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.
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 32 years to exceed 4500 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.
Due to ever increasing growth we have also begun to expand our parish home. After months of planning, in which several hundred parishioners participated in, discerning the future needs of our parish and what type of facility would best reflect the character and interests of our parish, a 3 stage development plan was conceived. Phase one began to become reality on September 12, 2004 when ground was broken for a new activity and education building half a block away at 3100 W. Spring Creek. It was formally dedicated by Bishop Grahman named the Seton Faith Formation Center at our 30th Anniversary Mardi Gras Celebration on February 28, 2006.
Once paid for we will be moving forward with the plans for the new sanctuary. The final stage will include building a new administration building and remodeling the old sanctuary into a new parish hall and kitchen.
Over the years we have been served by:
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 32 years to exceed 4500 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.
Due to ever increasing growth we have also begun to expand our parish home. After months of planning, in which several hundred parishioners participated in, discerning the future needs of our parish and what type of facility would best reflect the character and interests of our parish, a 3 stage development plan was conceived. Phase one began to become reality on September 12, 2004 when ground was broken for a new activity and education building half a block away at 3100 W. Spring Creek. It was formally dedicated by Bishop Grahman named the Seton Faith Formation Center at our 30th Anniversary Mardi Gras Celebration on February 28, 2006. Once paid for we will be moving forward with the plans for the new sanctuary. The final stage will include building a new administration building and remodeling the old sanctuary into a new parish hall and kitchen.
Over the years we have been served by:
- 3 bishops: Bishop Thomas Tschoepe until 1990 , Bishop Grahman 1990 -2007, and Bishop Kevin J. Farrel, 2007-present.
- 4 Pastors: Msgr. Leon Duesman, 1976-1984; Msgr. Glenn Duff Gardner, 1984-1992; Rev. John Libone, 1992-1997; and Msgr. Henry V. Petter, 1997-present.
- 15 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 - Present.
- Rev. Philip Postell, Weekend Associate; Priests who have been In Residence: Rev. Michael Forge and Rev. Paul Barrus,