A Word from Father Stokely
Christ is risen, Alleluia! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
"For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."
When Jesus appeared to his disciples after the Resurrection, he said, "Peace be with you." He did not seek revenge or hold a grudge. Jesus offered peace and mercy to those who abandoned, denied, and betrayed him. Mercy is the response of a heart that is filled only with love. On this Sunday of Divine Mercy, remember that God wishes us to receive his mercy and share it with others!
Fr. John Stokely
2017 Stewardship Day of Service
The SDOS this coming Saturday, April 29, begins with 8:30 AM Mass and is rain or shine - come dressed for the weather! There are still a few open spots, so if you missed the opportunity to sign up for the SDOS, you can still register by calling the parish services office (610-646-6550) no later than Monday evening, so that we can assign you to an agency. Questions may be directed to Gen at
EITC/OSTC Tax Credit Awareness
Next weekend (April 29-30), we will have a short informational presentation at the end of Mass to encourage participation in the EITC/OSTC Tax Credit Program in support of Catholic schools. This year both businesses and individuals can obtain significant tax advantages while providing valuable tuition assistance for families who struggle to provide a Catholic school education for their children. For more information, contact the Foundation for Catholic Education (610-793-8503) or BLOCS (484-704-2300).
RCIA Inquiry
Would you like to explore the Catholic Faith? Our weekly inquiry group meets at 7:00 PM on Mondays in the education center conference room. For more info, contact DRE Beth Riordan at 610-646-6545 or
Mass Intentions for the Week
April 22-23:Second Sunday of Easter-Divine Mercy
Saturday, 5:30 PM- People of Saint Elizabeth
Sunday, 8:00 AM- George Ciarlone, Sr.
Sunday, 9:30 AM- Patrice Sminkey
Sunday, 11:30 AM- Vincent Dean
Monday, 7:30 AM- Robert Day
Tuesday, 7:30 AM- Tina Fogarty
Wednesday, 7:30 AM- Paul Logue
Thursday, 7:30 AM- Nancy Fischer
Friday, 7:30 AM- Dick Sylvester
Saturday, 8:30 AM- Mary Ann Messere (1st Ann)
April 29-30: Third Sunday of Easter
Saturday, 5:30 PM- Joan Mulherin (9th Ann)
Sunday, 8:00 AM- People of Saint Elizabeth
Sunday, 9:30 AM- Catherine “Kitty” Welker
Sunday, 11:30 AM- Marie Egan
Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2/14, 22-33; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1/17-21; Luke 24/13-35
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Now through May 23, Exposition is held on Mondays between 8:00 AM and 8:30 PM in the daily Mass chapel.
Marian Devotions: Join us for novena prayers to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Saturday mornings at 7:50 AM, followed by a Rosary for Life at 8:00 AM.
Prayer Corner
Please remember in prayer all those who are ill, including: Evelyn Barnes; Dolores Bugaiski; Allison Glitz; William Hare; Jacob Lefebvre; Karen McKenna; Taylor Pratt; Brendan Russo; Kelly Waters and Luz Wild.
We also remember those who have died including parishioner Peter Lubin, husband of Carol Lubin; parishioner Patricia Douts, wife of William Douts and mother of Shirley Puccino; Kathy Haver, mother of Mary Jo Springer; Bernard Kowal, father of Ruth Lawler; LoRita Poliski, mother of Matthew Poliski; and Thomas McGowan, brother of Brian McGowan. May God grant all our loved ones eternal rest.
Confirmation News
Congratulations to the 168 boys and girls who were Confirmed by Bishop Timothy Senior on Saturday. May God the Holy Spirit continue to guide our newly confirmed parishioners throughout their lives!
Special thanks to the many volunteers who offered their stewardship service for the two Confirmation ceremonies. We appreciate your generous gift of time. God’s blessings for one and all!
First Holy Communion News
Congratulations to the following children who are receiving First Holy Communion next weekend:
5:30 PM: Lincoln Bavuso; Saya Enea; Emma Englehardt; Michael Everett; Madison Gorman; Paige Mackiewicz; Charles Mapes; Luca Mazzarese; Margaret Norwood; Alexander & Maxim Palovick; Carlina Pierce; Lily Raudabaugh; Maxim Rose; Phillip Schaeffer; Matthew Scheidel; Claire Turner and Piper Wiehn.
11:30 AM: Nicholas Baggio; Hannah Burns: Michael Esposito; Jane & Lucy Farrelly; Vincent Fusco; Matthew James; Lucia Kaniewski; Ryan Kopecki; Nathan Marchesani; Maggie McCabe; Tara Mullen; Christopher Murray; Stephen Rullo; Domenic Samarco; Gianni Sassone; Gavin Siwicki; Parker Smith and Chase Yatcilla.
Baptism News
Congratulations to Quinn Catherine Mackiewicz, who is being baptized within the 5:30 PM Mass this coming Saturday, April 29.
The next session of Pre-Jordan II: A Call to Christian Parenting will be held on Saturday, May 13 and the next session of Pre-Jordan I: Preparing for Your Child’s Baptism will be held on Saturday, June 10. Both programs begin at 10:30 AM in the ministry center. To register for the Pre-Jordan Program and/or to arrange for a baptism, please call 610-321-1200.
Committee for the New Evangelization
Christ Renews His Parish-Women’s Renewal: Don’t miss the next CRHP overnight renewal for women on May 5-6. You can register online at stelizabethparish. org or fill out a registration form available in the church narthex. For more info, contact Marie Hellgoth (484-341-8762 or
Catholics Coming Home (CCH): A special six-week program entitled “No Greater Love-Catholics Coming Home” begins on Monday, May 8, at 7:00 PM in the Holy Family Room. Please reach out to an inactive Catholic among your family, friends and neighbors and invite them to try Catholics Coming Home. For more info, contact Deacon Barry Midwood (610-646-6526 or
Called & Gifted Workshop: Have you ever thought about what the Lord is calling you to do? Attending this workshop is a great way to discover your gifts and respond to His call. The four-part series will be held in the Saint Matthew Conference Room, 7:00-9:00 PM, on Tuesdays, May 16 & 30 and June 13 & 27. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more info, contact Chris Hill (484-368-4635 or
Senior Adult Ministry (SAM)
Don’t miss Game Days on Thursdays, April 27, May 18 and June 22! The next Lunch and Learn will be held on Thursday, May 11, when parishioner Terry Hoffman will share information about former Governor Gifford Pinchot and his legacy!
St. Elizabeth seniors are once again invited to a picnic with Saint Joseph's Prime Timers on Wednesday, June 14; tickets are $10.00 per person and are available in the parish office.
Keep an eye on the parish bulletin for a June mini field trip! If you are 60+ you qualify for SAM. Bring your friends! RSVP to the parish services office (610- 646-6550 or
Bereavement Ministry
The Bereavement Ministry Team invites you and your family to a Memorial Mass for deceased mothers, mothers-in-law and grandmothers. Also invited are mothers who have suffered the loss of a child. Join us at 8:30 AM on Saturday, May 13, in church, and stay for coffee and donuts in the narthex after Mass. RSVP by email (
Legion of Mary
Please check out the insert in today’s bulletin for information about two important upcoming Legion of Mary activities: Fr. Stokely’s presentation on the Marian Consecration this Thursday, April 27, and the Fatima Rosary on the Green on Saturday, May 13.
Pastoral Council Elections
All parishioners age 16 and older are encouraged to vote in this year’s election of four new members for the Parish Pastoral Council. Short biographies of the nine candidates and election ballots are available in the church narthex and on line at the parish website. The deadline for submitting completed ballots is 4:00 PM on Monday, May 1.
Adult Faith Formation
Resisting Happiness: Are we receiving or resisting the happiness God has for us? On Sunday, May 7, Father John Stokely will lead a reflection and discussion on how we can stop "resisting happiness" and live a more vibrant life. All are welcome to join us at 4:00 PM in the ministry center. To sign up, call Beth Riordan, DRE at 610-646-6545. If you wish, you can read Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly or watch related videos at DynamicCatholic.com.
Parish School News
Grant Received: We are pleased to announce that we have received a grant through the Foundation for Catholic Education to support the investment in the initiative, Second Step. Teachers will start training in this program this year for implementation in 2017-2018. Second Step is a global program dedicated to fostering the safety and well-being of children through social-emotional learning and development.
General Parent Meeting: Please note that the general parent meeting has been moved from May 19 to next Wednesday, May 3, at 7:00 PM in the social hall. The adjustment was made in order to communicate to you as quickly as possible a new TuitionCare Project that can provide Catholic school families with a $1,000 tuition reduction through the PA EITC Program.
2017-2018 School Year: We are already planning for another great year and we would love your family to be a part of it! Please contact Mrs. Liz Oulton (610-646-6540) for more information about our school, the availability of financial aid & application materials.
Youth Ministry News
High School Youth Group: We meet every Tuesday night at 7:00 PM in the CLC next to the social hall.
High School Bible Study meets on every other Monday night in the CLC, 8:00-9:00 PM. The next session is this Monday, April 24.
Elementary School Youth Group: The next Freeplay Night will be on Saturday, May 20, 6:30-8:00 PM in the gym. The cost for the night is $5 per child.
For more info on any of these St. Elizabeth Parish Youth Ministry opportunities, contact Ryan Schwalm at
Saint Elizabeth Athletic Ministry (SEAM)
CYO Soccer: Saint Elizabeth CYO soccer offers high quality practice and competition, without the full year commitment or high price of club soccer. There is summer training that flows into the season, which begins in September and wraps up at the end of October. Registration opens May 1 and closes July 15. Go to seamcyo.com for more information and to register. If you have questions or would like to help coach, email
CYO Football: Registration is now open for the Chester County Catholic Crusader Football Team. Registration is for Tackle Football for JV, Grades 5 & 6, and Varsity Grades 7 & 8. To register please go to www.cc-crusaders.com and click on the Registration Now Open tab at the top of the home page. You can also register through the Saint Elizabeth Athletic Ministry link on the parish website.
Financial Corner
Thank you for your consistent financial support of our parish community throughout the year.
Regular Collection for Sunday, April 9, 2017
Weekend Contributions: $23,527.06
[Amount of Loose Cash: $1,399.81]
Midweek & Auto-Giving: $ 7,324.50
Total Regular Collection: $30,851.56
Number of adult envelope contributions: 702
Easter Collection: Thank you to the 778 donors who contributed a total of $66,481.23 to this year’s Easter collection, in addition to their regular weekly donations for the past weekend.
Auto-Giving: Parishioners can contribute to the regular collection on a weekly or monthly basis with direct debits or automatic withdrawals from your checking or savings account. Some 277 parishioners are already using Auto-Giving. To enroll, please call Sam Venuti in the parish business office (610-646-6515).
Saint Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church
Insert to the Parish Bulletin for Sunday, April 23, 2017
Upcoming Meetings & Events
RCIA & Inquiry: Mondays, 7:00 PM, St. John the Baptist
CRHP-Women’s Team: Mondays, 7:00 PM, Holy Family
Catholics Coming Home Team: Monday (4/24), 7:00 PM, St. Mark
SEAM Board: Monday (4/24), 7:00 PM, St. Matthew
High School Bible Study; Monday (4/24), 8:00 PM, CLC
High School Youth Group: Tuesdays, 7:00 PM, CLC
Parish Stewardship Council: Tuesday (4/25), 7:00 PM, St. Luke
CRHP Continuation Committee: Tuesday (4/25), 7:00 PM, St. Mark
Adult Faith Formation Committee: Tuesday (4/25), 7:30 PM, St. John the Baptist
Legion of Mary: Wednesdays, 7:00 PM, Holy Family
A Widow’s Walk: Wednesday (4/26), 7:00 PM, St. Matthew
Women at the Well: Thursdays, 7:00 PM, & Fridays, 9:30 AM, St. Luke
Legion of Mary- Presentation on Marian Consecration: Thursday (4/27), 7:00 PM, St. Matthew
Men’s CRHP: Thursdays, 7:00 PM, St. John the Baptist
Stewardship Day of Service: Saturday, (4/29), 8:30 AM, church and social hall
Knights of Columbus Communion Breakfast: Sunday (4/30), 8:00 AM, church & social hall
Joseph’s People: Monday (5/1), 7:00 PM, St. Luke
Social Fellowship Committee: Monday (5/1), 7:00 PM, St. Mark
High School Youth Music Ministry: Monday (5/1), 7:00 PM, CLC
Spirit Newsletter Staff: Tuesday (5/2), 7:00 PM, St. Luke
Knights of Columbus: Tuesday (5/2), 7:30 PM, St. Matthew
Family Fully Alive Festival: Sunday, April 30
Don’t miss the Family Fully Alive Festival at St. Joseph Church in Downingtown next Sunday, April 30, 11:30 AM-5:00 PM. The program includes guest speakers, breakout sessions, Mass and confessions, food and entertainment for the whole family. For more information and tickets, go to www.familyfullyalive.us
2017 Catholic Charities Appeal
The 2017 Appeal is being conducted through the end of May. This year's theme, Giving Hope to All, reflects the broad focus of the Catholic Charities appeal in supporting close to 180 beneficiaries in various areas of the Church's life and ministry. Brochures and donation envelopes remain available in the church narthex for those who have not yet made a contribution to the 2017 Catholic Charities Appeal.
Christ is risen, Alleluia! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
"Hey! Your mother's calling you...
...to grow in holiness by growing closer to her Son. "
Join the Legion of Mary for a presentation on
Marian Consecration
by Father John P. Stokely
Thursday, April 27 at 7:00pm in the Mullin Ministry Center
Participants will receive a copy of Fr. Hugh Gillespie's book, Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus Christ Through Mary
Please go to the parish website to register for Father John's presentation.
The parish-wide consecration to Mary will be held on
Wednesday, May 31 at 7:oo pm at Mary's statue in the Church.
...to pray For peace in the Family and in the world. '
Help commemorate the 100th anniversary of our Lady's first appearance to the children at Fatima
by joining us to pray a Rosary on the Green
Saturday, May 13 at 4:30 PM on the lawn in front of the church
Be a part of history and a witness to the power of the Blessed Mother's intercession!