By Joan Zombek
“Elizabeth Ann Seton is a saint. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is an American. All of us say this with special joy, and with the intention of honoring the land and the nation from which she sprang forth as the first flower in the calendar of saints. Elizabeth Ann Seton was wholly American! Rejoice for your glorious daughter. Be proud of her. And know how to preserve her fruitful heritage.”
Pope Paul VI proclaimed these words to highlight Elizabeth Seton’s canonization on September 14, 1975 (setonshrine.org).The following year, Bishop Edward McCarthy of the Phoenix Diocese announced the formation of a third parish in Sun City under the patronage of this first American-born saint.
This year we celebrated the feast of this exceptional woman on January 5 because the preferential feast of Epiphany fell on her actual feast day, and Father Williams offered the 4:00 p.m. Mass assisted by Deacons, Craig, Jeff, Marty and Sal.
In his homily, Father reflected on Elizabeth Seton’s life and how it complemented the day’s Scripture readings. John the Baptist and Jesus call for repentance and “turning one’s life completely toward God.” (Abba, Fr. Williams, p. 2). Elizabeth Seton answered this call, leading her on a path from socialite to saint, and these attributes of conversion, suffering, faith, and holiness continue to be timely today.
Elizabeth was born and grew up in New York City during the turbulent times surrounding the American Revolution and birth of our nation, and she demonstrated tremendous courage. Her conversion to Catholicism came through the compassion of friends upon the death of her husband, leaving her widowed with five young children. Their kindness and Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist profoundly moved her heart. Returning to Protestant New York, she was rejected by her family and the peers of her social class. Loss of financial support made life difficult, but she did not allow this to discourage her. She trusted that God would provide for her and He did, giving her the inner strength, grace, and purpose, to take on and succeed in the incredible mission He set before her (pp. 2-3).
Her mission commenced with the 1809 founding of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, “the first religious community for women established in the United States.” This set the stage and laid the framework for the Catholic Parochial School System with the opening of the first Catholic girls’ school in the nation, and brought recognition to the value of education. Seeing “Christ in every child, especially the poor,” her religious community was dedicated to serving them compassionately, competently, and lovingly, while proclaiming the Gospel. Elizabeth herself taught while simultaneously opening schools and training teachers to respond to the widespread ignorance, poverty, and spiritual abandonment of the times (p. 4). Faith that God would provide what was needed sustained Elizabeth and her new religious community, and Catholic education continues to nourish souls and enrich minds in this country and throughout the world.
Elizabeth prayed for guidance during life’s difficult struggles. She endured the loss of her husband and two daughters. She experienced personal poverty and the loss of supportive family and societal relationships. Starting a religious community was a demanding and exhausting endeavor. But throughout these difficult times Elizabeth persevered, and from her we learn that uniting our sufferings to Jesus’ suffering has redemptive value and can lead to spiritual fruitfulness. Elizabeth’s example demonstrates that holiness can be achieved at every stage of life. She lived many vocations as a daughter, wife, mother, widow, and religious sister, and in each she trusted God to lead and provide for her and those whose lives she touched. There is no doubt that He provided well because Elizabeth Seton accepted each mission and challenge, using her God-given strengths and graces to overcome the obstacles.
Pope Paul VI’s closing words, “[K]now how to preserve her fruitful heritage.,” can guide us to use our unique skills, talents and abilities to draw closer to God, to accept suffering as a path to redemption, to trust that God will provide all that we need, and to live in a manner pleasing to Him. Elizabeth Seton is our patroness, our guide and our intercessor.
At the conclusion of the Mass, parishioners and guests enjoyed a light reception in the parish hall. An exhibit showing copies of documents related to Elizabeth Seton’s life, her path to canonization, and the history of the founding of our parish will continue to be available there as we celebrate the 50th anniversaries of her canonization and the founding of our parish. St. Elizabeth Seton, pray for us!
Sources:
ABBA, Fr. Williams. Homily on Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. St. Elizabeth Seton
Catholic Church, 5 Jan. 2026.
“Mother Seton.” Seton Shrine, setonshrine.org. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
