.

Thank You, Deacon Jacob

We thank Deacon Jacob Ramos for his ministry at St. Elizabeth this past school year. On May 6, he graduated from Mount St. Mary's Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree cum laude. Deacon Jacob is scheduled to be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Norwich on Saturday, June 25 at 10:30 AM in the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich, Connecticut. Please keep Deacon Jacob and all the transitional deacons in your prayers as they are ordained priests of Jesus Christ. 

Faith Thru Film

Our next Faith through Film showing is Friday, May 27 (note date change!) with Lilies of the Field, starring Sidney Poitier as a jack-of-all-trades in this dramedy about a group of German nuns in Arizona who need a chapel built.  The movie, which will start at 7:30 p.m. in the Commons, is about 90 minutes long, is in English, and is not rated (the content is non-objectionable). After the movie there will be a 30-minute discussion.  If you’re willing and able, please bring wrapped snacks to share!  For further information, please contact Deacon Mark Asselin (MAsselin@stelizabethchurchmd.org). 

Separated and Divorced SSG to Meet May 18th

St. Elizabeth's Separated and Divorced Spiritual Support Group will meet via Zoom on May 18th at 7:30 pm.  We offer a safe, Catholic community in which members can discuss the challenges of separation and divorce and the steps to rebuilding their lives.  Some of our members are newly separated or divorced, while others have completed the divorce recovery process.  Members share only what they are comfortable sharing and all discussions are treated as confidential.  We welcome members of all ages.For more information, please contact facilitator Linda Luisi (lcluisi@verizon.net).

Pilot for Online Separated and Divorced Support Group Meeting at 9:30 pm

Looking for support but unable to attend at 7:30?  We will be piloting a second online support group for parents with children in the home who need a later meeting time.  The new group will also meet twice a month.  Days to be determined by member need.  If interested, please ctact facilitator Linda Luisi (lcluisi@verizon.net).  Also indicate which day(s) of the week you would be available. 

Homebound Ministry—Volunteers Needed

Each Sunday volunteers take the Eucharist to parishioners who are homebound, and also to Catholic residents of the Hebrew Home for which our parish is sacramentally responsible. A flexible schedule and training are provided. If you are interested in homebound ministry, please contact Claudia McAuliffe at icmm247@aol.com

Upcoming Confession Schedule

Sat. May 14th at 4:00 pm      Fr. Fields

Wed, May 18th at 7:00 pm    Fr. Fields

Sat, May 21st at 4:00 pm      Msgr. Parent

Wed, May 25th at 7:00 pm    Fr. Vitturino

Sat. May 28th at 4:00 pm      Fr. Vitturino

Sodality Closing Mass—Women, You’re Invited!

St. Elizabeth Sodality invites all women of the parish to join them this Thursday May 12th at 6:30 pm for their closing Mass, followed by dinner in the Commons. Please join us for this wonderful evening of prayer and fellowship.

Outcome of Maryland General Assembly Session

Back in late February, Msgr. Parent and Fr. Fields urged parishioners to contact State Senators and Delegates to oppose the Maryland Abortion Amendment and support legislation that is in accord with Catholic Social Teaching; including bills that improve healthcare, education, and anti-poverty efforts. Many parishioners responded quickly through the Maryland Catholic Conference's Catholic Advocacy Network. While the abortion constitutional amendment bill passed in the House of Delegates, the bill failed in the State Senate. A number of bills in line with Catholic Social Teaching were passed and will become law this year.

Thank you for exercising faithful citizenship by taking action through the Catholic Advocacy Network and keeping our legislators in prayer. Even if your elected official does not personally agree with you, they still represent you and need to know where you and other constituents stand on important issues. To join the Catholic Advocacy Network and receive easy action alerts for you to contact your state legislators, visit https://www.mdcatholic.org/joincan

National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea

National Maritime Day is commemorated on May 22 as an opportunity to recognize the hardworking men and women of the U.S. Merchant Marine, seafarers, fishers, port personnel, and all who work or travel on the high seas for the vital services they provide in support of our nation's economic well-being and national security.

Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Mother of God and our Mother, you know all the dangers of soul and body that threaten mariners. Protect your sons and daughters who work and travel on the waters of the world, and protect also their families that await their return. Star of the Sea, Mother of the Church, give light and strength to those chaplains and lay ministers who bring the love of your Divine Son among mariners. Fill their hearts with a supernatural and life-giving zeal for the apostolate. Star of the Sea, light shining in the darkness, be a guide to those who sail amid the storms and dangers of life. Enlighten the hearts of ardent disciples and bring us all to the safety of heaven's port. Amen

Holy Hour for Vocations

Join your fellow parishioners in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at the Holy Hour for the Intentions of the Ordinandi and an increase in the response to vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life on Wednesday, June 1, at 7 PM. Unite with parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Washington as we anticipate the Ordination of our Priests on June 18. 

This year's Ordinandi for the Priesthood:

Deacon Gerald Andrews

Deacon Ryan Braam

Deacon Mattia Cortigiani

Deacon Carlos Rodrigo de Gutiérrez

Deacon Peter Mlynarczyk

Deacon James Morgan

Deacon Grzegorz Okulewicz

Deacon Thomas Robertson

Deacon Kyle Vance

Deacon Alexander Wyvill

 "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38