On September 14, 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton became the first American born canonized saint.
Join us for a week-long celebration of faith, prayer, history, and community as we celebrate our patroness saint and the legacy she continues to inspire.
Mass and Solemn Exposition
Friday, September 5th-12:15pm
Mass celebrated at 12:15pm followed by 20 hours of solemn Exposition.
You are invited to spend as much time as you would like in the peaceful presence of our Lord.
Whether it's five minutes or five hours, this is an opportunity to slow down and connect with God.
We need a minimum of two dedicated adorers every hour to be present with our Lord. Please consider committing a specific hour to Jesus. Sign up in the Gathering Area or click the folowing link to sign up on line. ( ADORERS sign up).
Novena to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: September 5th-13th
Join us in prayer for 9 days beginning September 5th as we honor Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton with a parish-wide novena.
Let's lift our hearts together and ask for her intersession as we walk in her footsteps of faith and love.
*Novena boooklets can be purchased in the gathering area after weekend Masses or in the parish office during business hours. The cost of the booklets is $4.00.
Saturday, September 6th:
8:30am-11:00am
- Morning Prayer and Benediction at 8:30am in the church.
- Following benediction, a lite breakfast will be served in the parish hall. Use the following link to sign up for BREAKFAST .
- Visit the Spiritual Pilgrimage Stations throughout the parish hall and reflect on the inspiring journey of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
- At 10:00am, Fr. Arturo Cabra will give a 45 minute presentation on the life and legacy of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
The Spiritual Pilgrimage Stations will remain open in the parish hall throughout the week of September 8-12 (during regular office hours). Please feel free to visit and reflect upon the stations as many times as you like.
Day of Fasting:
Our forefathers spoke of "a fast before a feast." The Church does not impose fasting before any feast days. However, the Church suggests that the devout will find greater Christian joy in the feasrts of the liturgical calendar if they freely bind themselves, for their own motives and in their own spirit of piety, to prepare for each Church festival by a day of particular self-denial, penitential prayer and fasting.
Sunday, September 14th:
11:30am-3:00pm
The 11:30am Mass will highlight the 50th Anniversary of the Canonization of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
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Have your child(ren) dress as a saint and be part of the entrance procession at that Mass.
Focus on one of the American Canonized Saints for your child(ren) to repersent. Help them learn about these saints:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. John Neumann St Rose Philippine Duchesne
St Katherine Drexel St. Théodore Guérin
St. Damien de Veuster St. Marianne Cope
St. Katherine Tekakwitha St. Junípero Sera
If your child(ren) are going to dress up as a saint and participate in the entrance procession, please sign them up. We have supplies we need to purchase for the children participating and need an accurate number.
Sign up deadline is September 5th.
Following Mass we will have a parish picnic with hamburgers, hotdogs and other picnic food until 3:00pm.
PICNIC SIGN-UP if you plan to attend the picnic.
There will also be Colonial period themed games and activities for the children.
Live the Spirit of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton:
Let's not just celebrate her-let's imitate her!
Choose one or more ways to bring her spirit of kindness and compassion into your week.
Prayer:
- Pray for your family, friends, and neighbors.
- Pray for those in prison.
- Pray for the dying and those in hospice care.
Feed the hungry:
- Bring non-perishable items to the parish food basket.
- Donate to the Meals on Wheels program with the Council on Older Adults.
- Support the Operation Inasmuch breakfast program.
Care for the Sick:
- Send a card to a homebound parishioner.
- Call or visit someone who is ill.
- Bring a meal or run an errand for someone in need.
- Help with yard work for an elderly neighbor.
Support Families:
- Cook a meal for a family with a new baby.
- OEncourage older siblings to read to their younger brothers or sisters.
- Help set and clear the table as a sign of love and service.
Lift Up Education:
- Pray for our teachers.
- Donate school supplies to students in need.
- Support a Catholic School with a financial gift.
Past events celebrating SEAS 250th Birthday:
250th birthday celebration of our patroness Saint, August 28, 2024- Click the photo above to see pictures of the event! -The celebration began with Mass at 6:30pm. Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama was the principle celebrant. Following Mass a reception was held in the parish hall. For those unable to attend, Fr. Arturo requested families pray a special blessing at the main family meal. The prayer is below, and can also be downloaded. Consider praying this pray as a family before a meal.
-A day of Fast, August 27, 2024- "Fasting of the body is food for the soul." -Saint John Chrysostom.
Fasting can make us cringe a little. This spirital practice is, perhaps, the one most associated with Lenten penance, and sometimes we don't do it unless we "have" to. But that's only because most of us haven't really encountered the benefits, dare we say, the joys of fasting!
Don't believe us? Let's take a closer look and come to a better understanding of this highly-beneficial spiritual pratice.
Fasting as a spiritual exercise is known to boost our spiritual growth. Combined with prayer, it is a crucial part of our progress towards God. It is the practice best suited to detaching ourselves from the world and the flesh and focusing on God, because:
1) it tames our bodily appetites, which can be sources of temptation for us;
2) it detatches us from physical comforts, which can weaken us and impede growth in virtue:
3) it aids us in personal self-mastery, so that we can resist sin and choose the good even when it's difficult to do so; and
4) it purifies and liberates our prayer, quieting the demands of the body so that we can focus more acutely on God.
It is crucial to remember that fasting must be united with prayer in order to be fruitful. After all, the purpose of this practice is to draw closer to God and unite our wills to His. Before and during a fast, we must ask God to help us discern His will.
There are different levels of fasting. The most common form is what we do on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday; one full meal for the day with two smaller meals (that together don't equal a full meal), abstaining from meat during all meals, of course.
Adding regular fast days to your spiritual routine is a beautiful and concrete way to deepen your relationship with God. It has physical benefits, too!
-Article taken from a post from the Catholic Company
-A Novena to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton began August 19th, and continued through August 27th. The novena prayers are on the website HERE. We have also videoed the prayers for each day and have a Youtube page set up.
-August 22, 2024. Blessing of the statue os St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Earlir in August, the statue was placed on a pedestal and moved into the nave of the church. At 5:30pm, August 22nd, Fr. Arturo Blessed the statue. Following the blessing the faithful were able to pray and adore the Blessed Sacrament until 9:00pm. Pictures of the statue blessing.
-July 27, 2024, we had a Morning of Reflection centered on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The day began with Mass at 8:00am. Following Mass, in the parish hall, Sister Jean Rhoads, a Sister of Charity, facilitated the morning of reflection. Participants learned more about St. Elizabeth Ann Setons life, spirituality and the ongoing fruits of her labors.
-June 5 & 6, 2024, Fr. Arturo and 30 parishioners went on pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, MD.
On June 6th, everyone participated in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. The day began with Mass followed by a Solemn Eucharistic Procession throughout the streets of Emmitsburg. Fr. Arturo was given the honor of processing with the Monstrance the last leg of the procession.
-January 4, 2024, we celebrated the Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and began our 18-month celebration of our patron Saint. The celebrations will culminate on September 14, 2025 when we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of her canonization. This 18 month celebration is an opportunity to discover the life, legacy, and spirituality of Elizabeth Ann Seton as a source of inspiration and encouragement for all people.