Kate Fulton

My family and I became members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 12 years ago.  My husband Ryan and I have 4 children-Eliza who is 18, Claire 16, Annie 9 and Mack 8 years old. 
When school started the first fall after we moved here, I was at the bus stop when my neighbor said that her son would not be able to attend faith formation that year if they couldn’t find two people to teach his 5 ^th grade class.  For some reason (now I’m 100% positive it was the Holy Spirit), I offered to help her teach.  I had never taught faith formation before, but I figured that it would be a great way to get involved in the parish. Ever since that day 12 years ago, I have taught faith formation with my sweet friend and neighbor.  We have taken turns each year either teaching one of her children or one of mine.  We are now adult leaders in CREW and I will be there as long as Bruce, Jeri and Lindsey will have me!

In the fall of 2006, one of my dearest friends asked me to be her sponsor for RCIA.  I was intimidated by the commitment, but I am so grateful that I said yes.  I learned more about the Catholic Church and our beautiful faith that one year in RCIA than I did in 12 years of Catholic school.  I was blown away by the amazing people involved in that ministry.  I began to realize how important it is to be an active participant in my faith.  Sitting passively in the pew on Sunday was no longer enough for me.  I realized that as clichéd as it might sound, “I would get out of it what I was willing to put into it.”
Over the next several years I joined many different ministries and have participated in multiple activities that SEAS has to offer.  Everything from my children attending Seton’s Ark, Vacation Bible School, Seton Service Days, Bella House and various bible studies.  My favorite “class” that I have ever taken at SEAS is the Ignation Retreat.  I loved it so much I took it twice!  I highly recommend it.

 One of the most moving experiences for me was when I attended my first women’s ACTS retreat in the spring of 2013.  I signed up for the retreat because I needed to “get away” for a weekend.  Being at home raising 4 children (one of whom has special needs) and trying to manage a household with all that entails, had finally gotten the best of me.  I needed a break!   I signed up for the weekend hoping for some peace and quiet and some uninterrupted prayer time.  What I got was a profound experience of the Holy Spirit wrapped up in a package of amazing women who have changed my life.  The bonds that were forged on that weekend have continued to bless my life in ways that I never could have imagined.  If you have the chance to go, I HIGHLY recommend it!  I have served as a team member on several retreats since and I had the honor of serving on the ACTS Core team for 18 months. 

In October of last year, my husband Ryan and I had the privilege of going on the pilgrimage to Israel with Fr. Russ and the group from SEAS.  I don’t really have the words to explain the impact of that trip on our lives.  Everything has changed, and yet nothing has changed.  The faith that has sustained me my whole life is the same, but now it is alive in a very unique way.  When the gospels are read at mass, I can picture Ryan and myself and our fellow pilgrims in those exact locations and envision the way it looked, the way it smelled, the color of the sky, and the feel of the dirt beneath my feet.  I am so grateful for that experience and especially for sharing it with my brothers and sisters from this parish family. 

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is home for us.  It is where our older children have grown up and where our little ones are still growing up.  It is where we come for support, for inspiration, for friendship, for fellowship, and most importantly to grow our faith.  We are so thankful to be a part of such an amazing community!