Bio of St. Elizabeth

Bio of St. Elizabeth • Parish History • Mass Schedule

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Elizabeth Ann Seton was born in New York city in 1774.  Her parents were wealthy and well-educated Episcopalians.  They believed in helping the poor, and they taught Elizabeth to do so from the time she was a small child.  She later married a successful businessman and they began a family.  But she still found time to do important volunteer work, She founded the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children.

By the time she was 30 years old, her situation changed completely.  Her husband lost his business, grew seriously ill and died, and Elizabeth herself was a widow with small children.  During her husband's illness, encouragement from Catholic friends consoled her, so she decided to become a Catholic (although in doing so she lost the support of her wealthy family).  As a single parent with five children to care for, she had no way to earn a living.

However, soon she was invited to begin a school for young girls from poor families.  The school she founded, near Baltimore, was the first Catholic school in the United States.  With 18 other dedicated women, she went on to organize the first group of women religious in the United States, the Sisters of Charity.  Her work of building Catholic education meant not only starting more schools but also training teachers and writing textbooks herself.  And the education system she began continues to thrive.

Amazingly, Elizabeth accomplished all of this in a very short live.  She died when she as in her late 40s!  She is, for us, an amazing example to emulate.