Vol. 12, No. 1

Emmitsburg, Maryland

Winter 2003

Thinking About Mother Seton      

I am sister Theresa Phuong Nguyen.  I came from Viet Nam one and a half years ago.  I am a student at St. John’s University of New York.  I did not know Mother Seton until I came here but I am very interested in getting to know more about her.      

Last year I visited Mother Seton’s Church at New York City, I didn’t understand much.  What I did understand was that she was born in New York, converted to Catholicism, and founded the Sisters of Charity in the United States.  However, this year I understand much more as I visited Emmitsburg, MD.  A tour-guide sister showed me everything and every place where Mother Seton used to live and do her work such as the Stone House, the White House, and the farmhouse at Mount Saint Mary’s.  I can see, listen, and touch the original and real things and feel her spirit.  I especially admire her work that she did for the poor, the sick, the needy, and children.  She sacrificed her time, money, and energy to help others to get an education.      

I am very happy to also visit the current Mother Seton School and I appreciate that her work continues.  From the beginning, Mother Seton educated her three daughters and others from the neighborhood, the first group to get education in very poor conditions.  The weather and transportation were  very inconvenient.  However, Mother Seton did a good job and was successful.  Many people get to know about her and she founded the community, which grew.      

All of this made me remember years ago when I was a teacher and my mission was in the countryside in Viet Nam.  This area was also very poor.  Children never went to school because their families had nothing and children had to help their parents work for food.  Later, when conditions improved a little, the children still wanted to stay home and didn’t want to learn to read and write.  It was very hard to help them get an education.  I had to invite, encourage, and ask them to come to my class for free but only a few came.  This work was not easy.

As I read Mother Seton’s story, I feel that Mother Seton must be very special, very patient, and very generous.  She must have sacrificed her time and used her love to motivate her students.  She was energetic and creative.  Her school at Emmitsburg is still developing and has more than 400 students from kindergarten to eighth grade.

Mother Seton loved children very much as Jesus did in the Gospel:  “Let the children come to me.  The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  The last message Mother Seton left for the sisters of the congregation she founded was: “Be children of the Church,” encouraging them to be simple and humble before God.

I love St. Elizabeth Seton and her story.  I learned from her “nothing is impossible with God.”  Although in very poor conditions and circumstances, with patience, faith, love, and prayers, all things became possible for Mother Seton. 

It is always a blessing and privilege for me to make my retreat in such a holy and beautiful place like Emmitsburg.  Thank you so much for sharing with us your precious and blessed inheritance.      

For me, Mother Seton’s shrine not only reminds us all about the difficult journey of an American saint but also a great witness for the love and mighty arms of God.      

All the relics of Mother Seton, her early work, houses, and present community are there, telling us that God is always with us and inviting us to put all our trust in Him.  As pilgrims, we are called to walk the way of God’s people with our trust in a loving and caring God and to share with others what we have received from Him.  This is what Mother Seton did in all her life.      

Moreover, as a Sister of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, I did find some things very close to the call of our community.  We are also called to serve the poor, especially to help and educate the children and women.  It seems that in God’s heart, women and children always have a special place.  God loves them with a special love.  What a privilege for us to be women!      

May Mother Seton’s shrine continue to be a blessing stop for all those who are pilgrims on the journey of God’s house.  May many souls who come here to look for God be touched by the great example of the holiness of Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton and her followers.  And may God continue to bless you all, the Daughters of Charity, and your work for the poor of God.

Sister Theresa Phuong Nguyen
The Lovers of the Holy Cross of Go Vap
TPHCM-VIET NAM

Happenings at the Shrine ...
  • Sr. Irene Fugazy led a pilgrimage group of Sisters of Charity of Mount St. Vincent's on the Hudson who visited sites associated with St. Elizabeth Ann in Baltimore, MD. The pilgrims also came to Emmitsburg to spend time in the Valley.
     
  • Former Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn stopped in after receiving the DuBois Medal at Mount Saint Mary's College Alumni Reunion. He also visited the grave of his aunt, Sister Martha Waring, who is buried at St. Joseph's Provincial House.
  • Sister Celine, Visitatrix of Daughters of Charity in Australia, visited St. Elizabeth Ann's shrine sites here in Emmitsburg.
     
  • During the last weeks of summer, docents at the shrine noticed an increased number of international visitors to Emmitsburg. Pilgrims traveled from the Philippine Islands, Korea, Indonesia, Mexico and Central America. Among our visitors were bishops from Africa and Australia.
     
  • The Museum by Candlelight tour on December 14 gave children from Frederick County opportunity to add a stitch or two to a Christmas sampler like those done by pupils in 1812. Luminaries lighted the way for guests to visit the sites at the shrine.
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