Dear Parishioners of St. Elizabeth Seton

My week began with a prayer for the painters who have begun painting the exterior walls of St. Elizabeth Seton.  As many of us run from air-conditioned cars to air-conditioned offices and homes, our painters are out in the sun and humidity for eight hours a day as part of their work and mission to paint our church. This is being done in conjunction of the Jubilee Year of renewal and renovation. On one of the hottest and most humid days, one painter entered the church and said he was “seeking shelter from the sun” in the church.  A few minutes later he walked over and said thank you, the church had brought him peace and the rest he needed to complete his work for the day.  His comments resonated with me.  Do we not all seek rest and peace when we attend church, participate in mass or sit in quiet prayer?

Painting the exterior of St. Elizabeth Seton and painting the domes will take two weeks. While the color of the walls remains similar, just a little lighter, the domes will return to the original gold color.  This will occur early next week.  Be sure to look up and remember the gold domes are a tribute to founding of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in 1976!

It has been an exciting as well as complex week of renovation work.  We found that hanging the beautiful Crucifix was a challenging task.  It was with dedication, thoughtful planning, and much hard work on the part of our contractor, Denix Construction, owned by the father and son team, Jeno and Christopher, that the Crucifix hangs proudly in the sanctuary.  This was by far the most difficult task of the entire project.  The meticulous assembly of the support systems, the secure attachment of the cable, and the subsequent connection to the Crucifix were accomplished through the collaborative efforts of a dedicated team of church staff. Fr. Williams provided unwavering support to Jeno and Christopher, as we offered prayers and encouragement throughout the process.

As part of the Jubilee Planning, a survey was conducted in December 2024. Over 300 parishioners participated in the survey. One of the most requested changes was the installation of a Crucifix over the altar. This frequent and important request is now being fulfilled. After 50 years, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church has a Crucifix over the altar. 

In Christ and with Gratitude,

Dr. Kathleen H. Goeppinger
Jubilee Chair