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Seton on Seton
"In Our Own Words"
Our
Fortieth Anniversary As “The Church Gathered At Shrub Oak”
1963 June 22
2003
Forty
years, and we still feel so privileged to be the first parish named
after the beautiful Lady Elizabeth Ann Seton, New York socialite,
wife, mother, widow, convert, founder of the first American Religious
Order for Women, founder of the American Catholic School system, and
first American-born saint.
From
the deep roots, planted in the halcyon days of the Mission Church
of Saint George, Mohegan Lake (1912), Shrub Oak Catholics have been
hardy pioneers. Monsignor Arthur Nugent (1963-1981), was deeply committed
to meeting the increasing needs of a growing congregation of 854 families,
and he oversaw the “morphing of the old into the new,”
and confidently took the reins of Blessed Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
(1963). Soon, he motivated our remarkable congregation to move “heart
and hearth” (including the two, original, La Farge stained glass
windows, now in the sacristy) a half mile into the hamlet. We erected
a remarkable school and convent for ten sisters (1966), among whom
was our own Sister Gabriel Miriam, SC, celebrated the canonization
of Mother Seton in Rome (1975), and, finally, built our present Saint
Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and Rectory (1981). Monsignor Edmund Fogarty
(1981-1996) brought us a unique touch of “muscular charity,”
especially for our school children. With him in the lead, the congregation
worked tirelessly to beautify the worship space by having a permanent
marble altar installed, three, original, stained glass windows (featuring
the life of Mother Seton) commissioned, and a new entranceway and
a beautiful, Immaculate Conception Shrine (1995) constructed.
Bishop,
then Monsignor, James McCarthy (1996-2002) robustly empowered more
lay leadership especially for Christian service. We refurbished the
rectory, and creatively refashioned the church interior with improved
lighting and air conditioning, brighter wall coverings, and elegant
altar appointments. We repositioned the tabernacle, and commissioned
four magnificent, new, stained glass windows, depicting Christ as
“Teacher,” “Servant,” “Priest”
and “Resurrected Savior.” Together, we enthusiastically
celebrated the beginning of the Third Millennium (2000), and, to honor
deceased local children, we constructed the elegant “Our Lady
Memorial Chapel” (2002), featuring an original Russian icon
of the Virgin and a spectacular, six-ton, Carrara marble statue, “Mary,
Heart of Believers,” sculpted by a gifted parishioner-artist.
“Saint
George Stones: Saint Elizabeth Bricks,” have been merely the
“stage” of God’s creative activity among Seton men,
women and children, who are the parish. On the shoulders of the “giants”
who preceded us, and in the indomitable spirit of Mother Seton, we
3,000 families are more determined, than ever, to extend the reach
of the Good Shepherd.
What
follows is a powerful self-portrait of words of “What Seton
Means to Me,” written by hundreds of parishioners “on-the-spot,”
before masses one spring weekend. Unassuming and quite revealing,
these intensely personal thoughts weave an imaginative tapestry of
church ownership, each person, a precious thread of the fabric that
is the gentle Catholic Church Gathered at Shrub Oak.
Parishioner
Phrases of Praise
Active
for the Poor and Disadvantaged
“All That God Meant It To Be”
All Who Enter Become One Family
Although It’s a Large Parish, I Always Feel Warmly Welcomed
Always Blessed with Wonderful Priests and Deacons
Anniversaries of Joy and Sorrow
As the Buildings Grew, I Grew
Basic Religious Teachings
Flourish Here
Beautiful Choir and Prayerful Music
Beautiful Church Building and Sanctuary
A Beautiful Church; the Building is Nice too!
A Beautiful, Friendly Atmosphere
Because of Seton, I Give My Children a Catholic Upbringing
Best Church Ever: Helpful and Generous People
Best Participation in Worship I Have Ever Seen
“Bestest” Church in the World (Child’s Writing)
“Birthday Blessing of Children” is So Christ-like
Bishop McCarthy’s Legacy of Love
Bishop McCarthy Brought Me Back to Church
Bishop McCarthy Gave Me Back My Belief in God
Bishop McCarthy: Always Our Brother!
Bishop McCarthy: Truly One of Us “Struggling Christians”
“Calm” in the
Raging Storms of Life
Caring for the Handicapped and Sick: Outstanding!
“Center” and “Confirmation” of My Faith
Center of Our Religious Life for Ten Years
Centrality of Stewardship of God’s Gifts
The Charity of Christ Compels Us!
Childhood Teachings Transformed for Adults
Children-friendly
Christ-like, Happy Place
Church Home Within Walking Distance
A “Church of Churches”
A “Church of Ease”
Clergy Make Themselves Part of Our Family
Comfort and Healing
Comfort after Divorce/Death of Child
Comfortable Welcoming Sinners
Comforting Place to Confess My Sins
Coming from Another Parish, We were Met With Warmth
Coming Here, I Feel Love, Comfort and Jesus/Mary’s Presence
Coming Here, I Immediately Felt Love and Warmth
Committed to Basics; Unafraid of New Things
Community of Love
Community-oriented Parish
Connecting Teaching with Living
Defined by Outreach to
Poor and Unfortunate
Dependable “Buoy” in My Sea of Troubles
Devotion and Dedication
“Docking station” When I Came “Home”
A “Door” Which is Always Open When You Need to Talk
Dynamic Lay Leadership
Eager to Reach Out to Everyone
Effective!
An “Enabling” Community
Essential “Part of My Faith Journey”
Extended Family, with Jesus at the Head
Extended Home; “A Home Away From Home”
Excellent Parent-Child Sessions
Encouragement and Patience with All
Everlasting Peace and Joy
Everyone “Belongs” Here
A Faithful, Catholic Church
A “Family” Church
A “Family of Families” (Pope John Paul II)
A Family-Oriented “Family” of Believers
A “Fellowship of Friends” Who Worship
A Powerful “Forgiving” Example for the Universal Church
For Those Fortunate to Have a Family . . . An Extended Family;
For Those Not as Fortunate . . . A Place of Belonging
Foundation for My Large Family
“Friendly” from the Beginning
“Friends”; I Love it Here!
Friendship and Service; Friendship and Camaraderie
From Which I Depart each Sunday with Untold Peace
A Gathering Place
A Genuine Christian “Community of Love”
Gets Better Every Year
Gives Me Fulfillment: God Is Here . . . Waiting For Me
God Bless Seton’s Holy Priests!
God’s Grace-Filled “Presence”
“God is Here”; I have No Doubt!
God’s Home and Mine
God’s House from Which I Go Unafraid
God’s People Survived Institution’s Shame
The “Grace Place”
Greatest Church Ever!
The “Greatest Parish in the World” (Monsignor Nugent)
A “Grounding Place” of Peace/Strength/Faith/Thanksgiving
Growth and Development in Christ
The “Guiding Light” and “Bond” Holds Parishioners
Together
“Happy” (4
year old); “Friends” (6 year old)
Happy Memories
“Here Comes Everybody” (James Joyce - ?)
Here I Commune with God and My Neighbors
A Very Holy Place with the Tabernacle at its Center
Holy Spirit’s Dwelling Place
“Home” Again, and Again
Homilies I Can Understand and Live
Homilies that Hit Home and Hearth
“Home From Home”
Hope for the Future
“Hospital” for My Soul, Mind and Heart
How Blessed We Are at Seton . . . and to see it Grow
Humility and Mutual Respect is genuine and heartwarming
I am a Visitor, But I Want
to Become a Part of Seton Soon
I’m a Kid and Seton Means a Whole Lot to Me!
I am 7, and I Love Coming to This Church with My Family
I’m 82, and believe me, this is the B-E-S-T P-A-R-I-S-H
I Call it “Home”; I Find Solace Here
I Came “Home to God” at Seton; Thank You!
I Feel Blessed Just Being a Member of God’s “Seton Family”
I Feel So Happy To Come Here; it Relaxes Me
I Feel the Presence of God through Our Holy Priests
I Feel Very Good When I Come to Seton; God is Here
I Get the Feeling of a “Family Get-Together”
I Hope My Grandchildren Have as Loving a Parish As This!
I Love My Parish!
“I Love You God” (5 years old)
I Moved Away, But I Never “Left” Seton
Incomparable Priests, Deacons and Sisters
“Influential”
Interesting/Intelligent Sermons and Preachers
I Pray Here
It gives Me Peace to Go On Thanking God
It’s All About Practical Love and Hope
It’s Beyond Good Feelings; I’m home.
It’s the Closeness I Like
It Was, It Is, It Will Always Be Seton
I Used to Go to School Here and I Love This Place!
I Would Prefer No Other Parish after 35 years
Jesus’ Guiding Light
to Ourselves and Others
Joyful Place Where I Practice My Catholicism
Kindness and Hospitality:
That’s Who We Are!
A “Land of Tranquility”
Life’s Circle: Births and Deaths and Resurrection
The “Light” in My Life
A Listening, Learning Place
A Living Reminder of My Parents
L-O-V-E
Makes Me Feel Good
Makes Me Feel I am “Home”
(“Many Happy Faces”) Drawing Made by a Small Child
Memories, Family, Home,
Memories of Monsignor Fogarty’s Selfless Devotion
Memories of Priests and Sisters
Monsignor Nugent’s “Pride and Joy”
Mother Seton Would Be Proud of Us . . . She Is!
My Church Means Everything to Me!
“My Community”
My “Constant”
My Daughter and I became Catholics because of Seton
“My Family” after departing my Own Family
My Family “Foundation”
My “Favorite Place”
My First Impressions of a Really “Great” Parish Were Real!
My Four-Year Old Wants to “Get on Line & be Part of Church”
My “Home Away From Home” (Ireland native)
My “Incomparable First Parish” has Been Eclipsed!
My Lifetime “Spiritual Home”
My Longtime Parish of Choice
My Parish/My Community
My Prayer Made Here Was Answered; My Heart Unburdened
My Spiritual Family; My Spiritual Home
My Ten-Year Old Understands the Sermons and Loves Seton
Nice Priests Who
Have Time for You
Nurturing Place: It Just Keeps Growing
An “Oasis” of Quiet Spirituality
“One Big Happy Family”
One-Of-A-Kind School & Principal
Opportunities for Growth
An Optimistic Place
Our “Refuge and Strength”
Overwhelming sense of the Presence of God, as I walk Inside
Parish Success is Spelled
S P I R I T U A L (Monsignor Nugent)
Parish that Knows How to Pray and DO!
Part of My Life; A “Part” of Me
Passionate/Compassionate Christians
Pastors and Parishioners Acting Together
Our Pastors Have Been Our Friends
Peace of Mind
“Peace” in the Presence of “Our Pieta’”
(Bp. McCarthy Chapel)
Perfect “Visiting Place” after a Hard Day’s Work
Personal; Each Person Feels Important
“People” to Whom I Returned as a Catholic
A Pillar of this Community
A Place Away from the Outside World
A Place of Communication with God & Inspiration from People
A Place of Faith
A Place to Feel Closer to My Savior
A Place to Feel Safe
A Place of Grace, Joy, and Love
A Place of Happiness
A Place of Happy Times and Sad Times
A Place of Healing after Bishop’s Departure
A Place of My Return to Christ
A Place of Reflection
A Place of Truth and Comfort
A Place of Renewal and Peace
A Place of Stillness/Peace
A Place to Be Near God . . . in People
A Place to Figure Things Out
A Place to Glorify God
A Place to Go to Pray and Meet God
A Place to Heal a Broken Heart; I Know!
A Place to Know the Love of Jesus, My Lord
A Place to Learn About Myself
A Place to Listen to God and Put Aside Differences
A Place to Recall Christ’s Suffering, Death and Resurrection
A Place to Share God’s Love and Presence
A Place to Sort Out Thoughts
The Place Where I Came to Believe in the Power of Jesus
A Place Where I Can Forget about Everything & Enjoy Myself
The Place Where My Family Comes Together with One Prayer
A Place Where We Can Re-Experience God’s Presence
A Powerful Feeling of Community & Oneness, with Christ Here
A Prayerful and Holy Place
The “Presence of Jesus”
Pride in What God is Doing Among Us
Priests are Truly Inspiring, Without Exception
Privileged to have Known Bishop McCarthy
“Productive”
Proud to Be a Member of this Fabulous Community!
The “Reason”
We Moved to The Area!
“Reconciliation in Progress”: We’re Doing It!!
Re-Energizes Me
“Reflection Place”: How Lucky We Are
“Reflection Place” with Jesus
“Refreshing Place” for Our Family
A “Refuge” in an Uncertain World
“My Refuge” When I am Disheartened
Respect for Young and Old
Rich “Tapestry of Faith”
Rosary-Preparation for Mass is Perfect
The “Sacrament Place”
Sacramental Memories
Sacred Space for Me and My God
Sad Circumstances of 2002 Have Not Set Us Back!
“Safe Place” for Children
Safe Place to Talk to God
Safe Sheepfold with Strong Shepherds
“Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton” at Her Best
“SAINT GEORGE STONES: SAINT ELIZABETH BRICKS”
School Provides excellent, Formative Education
Scripture “Comes to Life” Here
A Second Family
A Second Family Home
“Security and Trust”
“Semper Fi” = Always Faithful
Sensitive to Devotional Life
Service to All; No one is left out
Service to the Poor: A Priority Here
Seton Encouraged Me to Seek an Annulment; Now I Am Back
Seton Gives Me Time to Sit in Silence and Not Move
Seton is One Big F-A-M-I-L-Y
Seton Parish Helped Me Through Hard Times
Seton is Run Beautifully!
“Seton Is Us”
Seton Keeps Me Focused and Connected to the Lord
Seton Taught Us How to Love
Seton, You Make Me Feel Accepted
“Seton at Forty” is Not Old; It’s Better!
“Seton Cares”: It Sure Does!
“Sinners Welcome!”
Smiles . . . from Everyone, Even Teenagers!
“Solace” from a Hectic Life
Somewhere We Feel Wanted and Loved
“Soul” of My Family Roots
“Spark of Light”: A Bit of “Heaven on Earth”
A Special Place in My Heart
“Spiritual Battery-Recharging” Place
“Spiritual Gymnasium”
A Spiritual, Sanctifying Place
Spiritually Mature Congregation
“Steady” During Good and Bad Times
Strong Base: Core Christianity
Strong Community of Love
Stunning “Our Lady Chapel” with Pieta’
“Source of strength”
A “Tabernacle”
of Energy and Comfort
Teens Alive with Christ’s Spirit
Thank God for This Parish!
A Thanksgiving Place
“Thank you, Seton, for Bringing Me Back After Divorce”
Thank you, Seton, for Joy, Love, Peace; My Faith is Stronger!
This is My Home!
Tolerant, Forgiving Parish; OTHERS Should Learn As Much!
A Truly Caring Community
Unapologetically Life-affirming
An Unbelievable Church of Love
United in Prayer
Unity of People and Purpose
United with Christ and His People
Unselfish Devotion to Christ and His Followers
Unselfish Participation in “People-Projects”
Unusually Welcoming and Warm
Uplifting Sacred Music
Very Comforting at My Father’s
Funeral
Very Friendly Parishioners
Very Good Place to Worship
Very Much Open to Children: Reassuring for Them
Very Restful Place
Warm Acceptance of Newcomers
Warm and Friendly Atmosphere (and I’m Only a Visitor!)
Warm, Inviting, Elegant Sanctuary; Thank you, Bishop!
Warm, Loving Understanding
The Warmth of “Home”
We are “Children of the Church” (E. Seton’s advice
to Sisters)
We Are Poorer for the Bishop’s Absence
We’re Fairly New Here and We LOVE Coming Here
We’re New at Seton, and We Love It!
We Would Be Very Proud to Be Parishioners Here (visitors)
A Worshipping Place of Prayer
Wonderful, Inspirational l Masses
Where I am Reminded, “God Loves Me”
Where I Can Allow All My Feelings to Vent
Where I Can Close My Eyes And “See” the Face of Jesus
Where I Can Continue to Learn and Expand My Faith
Where I Can “Get Personal” with God
Where I Can Talk with Jesus/God
Where I Celebrate and Can Be Myself
Where I Feel Loved by Jesus
Where I Find My Spiritual Strength
Where I Find Peace; My Faith is Stronger Because of Seton
Where I Found Faith to Build on
Where I Go to Relieve Myself of Sin
Where I Go to Tell God I Love Him
Where I Know I Am Accepted
Where I Learned the Truth
Where I Met My Husband/Christ/Jesus for the First Time
Where I Receive Nourishment, Comfort and Encouragement
Where I Received the First Four Sacraments
Where I Taught Religion, and Was Taught Myself
Where My Catholicism Blossomed
Where My Children Learn the “How” of Christianity
Where My Family is Calm
Where You Can Put All Your Troubles Aside and Talk to God
“Who Could Ask For Anything More?”
Wonderful School for My Kids |
