About St. Elizabeth Catholic Church
St. Elizabeth Church is a parish of about 165 families. It is the only Catholic church in Elizabethton, a community of about 14,000 people in Carter County. The church building, at the corner of West C Street and Eisenhower Street was dedicated on May 15, 1949. The church is located on the upper floor with abasement that is now used as a parish hall. The two-story education building, which is attached to the east side of the church, was constructed in 1993.
Educational ministries at the parish include the Parish School of Religion program on Sundays after Mass for students in preschool through high school, adult bible study groups that meet on Sunday and Monday mornings after Mass, and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program for those who want to become Catholic. Additional adult bible studies are offered during Lent.
Social ministries include the Backpack Buddies program to help feed needy children on the weekends,the Angel Tree during Advent to provide Christmas gifts for needy children, the Baby Bottle project in late spring to aid women and children in need of assistance, several canned food drives, and visits with prisoners at the Northeast Tennessee Correctional Center in Mountain City.
Ministries within the church include liturgical ministries (greeters, readers, extraordinary Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, music, and communion visits for homebound and nursing home parishioners),bereavement committee, Pastoral Advisory Council, Knights of Columbus and Ladies’ Guild.
Educational ministries at the parish include the Parish School of Religion program on Sundays after Mass for students in preschool through high school, adult bible study groups that meet on Sunday and Monday mornings after Mass, and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program for those who want to become Catholic. Additional adult bible studies are offered during Lent.
Social ministries include the Backpack Buddies program to help feed needy children on the weekends,the Angel Tree during Advent to provide Christmas gifts for needy children, the Baby Bottle project in late spring to aid women and children in need of assistance, several canned food drives, and visits with prisoners at the Northeast Tennessee Correctional Center in Mountain City.
Ministries within the church include liturgical ministries (greeters, readers, extraordinary Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, music, and communion visits for homebound and nursing home parishioners),bereavement committee, Pastoral Advisory Council, Knights of Columbus and Ladies’ Guild.
About Father Dennis
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Father Dennis Kress has been the pastor at St. Elizabeth since Sept. 21, 2003, having been first named administrator of the parish in August 2002. He had previously served as assistant pastor at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport. Fr. Dennis was ordained a diocesan priest on June 12, 1999. He is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, though he has lived in Tennessee most of his adult life.
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Image of St. Elizabeth as portrayed in stained glass of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church
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About St. Elizabeth of Hungary
St. Elizabeth was born in Hungary in 1207, the daughter of Alexander II, King of Hungary. At the age of four she was sent for education to the court of the Landgrave of Thuringia, to whose infant son she was betrothed. As she grew in age, her piety also increased by leaps and bounds. In 1221, she married Louis of Thuringia and in spite of her position at court began to lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity.
Her husband was himself much inclined to religion and highly esteemed her virtue, encouraging her in her exemplary life. They had three children when tragedy struck - Louis was killed while fighting with the Crusaders. After his death, Elizabeth left the court, made arrangements for the care of her children, and in 1228, renounced the world, becoming a tertiary of St. Francis. She built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and devoted herself to the care of the sick until her death at the age of 24 in 1231. St. Elizabeth is the patron saint of bakers, countesses, death of children, falsely accused, the homeless, nursing services, tertiaries, widows, and young brides. Her symbols are alms, flowers, bread, the poor, and a pitcher. ~information from www.catholic.org/saints |