1983 - present
During World War II, the area that is now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish was divided into 5-acre parcels which were advertised as being 'best suited for chicken farming'. In 1979, the pastors of St. Brendan & St. Mary Magdalen Parishes recognized the need for a new parish and worked out the area of the new 'satellite' parish of St. Brendan's - the first in the archdiocese. In 1983, our parish met in Silver Lake Elementary, and then expanded to a storefront in Market Place Square. By early 1985, the 'satellite' idea was not working and our parish became the 132nd parish in the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle.
Our early parishioners and leaders valued Christian education, so on January 4,1985 they took a vote and proudly proclaimed St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, our patron. Deborah Colón, our first Religious Education director, laid the groundwork for the quality Faith Formation program we now offer: pre-school through teen activity youth programs of middle school EDGE & high school LifeTeen.
Fr. "Jay" performed the first official baptism on January 12, 1985. On April 25, children received their First Communion and on May 7th, Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen confirmed 27.
We raised over $2 million to buy an additional 10 acres and construct the church and classrooms we've worshipped in since 1987.
From that inauspicious beginning, the area as well as our parish family, has grown in diversity and flourished. In 2009, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish is the 5th largest parish in the archdiocese - based on average Mass attendance, and the 11th largest - based on our 1,895 registered families. We have grown ever since.
In 2010, we celebrated 25 years as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish! Fr. Oliver's sentiments: "We began our journey as a parish community that was open & friendly. Please God, we will continue as such a parish, wishing to share what we have received!"
On October 11, 2017, Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg presided Mass in our community to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Dedication of the parish.
With the grace that comes from our Lord, may we never stop evolving as a parish. Thanks be to God for who we are, and who we are becoming.
February 1984
Services held at Marketplace Shopping Center in Bothell, WA
January 1985
The parish is established with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as our Patron Saint
March 1985
Rev. Oliver F. Duggan assigned as Pastor
June 1987
1st Mass in new and now our current church facility on 2316 180th St., Bothell, WA 98012
September 1991
The Colón Center for Religious Education is dedicated
June 2000
Seton House is dedicated by Archbishop Alexander Brunett
August 2000
Religious Congregation of Missionaries of the Holy Spirit begins staffing St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
Rev. Eusebio Elizondo, M.SpS. assigned as Pastor
Rev. Jorge Gomez del Valle, M.SpS. assigned as Parochial Vicar
June 2005
Rev. Eusebio Elizondo, M.SpS. consecrated Auxiliary Bishop for the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
July 2005
Rev. Conrad Aquino, M.SpS. assigned as Priest Administrator
July 2008
Rev. Edgar Sanchez, M.Sp.S. assigned as Priest Administrator
October 2008
Seton House is rededicated as an Educational Center
January 2009
Deacon José Ugaldé, M.Sp.S. is ordained Priest
July 2011
Rev. Edgar Sanchez, M.Sp.S. named Pastor
August 2012
Rev. Mario Rodriguez, M.Sp.S. assigned as Parochial Vicar
October 2012
Craig Lundberg is ordained as a pemanent Deacon
July 2014
Rev. Roberto Saldivar, M.Sp.S. assigned as Pastor
July 2014
Rev. Gerardo Cisneros, M.Sp.S. assigned as Parochial Vicar
August 2015
Rev. Mario Rodriguez-Garcia, M.Sp.S. re-assigned as Parochial Vicar
April 2016
Rev. Roberto Saldivar, M.Sp.S. named Provincial Superior for the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit
Rev. Mario Rodriguez-Garcia, M.Sp.S named First Counselor for the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit
July 2016
Rev. Jose Gerardo Alberto, M.Sp.S. assigned as Pastor
Rev. Jose Ugalde, M.Sp.S. assigned as Parochial Vicar
Rev. Armando Hernandez, M.Sp.S. assigned as Parochial Vicar
September 2018
Rev. Jose Jesus Sanchez, M.Sp.S. assigned as Parochial Vicar
June 2019
Br. Jorge Haro, M.Sp.S assigned as intern on Pastoral Year
January 2020
Rev. Jose Ugalde, M.Sp.S. assigned as Priest Administrator
June 2020
Rev. Manuel Rosiles, M.Sp.S. assigned as Parochial Vicar
Br. Rene R. Alvarez, M.Sp.S assigned as intern on Pastoral Year
July 2021
Br. Jesus Romo, M.Sp.S assigned as intern on Pastoral Year
September 2021
Rev. Miguel Marquez, M.Sp.S. assigned as Parochial Vicar
May 2022
Rev. Miguel Marquez, M.Sp.S. assigned as Priest Administrator
Rev. Jose Ugalde, M.Sp.S. named Provincial Treasurer for the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit
June 2022
Rev. Lucio Villalobos, MSpS assigned as Parochial Vicar
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Our Patron Saint
1774 - 1821
Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), educator & philanthropist, was the first native-born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Born Elizabeth Ann Bayley on August 28, 1774 in New York City, she was a devout Episcopalian and worked extensively with the poor, especially women and children. She married William Seton in 1794, a successful merchant, and they had five children. When his father died, Will and Elizabeth took on the responsibilities of the family business as well as the welfare of his half-siblings. It was her first experience in educating children. Within three years, Will contracted tuberculosis and lost the business. Hoping for a cure, they traveled to Italy in 1803, to stay with friends in Pisa. The Filicchi's, along with Elizabeth's interest in Catholicism, were her solace when Will died.
When Elizabeth returned to the U.S. in June 1804, her family and friends were adamantly against her new beliefs and feared her influence on their children. This made it difficult to secure a well-paid teaching position to provide for her own five "darlings", but she remained faith-filled, convinced that God had a Plan for her. Elizabeth identified with our Blessed Virgin Mary and asked for her guidance in the True Faith. She converted in spite of the prejudice in1805 and took "Mary" for her Confirmation name. From that point on, Elizabeth often signed herself "MEAS", for Mary Elizabeth Ann Seton.
After trying unsuccessfully for years to open a religious school for children, she met Rev. Louis Dubourg, a Sulpician priest, interested in forming a congregation of religious women to teach girls in Baltimore. Already showing signs of tuberculosis, she moved to Maryland and established the Sisters of Charity. On June 16, 1809, they appeared for the first time dressed in a black dress, cape and bonnet patterned after the widow's weeds of women in Italy - Elizabeth's place of conversion. Elected the first superior of the order, "Mother Seton" held that office until her death. By 1818, the sisters had established two orphanages and two schools. Today, six groups of sisters originated and have spread around the U.S. from Mother Seton's original congregation of eighteen Sisters of Charity.
Elizabeth was a prolific writer. She wrote meditations, instructions, poetry, & hymns. Her journals are both spiritual reflections and a biography. Her meditations deal with sacraments, virtue & biblical themes. Her instructions prepared children for their First Communion, and aided the Sisters of Charity in the topics of service, charity, eternity & the Blessed Sacrament.
Pope Paul VI canonized Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton September 14, 1975, the International Year of the Woman. She is the Patron Saint of widows, those who lose children to death, have in-law problems, and those people who are ridiculed for their piety.
A woman whose life is an outstanding model for all people, she explained her faith journey: "Faith lifts the staggering soul on one side, hope supports it on the other, experience says it must be, and love says let it be."
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