History of Our Parish

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton has a rich and colorful past. Many dedicated parishioners have given their time, talents, and financial resources to build and develop this parish into a vibrant and dynamic community that reaches out far beyond its boundaries. It is a community of people who has come together and built a body of Christ in our parish. People who govern, teach, and sacrifice; people who reach out to the poor, the sick and the disenfranchised; people who lift their hearts and voices in praise and worship each liturgy. They have worked, sacrificed, laughed, cried and prayed together, creating a common history and heritage that is an essential element of their identity, a truly catholic community.
 

Early Years

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish came into being on February 28, 1976. The parish, founded during the Bicentennial Year, was named in memory of the first native-born American to be canonized. Projected growth patterns in the Plano area prompted the Diocese of Dallas to establish a parish in what was then northwest Plano.

Mass was celebrated for the first time on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1976 at Haggard Middle School. This school became “home" for almost two years. The parish site was purchased by the Diocese of Dallas on February 20, 1976 and groundbreaking for Phase I was held on April 24, 1977. Mass was celebrated for the first time in the Religious Education building on Palm Sunday, 1978. Ground breaking for Phase II, the Sanctuary, took place on May 17, 1980 and our first Sunday Liturgy in the new church was November 8, 1981. The church was dedicated by Bishop Thomas Tschoepe on October 10, 1982.

Our parish community began with under 100 families and has grown in the last 45 years to exceed 4000 families! During that time we have given birth to two Catholic Communities, Prince of Peace Catholic Church split off from us in 1991 and most recently, in December 2000, Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church.
 

The Seton Faith Formation Center

Due to ever increasing growth and need for gathering space, we expanded our parish home to build the Seton Faith Formation Center across the street. It was formally dedicated by Bishop Grahmann at our 30th Anniversary Mardi Gras Celebration on February 28, 2006. We are so grateful for this wonderful space for all ages to come together for faith and fellowship.
 

The Columbarium 

On the first Sunday in Lent, March 1, 2009, ground was broken for the Seton Columbarium and Garden.  On All Souls Day in 2009,  the initial phase was completed and was consecrated. 
Since then it has gradually been developing.  The garden was added to and enhanced.  In 2013, a fountain featuring a statue of the Archangel Raphael and Tobias  was added at the entrance of the Memory Garden.  Statues of the Mourning Mother, The Good Shepherd, and St. John the Evangelist have also been added.  The garden was completed on All Souls Day, 2015 with the addition of a mosaic of the Madonna of Consolation to the wall behind the Gazebo. 

Over the last several years we have been renovating the Parish Activity Center.  The classroons have been freshened up with paint and new flooring, the bathrooms remodeled, a Bride's Room added.  Two rooms were combined and redecorated to make a large gathering space suitable for large meetings and small receptions.  We call it the Seton Room.  We also completed a full remodeling of the Parish Hall and kitchen.  The Parish Hall has state of the art lighting and sound, new flooring and custom woodwork . The kitchen is now a fully functioning caterer's commercial kitchen. All of this makes for a perfect wedding reception or parish wide event. All of the niches in the columbarium have been sold out since 2021. There are no plans for additional spaces at this time.
 

Building for the Future

By 2019 it became increasing clear that the current church building is no longer adequate for the needs of the Seton Community.  Renovation and repair costs of the old building would be almost as much if not more than building a new building.  In October of 2019 a Capital Campaign was kicked off.  On May 16, 2020 the building committee presented a building update and unveiled a preview of the architects' concept of what the new building would look like.  We are excited to build this beautiful new Church that will serve as a beacon of light in our community for the next 100+ years.

Clergy that Have Served Seton

Over the years we have been served by: 4 bishops: Bishop Thomas Tschoepe until 1990 , Bishop Grahman 1990 -2007, Bishop Kevin J. Farrel, 2007-2016 (now Cardinal Farrel serving in Rome); and Bishop Edward J. Burns, 2017-present.

4 Auxiliary Bishops: Most Rev. John Cassata until 1979; Most Rev. Joseph A Galente, 1999-2004; Most Rev. Mark Joseph Seitz, 2010-2013; Most Rev. J. Douglas Deshotel, 2010-2016; and Most Rev. John Gregory Kelly, 2016-present.

5 Pastors: Msgr. Leon Duesman, 1976-1984; Msgr. Glenn Duff Gardner, 1984-1992; Rev. John Libone, 1992-1997; Msgr. Henry V. Petter, 1997-2011 ([Fr. Henry Installed as Monsignor by Bishop Charles Grahmann, assisted by Deacon Jack Guilino, Sunday, May 1, 2005), Rev. Bruce Bradley, 2011-Present.
 
20 Parochial Vicars: Rev. Henry Petter, 1980-1982; Rev. Robert Coerver, 1982-1985; Rev. Art Mallison, 1985-1988; Rev. Mark Link, 1983-1987; Rev. Michael Dugan, 1988-1992; Rev. Bob Shortall, 1985-2006; Rev. Fred Sidler, 1992-1994; Rev. Timothy Heines, 1994-1997; Rev. Paul Barrus, 1997-2000; Rev. Tim Church, 1998-1999; Rev. Andrew Semler, 2000-2004; Rev. Anthony Densmore, 2004-2008; Rev. Jason B. Cargo, 2008-2010; Rev. John M. Szatkowski, 2010-2012; Rev. Reuben Chen, 2012-2015; Rev. Jose Pazheveettil, MST, 2012-2014; Rev. Martin Martin Mwangi, 2014-2017, Rev. Russ Mower, 2015-2016; Rev. Jacob Dankasa, 2017-2019; Rev. Javier Diaz, 2017-2019, Rev. Michael Baynham, 2019-2020, Rev. Sinu Joseph, 2019-present and  Rev. Tuan Le, 2020-present. 

Priests who have been In Residence: Rev. Michael Forge and Rev. Paul Barrus.

Weekend Associates, Rev. Philip Postell,  Msgr. Leon Duesman, 2012-2017