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Elizabeth's Words:"We must pray literally without ceasing-without
ceasing; in every occurrence
and employment of our lives. You know I mean that prayer of the heart which
is independent of place or situation, or which is, rather, a habit of
lifting up
the heart to God, as in a constant communication with Him."
 | Parish History: On April 9, 1976, Bishop James A. Hickey
(Cardinal Hickey) established
the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish for the townships of
Columbia Station and Eaton. It was Monday, June 7, 1976 that Fr. David
Liberatore assumed pastoral duties. The congregation came together
to celebrate Mass for the first time on July 4, 1976 in Columbia
Middle
School. In September of that year a Saturday evening Mass in Columbia
Town Hall was added. Then in October of 1997, all was moved to
Bronson School.
At this time the parish decided to build a center fulfilling a
fourfold
purpose: worship; education; fellowship; and administration. Armed
with architectural plans, a loan, and generous pledges of
parishioners,
the land was cleared and the cornerstone was laid on December 17,
1978.
On September 16, 1979 the building was dedicated.
Since then the religious education program for the children has
been
moved to the Columbia Middle School. In 1987/1988 a pastoral
residence and meeting room was built by the parishioners.
Like it's patroness, the family of SEAS continues to gather
together
to walk with the Lord, reach out to others, develop spiritually, and
celebrate together as a family.
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| Who is Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton ?
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American born saint, was canonized
in 1975. She was born in New York in 1774 into a socially prominent
Episcopalian family. At the age of 19 she married William Seton, the
son of a wealthy shipping family. The shipping business failed,
leaving them in near poverty. Then William contracted tuberculosis.
In 1803 they went to Italy in order to help William recover in a
milder
climate. However, William's health deteriorated and he died. The
Filicchi family, former business associates, welcomed Elizabeth
warmly. They introduced her to Catholicism and she began to
attend Mass with them. This began a process of questioning that
would eventually lead her to become Catholic.When she returned to
New York, her family disapproved of her
conversion, shunning her socially and financially. She started a
boarding house and school to support herself and her five
children but it failed when her friends would not help her.
Elizabeth met a priest, Fr. WIlliam Dubourg, and solicited his
help so that she could continue teaching. He and Bishop Carroll
of Baltimore invited her to open a small school. Elizabeth founded
a religious order, the Sisters of Charity, and moved to Emmitsburg,
Maryland. It was there that she began a parish school considered
to be the beginning of the Catholic school system in the United
States.
Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, our parish patroness, was a remarkable
woman by any standard. She was strong, tender, sensitive, and
determined. All who knew her called her Mother Seton. The
experiences of her life as a wife, mother, teacher, convert, foundress
of a religious order, and community member made her a model
for our spiritual life today. Elizabeth died on January 4, 1821.
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