“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19

The mission of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Community is to nurture the parish family as we grow in holiness through charity and mercy in order to attain Heaven.

To accomplish this goal, the parish will focus on Orthodox Liturgies as laid out in the Roman Missal and provide ongoing catechesis for all the members of our parish community. The parish will be guided by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Sacred Scripture, Holy Tradition, and the documents of the Second Vatican Council as well as the Holy See. Every activity the parish does will be done as a unified parish family and presenting one face to the whole community. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton affirms and adopts the imperative four marks of the Universal Church which are: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish affirms what Vatican II teaches about the liturgy which is source and summit from which all the Church’s power flows. As such, the Parish encourages family members, the domestic church, to worship together in unity. All families within the parish are expected to adopt a stewardship attitude. In order to fully participate in Parish Life, each member should give of their time, talent, and treasure.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Community, Ontario, was established in 1980. Fr. Lourenco Avila, founding pastor, celebrated Mass with 26 parishioners in the living room of a newly purchased home that became the church rectory. Two years later a new multipurpose building was completed and the temporary church, dedicated.

In January 1991, a permanent church, seating more than 800, was dedicated. Through the tremendous generosity and hard work of Msgr. Avila and many committed parishioners, the parish complex had grown from a small rectory to a facility with a beautiful church and a large multipurpose room surrounded by classrooms, a pastoral office and a large rectory.

On July 1, 1998, Fr. Charles F. Schultz was appointed pastor of the community now grown to more than 1800 families. In response to the Diocesan Vision, the parish was divided into six Small Neighborhood Communities (SNC). The mission of SNC is to "SOW the Seeds of Christ." This is accomplished by offering a continual schedule of Spiritual, Outreach and Welfare activities in each SNC.

Today St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Community is a beautiful array of ethnic cultures, including Hispanic, Filipino, Portuguese and Nigerian communities. Throughout the year each community celebrates its individual cultural events, but all are joined as one during multicultural Masses and activities. The entire community has grown to enjoy the diversity, delighting to learn what each group has to offer spiritually and culturally. God has truly blessed the parish, and the Holy Sprit continues to work miracles through each member of the community.

Elizabeth Bayley was born in 1774, two years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. She grew up in a prominent wealthy Episcopal family. She was well educated and beautiful. She married William Seton when she was 19 years old. She and William had five children.

In 1803, the family traveled to Italy in hopes of improving William’s health. On their arrival, they were quarantined for 40 days in a tower. She was left alone to care for an ill husband. William died at the age of 37, leaving Elizabeth with five small children.

While waiting to return to America she attended church with her friends and was deeply impressed by Catholic beliefs. In 1805, when she returned to New York she converted to Roman Catholicism, despite opposition from her family and friends. She began teaching to support her family.

Her sisters-in laws also converted. In 1809, all three pronounced their vows before Bishop John Carrol of Baltimore and became Daughters of Charity. They were given property in Emmitsburg, Maryland and opened a Catholic School. This year we celebrate the bi-centennial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Daughters of Charity. To commemorate two hundred years of history, charity, and dedication our parish has planned a weekend of wonderful events and activities October 16 – 18, 2009. Among them is the premiere of “The Seton Legacy” DVD, a 30 minute documentary of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s life, work, and continuing legacy of charity today.

Her daughters, Anna Maria and Rebecca died in childhood. Her son, Richard became a merchant marine and died at sea. Her oldest, William, ran away to escape the confines of the strict convent life imposed on him. He eventually settled down and married, one of his sons became a bishop. Her youngest child, Catherine became a Sister of Mercy and lived to be ninety-one.

Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton died of tuberculosis, January 4, 1821. Her works led to her Canonization on Sunday, September 14, 1975, in Saint Peter’s Square, by Pope Paul VI. She is the first citizen born in the United States to be canonized. Her remains are entombed in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland.