Dear St. Elizabeth Seton Parishioners,

Our Jubilee renovation journey has produced far reaching gifts and blessings that were never anticipated.  As we planned,  prayed and visioned our worship space, we had to make many decisions.  Some were based on competitive bids for work and supplies as we evaluated our plans. One such decision focused on our pews.  Did we try to refurbish or do we purchase new?  When the cost of refurbishing was considerably higher than purchasing new pews, we started a campaign to donate them to other churches in need.  While we were initially told, “no one will want them,” our parishioners went to work.  Calls were made to friends and colleagues and the interest in our pews was tangible.  Offering the pews to other churches and organizations became our goal.

This past week, the last of our pews we're received by St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sonora, Mexico.  As members of their parish loaded them on a truck they expressed their deep gratitude to the parishioners of St. Elizabeth Seton for the gift of our pews.  Explaining that they only have old and broken chairs, these pews will be giving them a new worship space. 

Other churches also benefited from our gift.  A small church, St. Haralambos, needed our pews, and once installed, they even sent us a picture. Some of our own parishioners expressed gratitude as the pews now adored their homes and gardens.

Another significant donation was our  organ.  While it was in need of substantial repair, it also found a new home. Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Monastery located in Tonopah, Arizona,  ,  accepted the challenge of repairing it in hopes of offering organ music as an integral part of their liturgy to enhance the beauty of their worship services.  “To Sing is to Pray Twice” is attributed to St. Augustine. May this Monastery be successful in repairing the organ so they can glorify God with joyful songs of praise.

Over the past months, as we together prayed our Jubilee Campaign Prayer, we recited, “Heavenly Father, We are filled with gratitude for the blessings on our parish family.”  Together we have extended our blessings to other parishes, whose needs are now being fulfilled.  Sincere thanks to everyone who helped locate parishes who opened their hearts to our gifts.

In Christ,

Dr. Kathleen H. Goeppinger

St. Elizabeth Seton Jubilee Chair