In November 2002, the shrine directors who are members of The National Association of Shrine and Pilgrimage Apostolate heard a presentation by Monsignor James P. Moroney on Shrines in the Life of the Church In this talk we were given many concrete yet beautiful helps in furthering the mission of a shrine. One idea that has remained with me is that a shrine is “a place where divine grace is manifested in a very special way – a place where the human and divine world intersect.”

It has been noted that some of the pilgrims to the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton are not able to read the legends on the panels in our museum. This may be due to eye problems, being in a wheelchair, or unable to stand for periods of time. To make our museum more accessible to pilgrims, we are installing an audio system that can be used as an accompaniment to the tour. The audio is accessible through the use of an audio wand that has a number panel. By pressing a button corresponding to the panel one ma listen to an explanation of the material before them.

In pursuing this development, we hope we are enabling pilgrims to view our shrine as “a place where the human and divine would intersect.”

May our summer days be happy and relaxed in the assurance of God’s loving care of us. How often these days remind us of St. Elizabeth Ann’s advice, “Look up to the blue heavens and love Him!”

Sister Mary Clare Hughes
Administrator

The Seton Way
    is published at the
    National Shrine of
    Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
    333 South Seton Avenue
    Emmitsburg, Maryland 
                        21727

E-Mail: office@setonshrine.org

Editorial Board:
    Sr. Eleanor Casey, D.C.
    Sr. Patricia Coughlin, D.C.
    Sr. Claire Angermaier,  D.C

Typing & Layout
    Sally S. Grandstaff 

28th Anniversary of Canonization
of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
and Founder’s Award Ceremony
Honoring William Minton Mooney, Ph.D.

Sunday, September 14, 2003
Mass at 3:00 pm—Reception following Principal Celebrant
The Most Rev. Wm. Francis Malooly Archdiocese of Baltimore

PUBLIC INVITED
 

Happenings

• On March 17 the shrine staff celebrated on a pilgrimage to The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (in Colonial times called Conewago Chapel) in Conewago, PA. After a festive luncheon provided by docent Mrs. Barbara McCleary the pilgrimage continued on to the Church of the Annunication of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hanover, PA.
   
• On April 28, six Seton Shrine docents visited the shrines of St. Katherine Drexel and St. Paul Neumann in Philadelphia. This proved to be a good experience for the docents to see how other shrines and docents operate.
   
• On June 3, five African Sisters, Servants of the Child Jesus visited the Shrine. Three of these Sisters work in St. Leo’s Parish, Inwood, WV. They were accompanied by two Sisters from their Motherhouse in Zimbabwe, Africa.
   
• June 4, the Annual Docent Recognition Party was held at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, Frederick, MD. Sister
  Mary Clare Hughes, D.C. presented Master Docent pins to the three newly recognized docents from the Seton Shrine: Mrs. Sally S. Grandstaff, Sister Patricia Coughlin and Mrs. Barbara Sanders. Several other docents from the shrine staff enjoyed the celebration.
   
• In addition to many drop-ins, the spring months were very busy with busses bringing school groups, church groups, senior citizens, home schoolers, and RCIA groups to visit from MD, VA, DC, PA, WV, DE, OH, NY, NJ, NC, and as far away as AL, KS, MO, TX and WI.
   
• Through the kindness of Sister Judy Metz we have available in the Shrine Gift Shop the Symposium Papers, Elizabeth Seton--her life, her spirituality, her impact. The symposium was held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Sisters of Charity’s Foundation in Cincinnati.

Letters

. . . I want to offer, on behalf of Father and my group, our sincere gratitude to our tour guide. I believe his name is Paul Clarke. He was excellent! We found him knowledgeable, clear and concise in his presentations. He showed great kindness as he led us through the sacred place. I thought you would appreciate hearing that this aspect of ministry at your Shrine is alive and well and to be highly commended!

Please find enclosed a small offering from our group to support your work. May it reflect our gratitude for your hospitality. We admired and enjoyed the beauty of your Shrine and walked away with a greater understanding of the wonderful contribution brought by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in the building of the Church.
VA

I think you have done a wonderful job with this website. You have created something that many people around the world will be glad to read and learn about. I am very glad that you have created this site about Elizabeth Seton because she very much deserves it.
A Fan

I recently visited the shrine with a group from Northern Virginia. The film was very interesting. I liked the way the museum exhibits were arranged. I felt touched to see St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s wedding ring.

I am looking forward to my next visit. Thank you all for having such a beautiful shrine. The grounds were lovely. It was so peaceful there.
VA

. . . Our niece will be visiting the shrine with us this summer. You may recall that last winter she suffered severe head injuries in a snow-boarding accident, and I asked prayers for her and her family. It seems appropriate the she now will be able to visit the site of such fervent intercession on her behalf. As of now, she had had the last of her surgeries and the doctor has told her she can do anything she feels like doing. For her, that likely will be a lot. Her prognosis is good. She plans to resume college and is eager to resume driving—among other things. After brain injury and surgery, that is indeed remarkable. Again my special thanks to you and all of the sisters who prayed so effectively for our niece.
PA