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At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Plano, we've been blessed with a new church complex, including a chapel, courtyard, and columbarium, enhancing our worship and fellowship. We've also welcomed many new families and seen a huge increase in our OCIA program. We're grateful for the support of our parishioners, Bishop Burns, and the Diocese of Dallas. Recognizing the needs of the wider Church, we encourage support for diocesan ministries like seminaries, marriage prep, and charities through the Bishop's Annual Appeal as an expression of our shared faith and gratitude.

The USCCB released a statement on March 2, 2021 concerning the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in order to draw attention to the immoral use of abortion-derived cell lines in the development of COVID-19 vaccines and to guide the faithful concerning reception of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in particular.  They have judged that given the limited access to vaccines, when there is no other choice it is morally acceptable to recieve the COVID-19 vaccines that have used these cell lines in their research and production processes. That being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good..

The governor's recent decision to remove the mask mandate and open up the state has created concern as to how our churches and schools will respond to the announcement.  After consultation with priest representatives, health experts and a review of the current COVID statistics, at this time I have asked our pastors to continue to adhere to the current protocols we have in place.  This includes the dispensation of the Sunday Mass obligation, social distancing and modest church capacity limits.  We also expect the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Dallas to  to continue wearing masks out of charity and concern for all those around them.... 

If you have not already signed up for the virtual tour of the Seton Shrine, there is still time and a few spots available. Click below for more information. Our own parish was featured in the Diocesan Sunday televised Mass this past weekend. Click below if you would like to watch the recording.

Thank you for your overwhelming generosity to support our ministries. During the last quarter, we received many small and large donations for our operations and our new building fund. Our project to build a new church gains more and more momentum each day! Our parish has been selected to participate in our very own virtual tour of the Mother Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland. On Saturday, January 23rd at 1:00 p.m., we will have the opportunity to explore the home where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton grew up.

Happy New Year and Happy Feast Day for our Patron - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton! In our Together We Learn program, Deacon Doug Biglen and Fr. Tuan are facilitating a 4 part series entitled "Introduction to Moral Theology".

We wish everyone well at this Holy Season! Christmas Mass reminders. Remember to pick up your gift copy of "I Heard God Laugh". We appreciate your generosity at the Christmas Season. December is our most significant month in terms of contributions. Year end giving deadlines are enclosed. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

We have a gift for each of you! Thanks to the generosity of the Knights of Columbus, Men's Club and one of our individual parish members, we have purchased Matthew Kelly's latest book "I Heard God Laugh". Please pick up your copy when you come to Mass at Christmas or anytime after that. Christmas Masses are filling up fast. Sign-up soon! Thanks to all who supported the Love Truck Ministry Christmas Program and Giving Tree Ministry this year! You have indeed blessed many in our community and shown them the love of Christ! 

Happy Advent! Last Saturday's Blood Drive was a success! Christmas Mass sign-ups have begun - we will be holding 10 masses this year. Immaculate Conception is next Tuesday. The Plano Overnight Warming Station is still looking for volunteer Bell Ringers for the next 3 Saturdays. Remember to order your Christmas Tamales from the Knights of Columbus.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration this week! Also, remember that this coming Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, which begins a season of hope and expectation! Links this week are to the Gala Raffle, the upcoming Blood Drive, and some resources for Advent available on the Together We Pray link and the Best Advent Ever "Let Your Soul Shine" link.

We invite you to join us for a simple Advent Challenge - to pray with us for a 30 minute segment each week. Our goal is to have someone praying all day, every day of Advent. Sign up for a time at www.SetonParish.org/Together-We-Pray !

I hope that you are well, and looking forward to the Thanksgiving celebration next week. Our parish activities continue to move forward. Our Mass attendance is hovering right now at around 1125 people per Sunday. Remember the Gala Raffle winning tickets will be drawn on Thanksgiving Day. The next Blood Drive is November 29th. Our "Thanksgiving Mass" will be held at 10:00 a.m. on November 26th.  In this year of great challenge, we still have much to be thankful for. May God continue to bless us and direct our path!

There is a lot going on this week, please click the title for details and links regarding Love Truck and their POWS collection, information on the Giving Tree project, and some new Together We Learn options. Our Sunday Mass attendance has consistently increased from around 600 in July, to over 1100 last Sunday! We are still celebrating Sacraments in smaller groups and observing certain COVID restrictions. 

I hope you are doing well and enjoying our beautiful fall weather. On this Memorial of All Souls, we especially pray for all those that have passed on from this life, and remember them with love and gratitude.   In this update we have information about the Women's Club Mini Bazaar, the Gala Raffle, the Feed My Starving Children service project.

Seton is looking for more volunteers to help with our POWS program, helping serve at eht Plano Overnight Warming Station and to ring the bell this Christmas season to collect money for the Salvation Army to support the POWS program. Catholic Charities is also in need of Volunteers. Matthew Kelly is hosting his first ever virtual event, "Amazing Possibilities"

Our special outdoor concert called "Together We Gather - Music Fest" sold out right away and was a great success. Thanks to all who made it happen! In this update you can find out lots of good information about the next LovePacs food drive, our next Together We Learn session with John Eldridge - "Sola Scriptura vs. Scripture and Tradition", Stephen Ministry is here to help, Knights of Columbus are taking BBQ orders, and Ark Adventure Preschool is looking for substitute teachers. Also please note that our St Vincent de Paul helpline has changed to 972-532-9607.

This week's update has a report on the high school CREW prayer event. We would like to invite you to a special outdoor concert called "Together we Gather-Music Fest" We hope you can make it. Also remember Love Truck is this weekend.

What a year it has been and continues to be!  The global pandemic with its effects on our society and economy have been a challenge. Hopefully, we have all gained a deeper love and appreciation for our faith, family and parish community. This letter provides an update on our parish community.  

We will have our Annual Blessing of the Animals this Saturday, October 3 at 1:00pm in front of the church. October is the month of the Holy Rosary. We will hold a special Holy Hour on Monday, October 5 following the 8:30am Mass with Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Rosary. We had our first Together We Learn class. The recording is available on the website. Thank you for your support and expressions of sympathy these last weeks since the loss of my mother.