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The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
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Ash Wednesday
Join us as we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday Mass. Ashes will be distributed at 1:30pm Mass. The ashes remind us that from dust we came and to dust we will return. Prior to Mass, Confession and Adoration are available, beginning at 12:15pm.
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Stations of the Cross – Fridays During Lent
Join us for the Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent, beginning on March 8. It begins after our 1:30pm Mass. The Stations are a prayerful way to acknowledge the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life. As you observe Lent this year, add to your Lenten journey by participating in the Stations of the…
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Retreat – Foundations of the Spiritual Life
Join us for our first Lenten retreat, led by Brother Thomas Mary of Jesus, Er. Carm., of the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Fairfield PA. Learn more about the Hermits’ mission here. The retreat takes place from 9am – 3:30pm. It has three meditations based on the teachings of Carmelite mystics, as…
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Retreat – Friends of the Cross
We welcome everyone to join us for our second Lenten retreat, led by the Shrine Chaplains, Father Daniel Mentasana, IVE, and Father Ted Trinko, IVE. Learn more about their vocation here. The retreat takes place from 9am – 3:30pm. It will have meditations based on the teachings of St. Louis de Monfort, as well as…
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Palm Sunday Mass
Everyone is welcome to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass with us at 1:30pm in the Basilica. Palms are distributed prior to Mass, and during Mass we commemorate Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, just days before his crucifixion. Please join us as Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday.
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Chat with An Author – Catherine O’Donnell
We welcome everyone to Chat with an Author, featuring Catherine O’Donnell, who has written the book, “Elizabeth Seton: American Saint.” The book is the newest biography of Elizabeth Ann Seton since the previous one written in 1951. Catherine will talk about her book with Sister Betty Ann McNeil, D.C., who has also extensively researched Elizabeth…
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Holy Thursday Mass
All are welcome to join us for Mass on Holy Thursday at 7:30pm in the Basilica. Holy Thursday begins the sacred celebration of the Easter Triduum. Over these next few days, we acknowledge Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice to save us from sin, as well as celebrate his resurrection. There is no 1:30 Mass this day.
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Good Friday Stations of the Cross
Everyone is welcome to join us for Stations of the Cross, where we commemorate the last hours of Jesus’ life before his death on the cross. Weather permitting, the Stations of the Cross will take place outside in our historic cemetery. The entire route is handicap-accessible. In case of inclement weather, the Stations will take…
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The Passion of Our Lord
Holy Week continues on Good Friday. Join us at 3pm in the Basilica for The Lord’s Passion, where we enter into the story of Jesus’ last days here on Earth, including his death on the cross. There is no 1:30pm Mass this day.
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Easter Vigil
All are welcome to join us for the Easter Vigil Mass. The Mass has sections that are unique to this Vigil — keeping watch, celebrating the resurrection of Christ in the sacraments, and awaiting his return in glory. The time for this Mass is extended beyond our usual Mass time to accommodate the additional parts.
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Easter Sunday Mass
We welcome everyone to join us as we celebrate the joy of Jesus’ resurrection at Easter Sunday Mass. It takes place at 1:30pm. As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, the Easter Triduum draws to a close and the week-long observance of Holy Week ends.
Latest News and Reflections View All →
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To Follow the Pope, as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Did
| St. Peter is honored because despite his weaknesses, he loved and followed Jesus, and became the first pope. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton also chose a difficult path, when she answered God’s call, and entered the Catholic Church. Like St. Peter, Mother Seton’s humility became her greatest glory.
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Valentine’s Day and the Love That Never Fails
| The love between spouses is a mirror of God’s enduring love for us. Few examples of such love are more poignant than Elizabeth Ann Seton’s tender care for her dying husband William during their long quarantine in a damp lazaretto after their journey to Italy.
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Lourdes and the Common Extremism of the Saints
| When Bernadette Soubirous and Elizabeth Ann Seton each discerned their callings, these future saints gave unstinting witness to their missions, in extreme obedience to truths that brought hope and light to many. They never backed down.
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Embracing the Tears and Joys of Motherhood with Mary of Nazareth and Elizabeth Ann Seton
| When the Holy Family presented the infant Jesus at the temple, Mary learned that her soul would one day be pierced by a sword. Like the Blessed Mother, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s faith-filled devotion helped carry her through the pains and trials of motherhood, and can inspire us today.
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Mother Seton and St. Paul Show Us a 4-Fold Path to Change
| The conversions of Paul and Elizabeth Ann Seton may seem exceptional, but each of us, in our own life, can experience the same grace by opening our heart when Christ calls.
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Lessons From My Christmas Conversion
| We used to celebrate Christmas for forty days, a period symbolizing conversion. Mother Seton’s own life-changing Christmas experience prompts us to ask ourselves—did we open our hearts to the Christ child this year? Or did we lock the door of the inn?
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Celebrating the Baptism of Our Lord Is a Chance to Say “Yes” Again to Him
| John the Baptist and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton bore their challenges with total confidence in the infinite presence of God. I try to keep their examples in mind when the daily living of my faith feels daunting.
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Let Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Be Your Companion in 2019
| Looking for a role model to inspire your New Year’s resolutions? Who better than St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, America’s first native-born Saint, whose feast day falls on January 4. She overcame the same obstacles we struggle with in our own lives. A friend we can identify with is one we are more likely to emulate.
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The Wise Among Us Still Seek the Lord
| Reflecting on the journey of the three wise men helped lead Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton to the Catholic Church. The Feast of the Epiphany is a good time for us to ask: Where are we traveling? What are we seeking? What star will we follow?
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Our Longings Bring Us Closer to the Christ Child – and to Eternity
| Christmas is joyous, but it’s also a time when the stresses and conflicts of family life can lead to bitterness. In such moments we should follow the example of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, who knew that only by looking towards eternity can we attain peace here on earth.
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Bringing Body and Soul to Christ
| Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s last words were “Be children of the Church.” Advent reminds us that belonging to the Mystical Body of Christ does not depend on our feelings; it depends on our orientation of heart; on where we bring and put our bodies; on a relationship with Christ that is intimate beyond imagining.
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In Advent, Find God’s Plan for You
| As we see in the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and in the life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, we are each made for some purpose. Not for “nothing,” but decidedly for “something” in the grand scheme of the world and all of its intended Glory.
Home of the First American-Born Saint
Discover the inspirational life and legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Seton Shrine Museum
Begin your visit with a brief film about Elizabeth Ann Seton and browsing our exhibits. including our latest, Sisters Today: A World of Difference.
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The Basilica
Awe-inspiring and amazing are a few words people have used to describe the Basilica.
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Civil War Sisters
Discover how the Daughters and Sisters of Charity continued Elizabeth Ann Seton’s ministry of charity, helping those who were in need or wounded during the Civil War.
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The Stone House
Step back in time while you tour the Stone House, which was originally built in the mid-1700s.
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The White House
This historic home was built in 1810 when Elizabeth Ann Seton realized one home wasn’t enough for all that she had in mind.
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St. Joseph's Cemetery
In 1809, Mother Seton and her companions took a walk through the dense woods on their property to select a site for a cemetery.
Read MoreElizabeth Ann Seton
The First American-Born Saint
Elizabeth Ann Seton was a wife and mother, and then found herself a widow at just 29 years old in 1803. Despite the hardships that she faced, she went on to do amazing work, and eventually became the first American-born saint in 1975. Visit this historic site and Shrine and see the museum, her historic homes, and the Basilica dedicated to her.
Elizabeth Ann Seton
The First American-Born Saint
Elizabeth Ann Seton was a wife and mother, and then found herself a widow at just 29 years old in 1803. Despite the hardships that she faced, she went on to do amazing work, and eventually became the first American-born saint in 1975. Visit this historic site and Shrine and see the museum, her historic homes, and the Basilica dedicated to her.