Deacon Sal Lema
As we release our Winter issue of The Family Seton, it’s 67 degrees today and most of us will wear a sweater or jacket if we go outside. This is cold to us since we are used to much warmer temperatures here in Arizona and it is the reason that our visitors come here to spend their winters. Whether permanent residents or just visiting as snowbirds, we all enjoy temperatures that are almost never freezing with no snow or ice, unless you go skiing up north in the mountains. And I can attest to those who have come from Minesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, or parts northeast, that this is a good place to come and spend the winter. This is especially true this year, as in January when this article was written the northeast was huddling down through a strong cold spell of below zero temperatures, snow drifts, and thin ice. All the very reasons for coming to our sunny land in the first place!
While welcoming you to our home here in sunny Arizona, we also welcome you to our St. Elizabeth Seton (SES) parish, where we are celebrating the 50th year of our Catholic faith community while we are also preparing for the next 50 years. The committee in charge of renovating and preserving our parish has been hard at work. They have studied and listened to our parishioners and are presenting a future church to be admired.
As you take leave of our church in April or May, take one last look at the walls, statues, and colors. Remember what your favorite pew felt like and the way the choir was jammed into its space. Remember where the baptismal fountain sits presently and where a relic of St. Elizabeth Seton blesses our church. Because when you return here, there will be many changes. Depending upon the capital campaign funds, those changes may be partially or totally complete, but complete or not our church will be different. It will be more inviting and more colorful, but it will also remain the friendly, welcoming, and sacred place that you call your winter home.
Should you desire to help with the enhancements to our church, please visit the parish website of St. Elizabeth Seton, www.sescc.org and touch “ways to give”. With your help we can complete our campaign and have the full renovation of our church ready for your return by Advent, 2026. Thank you.
With this issue, The Family Seton welcomes the return of writer LouAnn Edwards to our team. No, she did not move back to Arizona but continues to live in the Carolina’s with her grandchildren whom she missed so much. But she still loves SES and the writing she was doing for The Family Seton, and so she remotely rejoined our team of writers. She joins our other out-of-state correspondent, writer Rebecca Schlofner. It is a blessing to have you both on our team.
According to our latest review data, we have a loyal readership who continue to enjoy this newsletter. But we did learn one thing which we will use for future issues. From the feedback we have received, you read the summer issue more than all the others. Now that we are aware of this, our summer issue will be longer, with more interesting faith-based articles that you love and enjoy about our parish.
