Simply Seton

Occasionally we recieve letters or hear anecdotes that reflect the vision and mission of our parish.  We would like to share some of them here.  At times we may add a joke or story that has been requested.  Only first names will be uses to protect the privacy of those involved.  Please consider sharing your observations of what makes our community special and well... Simply Seton.

A thank you from the Jamacian Missions:

November 6, 2007

Dear Father Henry,

On behalf of the poor of the Diocese of Mandeville, I want to sincerely thank you and your parish family for the very generous response made to my appeal for assistance for our poor diocese.  As you know, your parish collected $77,184! 

You can’t imagine how much we appreciate your support and care. This gift helps us to evangelize those who have not yet come to know the Lord, provide for some of the basic needs of our poor, educate the young, house the destitute elderly in a dignified way and put a roof over the heads of families without a home.  It helps us to begin recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Dean.

Your parish family has blessed the poor with some of what they deserve as God’s children; I am confident the good Lord will bless the parishioners of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish abundantly for this most generous response to the poor.  Truly, “…the Lord hears the cry of the poor;” and has touched the hearts of your parish family as they have so generously responded in the Lord’s name.

Be assured of a continued remembrance in the prayers of the clergy, religious and the poor of the Diocese of Mandeville for you and your parish family. 

Fraternally yours in Christ,
Reverend Gary F. Wiesmann

Seton had 74 folks who participated in the Make a Difference Day Gleaning! Below are the totals!!!

Peace,
Jeri

Helping Hands Gleaning Ministry

Hands in Action Against Hunger

Make A Difference Yam Jam Gleaning Results

October 13, 2007

Total Pounds Gleaned	42,000 pounds = 126,000 servings of food
Total Volunteers	212  (74 from Seton!)
Total Groups	13 church groups from 6 counties, plus families, representing Catholic, Presbyterian, and United Methodist. New gleaning groups from Caddo Mills, Commerce, and Pickton in east Texas.
Location of Agencies Served	8 counties.  Dallas, Collin, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Rockwall, and Smith.

Thank you to all who participated serving as the hands of Christ to feed people in need.

From an e-mail received April 20, 2007:

I just thought you might want to know that our own Tish A, she runs the Shawl Ministry for us, was so moved by the events in Virginia that she called the school and told them about our shawl ministry and asked if they would like some shawls that could be distributed to the families, students or anyone that they felt would benefit from the loving touch of these shawls. She explained how the ministry works and the meaning of the shawls and the school immediately accepted! They couldn’t stop expressing their gratitude and wonderment of this faith community and our Shawl Ministry.
 
Tish mailed to Virginia Tech 100 (ONE HUNDRED) shawls today!!! All made by our parishioners and blessed by our own Fr. Henry and Fr. Tony! It is remarkable how this ministry has grown in the last three years and how many lives it has touched and continues to touch. It is even more remarkable to me how much this parish community reaches out to the world around us, going where God calls.

Cecilia

As printed in the December 3, 2006 Bulletin:

DAY LABOR CENTER THANKSGIVING   Seton parishioners, adults and teens, served a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch to the men and women who gather at the Plano Day Labor Center seeking work.  It was a beautiful day of sharing gifts of time, talent and treasure with others. The time that was shared included hospitality, service, music with a vocalist from Seton who brought along a guitar, sang in English and Spanish. One of the day laborers borrowed the guitar and shared his talents as well.  It was a glorious day!!!  Thank you to all who contributed food, transported food, tables and chairs, set up the buffet and graciously served, distributed leftovers, packed everything up and returned to Seton.  Check out the poster in the vestibule for some photos.

As printed in the July 16, 2006 Bulletin:

Dear St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish,
On behalf of Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc., thank you for the immeasurable contributions you made during Mission Possible 2006!  Throughout the week, you served the community and touched the lives of countless brothers and sisters.  We have no doubt that the clients at Catholic Charities and others in need will benefit directly because of your efforts in sorting donations, interacting with children and senior citizens, beautifying buildings, and many other acts of generosity.  Thank you especially to the coordinators and chaperones – without your hard work and dedication, this truly would not have been such a success. 

It is our hope that your faith and sense of stewardship were renewed by your volunteer efforts in the same way that we were inspired by your leadership. 

We hope you will participate next year or before then if you are inspired to donate your time and talents at a deeper level. 
May God continue to bless you.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Gratefully,
Sister Mary Anne Owens, S.S.N.D, Executive Director

Dear St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church:

On behalf of the City Council, it is my honor to send you this certificate to recognize you efforts in assisting the City of Plano during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  We thank you for your unselfish assistance during a time that challenged our community resources to the maximum.

Without your willingness to volunteer your time and resources we would never have been able to assist those who had lost everything during these horrific hurricanes.  You helped make Plano a new home to many evacuees. 

Again, many thanks are extended to you for giving of yourself and making our community a better place to live.  You are, indeed, a Plano Hero!!!!!

Sincerely,
Pat Evans
Mayor

We have had several requests for this joke that Father Henry used in his homily on January 15, 2006.  Here it is:

Jordan Management Consultants’ Assessment of Jesus’ Disciples

Jesus, son of Joseph
Woodcrafter, Carpenter’s Shop
Nazareth, Galilee

Dear Sir,

Thank you for submitting the résumés of the 12 men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization.  All of them have now taken a battery of tests and we have run them through our computers.  It is the staffs’ opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, educational and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking.  They do not have the team concept.  We would suggest that you continue your search for persons with experience and proven capability.  

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper.  Andrew has no leadership skills at all.  The 2 brothers, James and John, place personal interest above company loyalty.  Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.  We feel that it is our duty to inform you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau.  James and Thaddeus have radical leanings and registered high manic-depressive scores.  Only one of the candidates shows great potential.  He is a man of ability and resourcefulness who meets people well and has a keen business mind.  He has contacts in high places and is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible.  We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man.  We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sincerely yours,

Jordan Management Consultants
Jerusalem, Judea

A letter that came with a generous donation to the Capital Campaign on 1-9-06:

Dear Rev. Msgr. Henry Petter,

Please accept this special contribution to be applied to the areas you feel will benefit the most.  We have been members since we moved to Plano in 1996 and really love the Catholic Community here at St. Elizabeth’s.  Our daughter was baptized here and will take her First Holy Communion here.  Having gone through the RCIA program here and now participating as a sponsor has been a great experience for me.  Christi has also enjoyed teaching in CCD for the past three years.  We have also both participated in the RENEW gatherings over the years and have benefited spiritually from those meetings.

The people, staff members and pastoral staff are a big reason why we continue to be a part of the St. Elizabeth community.  We hope you will continue to lead and inspire our families well into the future.

Sincerely,
Jimmy, Christi and Daughter

Excerpts from a letter received 10-18-05:

I've attended St. Elizabeth's since 1992 when moving to Plano.  It has seen me through the good times and bad.  It especially provided me with support and friendship when I needed it the most through the Rebuilding Program for the divorced 5 years ago.  I dare say I would not have bounced back so quickly without it.  All the programs are first rate and the people are wonderful.  I have some great friends there...

Good luck with the new addition and all the wonderful things the people of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton are doing for each other, the community, themselves, and God.  Thanks.

Karen