EMMITSBURG, MD (April 23, 2026) — The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton kicks off its annual Academy Alive program that transports families back to early 19th-century life on April 27, with a special focus on deepening participants’ appreciation of the life and legacy of America’s first native-born saint amid the nation’s 250th birthday.
This year, participants will be able to ask questions of Mother Seton, as portrayed by Erica Delp, the Shrine’s Education Programs coordinator. She will be playing the role of a saint, whose life as a mother, widow, teacher and truth-seeker makes her as relatable and beloved today as she was in the early 1800s. Delp can talk about what day-to-day life was like in Emmitsburg; her experiences growing up in post-revolution America in New York and her own spiritual journey from Catholic convert to foundress to saint.
“We want every young person who participates in Academy Alive to know that Elizabeth Ann Seton was a person just like you and me and that God can do something wonderful in their lives now and lasting into eternity – just as He did with her,” Delp said.
The program, which runs until May 2, allows young people to experience 19th-century life on the very grounds that Mother Seton started the first community of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, and the first Catholic school for girls in the nation.
Designed to bring to life the daily routines and spiritual practices of the young girls who attended Mother Seton’s school, Academy Alive invites participants to explore history through hands-on activities, storytelling and demonstrations.
This year, participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the ongoing legacy of the orders of Sisters who trace their lineage back to Mother Seton and Emmitsburg. Earlier this year, the Shrine museum opened a special exhibit called “Do the Good: The Sisters Who Shaped America.”
The self-guided exhibit is dedicated to telling the stories of more than 20,000 religious sisters, who followed Mother Seton’s example and have served the poor, responded to crises and helped shape education, health care and social services across the United States for more than two centuries and up to the present day.
Organized around key periods in American history, the exhibit begins in the early years of the American republic and follows the sisters’ work through the Civil War, when they served as battlefield nurses and into the twentieth century, when they cared for the sick during pandemics, expanded nursing education and responded to the challenges of industrialization, immigration and global conflict.
“We believe it’s imperative that our younger generations develop a greater love and appreciation for Mother Seton, not just as an iconic saint but also as an American patriot,” said Rob Judge, executive director of the Seton Shrine. “Academy Alive allows us to tell Mother Seton’s inspiring story in the context of her time and in a hands-on way that helps create bonds that we hope will last a lifetime.”
As part of the day, visitors will meet costumed interpreters portraying Mother Seton’s students and Sisters, take part in classes and games of the past, attend faith-based reflection moments and explore historic sites, including the White House—the 1810 school building and home of the Sisters of Charity.
The America250 anniversary will be highlighted in various ways, including the opportunity to learn from a Baltimore newspaper of the time about the Flag Act of 1818 that established the official design of the American flag.
Academy Alive offers a rare opportunity for guests of all ages to engage with Catholic history in an accessible, memorable way.
The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for ages 7-18. Age 6 and under are free. Registration is required. Go to https://setonshrine.org/academy-alive/.
The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md., is a place of God and of history, where visitors can walk in the footsteps of a saint. The Shrine offers pilgrims prayerful comfort from Mother Seton’s story and her intercessions as a friend in heaven. It is an active Basilica and has a wide range of historical buildings and programs that show what life was like when Mother Seton lived here more than 200 years ago. It was here that she founded the first community of religious women established in the U.S., created the first free Catholic school for girls staffed by sisters in the U.S. and fulfilled her mission of serving those in need. Today, her legacy includes several religious communities with thousands of Sisters, who serve others through schools, social service centers and hospitals throughout the world. She was canonized in 1975. Her remains are entombed at the National Shrine that bears her name. For more information, please visit https://setonshrine.org/.