We are planning to remodel the Church bathrooms and the Parish Hall kitchen. We are excited to finally embark upon these much needed enhancements. We will be having a special 2nd collection this weekend at Mass to help fund these projects. Whatever you can contribute would be greatly appreciated! We also think you might like to check out our on-line giving tool WeShare. It is a convenient, safe and secure method of managing your financial commitment to God and the parish. Thanks for your continued generosity!

It has been about six hundred years since the last Pope left while in office, helping heal the "Great Schism". That resignation brought the Church back into a proper focus on unity. This pontiff has abdicated purely from a desire to love and serve the Body of Christ and the World. It is a matter of personal conscience and great act of humility. His resignation brings us into a spiritual focus. It indicates that the Papacy is a ministry of love and truth, even more than one of power and authority.

Dear Parish Family, In reading the Gospels we see that most of the miracles of Christ were those of healing and feeding. He is the ultimate source and example of true generosity. He gave His life for us. His generosity brought us healing, forgiveness and the promise of Eternal Life. God is the source of life and all the gifts that exist. In recognizing our gifts, or blessings, we are called to use them to touch the lives of others. Love and forgiveness lead to generosity. Generosity leads to healing. Christians are called to follow the Lord in generosity . We should be thankful for our gifts and use them well for the common good.

The Gospel relates that the foster father of the Lord Jesus was a carpenter. The actual word used in Greek is “tekton”, which means a builder. I suppose you could say that Our Lord was raised in the construction business! Two thousand years later we are still engaged in the building of the Lord’s Kingdom. The practical process of building requires many things to be done. We use our buildings for so many events and ministries that they need to be repaired and maintained.

Several hundred years ago a remarkable and gentle man we call St. Francis de Sales lived and acted as a Bishop and spiritual director for many people. His teaching and example have inspired and directed many of our saints and religious communities. He encourages us to engage in spiritual practices that are suited to our way of life. And he writes about three conditions that were to be considered when seeking a "balanced spiritual life".

Dear Parish Family, The celebration of the Holy Eucharist by the community is the primary worship that we give to God each week. We need to approach the Holy Eucharist with an attitude of reverence for God and respect for others.The heartfelt participation and positive friendly attitude of the people of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish is welcoming and inspiring. Our faith helps us find meaning in the Eucharist. In this reflection Fr. Bradley discusses how we should prepare ourselves for Mass, and respectfully asks us to show an attitude of modesty and reverence through our actions when attending the Holy Eucharist

Dear Family, Friends & Folks, I felt moved to reflect on the death yesterday of the late Egyptian Patriarch of the Coptic Church. He was a wonderful witness to tolerance and faith. I have followed his career since the 60’s. He was 88 years old, and even ridden with cancer wrote the most beautiful sermon even as late as January 1, 2012. I reference it at the end of the article if you want to hear it in audio form from YouTube. It is amazing to me that the faith continues to survive and grow even in the face of difficult circumstances. God bless, Fr. Bruce Bradley March 18, 2012

In the fullness of grace the Blessed Virgin pondered the words of the Angel Gabriel. Who told her she was to be the mother of the Messiah. As young woman or girl she received God’s Word into her heart, and shared the gift of God’s love with all people when the Christ came into the world. This reflection is inspired by the new statue of Mary that our parish family has acquired for the sanctuary.