History
On April 21, 1977, the Parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was formally established by the Most Reverend Joseph T. Dailey, Bishop of Harrisburg. Father Daniel J Menitti was named the first pastor. The first Parish Masses were celebrated a month later on May 21 and 22, 1977, at St Peter's Lutheran Church, Mt Allen Heights. By the end of June, a house was acquired by the parish at 125 Holly Drive, which was used for daily Mass, as the parish office And as the pastor's residence.
In May 1978, ground was broken for the building of the church, and construction began in July. A modified colonial design was chosen for the church for two reasons: St Elizabeth Ann Seton lived in the colonial period of our nation's history and the church is in a residential community where homes exhibited a colonial influence in their design. The church was to belong to both the past and present.
The new church was dedicated on June 17, 1979, by Bishop Dailey. As the young parish grew, so did its activities. The religious education program was developed, the annual apple festival was begun, social activities increased an a parish house was built. On July 9, 1982, Father Richard P. Waldron was appointed pastor.
After careful planning for the future, the parish embarked of an exciting program of Stewardship of Treasure, Time and Talent in September of 1985. The program, which annually encourages all parishioners to determine the best way the can support the parish community, has served St. Elizabeth Ann Seton well.
The growth of the parish continued. In the fall of 1989, an open house was held for the new religious education and parish offices and an addition to the parish house. Several years later, construction began again. Because of the need additional space for the growing religious education program, the Seton Center was built and dedicated in November 1992.
Parish involvement flourished in a variety of ways. On Sunday, October 2, 1994, the first parish pilgrimage to the National shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Grotto of Lourdes of Emmitsburg, Maryland was held. The music ministries blossomed and the new organ was installed and dedicated in December 1995. Since its beginning in 1977 the parish has more than quadrupled in size to over 1400 families.
Throughout the years, St Elizabeth Ann Seton has been blessed with guidance and leadership. Father Richard P. Waldron, pastor since 1982, was joined in the spring of 1983 by Father Francis M. Kumontis, Diocesan Director of Catholic Chariti4es, who was in residence for five years.
In May of 1988, Father Charles L. Persing, was appointed the first parochial vicar of the parish. He was followed a year later by Father. Dennis G. Dalessandro. On June 9, 1993 Father Robert F. Sharman was named parochial vicar and remained for four years, followed by Father Leo M. Goodman III for two years and Father Joseph T. Scanlin for one year. In May 2000, Father Edward C. Malesic, Adjutant Judicial Vicar for the Diocese was assigned to residence in our parish where he remained for four years.
In November 2003, our parish embarked on a Feasibility Study-Phase I of the diocesan mandated program for Building Construction and Renovation. In December 2004, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades gave permission to begin Phase II, in which we are currently involved and which allows hiring an architect on a limited basis to develop basic schematics and initial cost estimates.
Father Michael E. Messner was appointed part-time parochial vicar on March 30, 2004, which he remained until the following year. On May 6, 2005, Father Raymond J LaVoie, Director of Diocesan Vocations was appointed to our parish to live in residence.
In June of 2007, Father William J King, Vicar General of the Diocese of Harrisburg was appointed to live in residence. On May 14, 2011 our Pastor of 29 years Father
Richard P. Waldron (Obituary)passed away. He was buried on his 50th Anniversary of his Ordination. Bishop McFadden appointed Msgr. William J King, the third pastor of St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish on June 20, 2011. Also at this time we welcomed Father Tri M Luong as Parochial Vicar.
As we, the parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, record our past history we look forward to our future "History," and pray that we will continue to grown and make progress as the Christian Catholic Community under the patronage of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.