The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton started construction on a refurbishment of its museum and visitor centre last month with the intention of enhancing pilgrimage experiences for years to come.
On June 24, construction of the shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland, officially began.
“Mother Seton is a saint for all of us,” said Rob Judge, executive director of the shrine. “Her story resonates with so many people today because her life was filled with ups and downs, joys and struggles. The mission of her Shrine is to preserve her legacy for generations to come, and this museum project is a major step in that effort.”
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first native-born American to be canonized, and a symbol of “faith, hope, and perseverance in the face of adversity,” said a recent press release on the project. This modernized museum will include interactive and innovative techniques to tell Seton’s story.
The museum will house artifacts such as Seton’s headpiece and his young dance footwear. To give visitors a true sense of Seton’s life, the museum will also have videos and other exhibits.
The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, the first community of women religious to be founded in the United States, was founded by Seton, a socialite in 18th-century New York. They will also discover her legacy in modern times.
Seton was born in New York City in 1774 and declared a saint in 1975. She was brought up as an Episcopalian and joined the Catholic Church in 1805, two years after William, her husband, passed away.
Catherine was the first American to join the Sisters of Charity, and she and William had 5 children in total.
Seton subsequently relocated to Emmitsburg after converting to Catholicism, where she established a religious community to assist the needy as well as a Catholic school for girls.
The contribution of rare items owned by Seton and her family last year was recognised for the Sisters of Charity of New York, whose ancestry can be traced back to Seton. The “Seton Family Treasures Exhibit” now features these items, and the reconstructed museum will also feature them.
“Her struggles are just as relevant today as [they] were 200 years ago,” said Sister Mary Catherine Norris, provincial of the Daughters of Charity province of St. Louise and a member of the shrine’s board of directors. “The legacy of Mother Seton is she was fearless at a time when women weren’t exactly known for that. She’s a great role model whether you’re a mother, an educator, a daughter or a widow.”
The $10 million “New Century of Charity” capital campaign, which was started in September by the National Leaders Council of the Shrine, provided funding for the $4 million project.
Additionally, funds from the campaign will be used to establish a “Innovation and Sustainability Fund” for other shrine ministries as well as the “Seeds of Hope” retreat programme for individuals who are marginalised in society.
The fall will see the beginning of building and upgrades, with a fall 2023 completion date set.