Children of the Church in St. Charles
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish sits at 2 Seton Court on the southwest side of St. Charles, Missouri, a city that grew rapidly as families poured westward out of the St. Louis metropolitan area in the late twentieth century. The parish carries the motto "Children of the Church," a phrase drawn from the dying words of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton herself, the first native-born American to be canonized. Today the parish family of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis proclaims and lives the Good News of Jesus Christ through worship, the sacraments, education, formation, outreach, service, and the responsible stewardship of its gifts, all in the spirit of its patron saint. Rev. Thomas Vordtriede serves as pastor with Rev. Stephen Schumacher as associate pastor, and they are assisted by Deacons Phil King, Walter LaBozzetta, and Noli Rivera.
A Parish Born of a Demographic Shift
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonically erected on May 29, 1975, by John Cardinal Carberry, then Archbishop of St. Louis, with Father John Hickel as founding pastor. The decision came in response to a dramatic demographic movement into St. Charles County during the late 1960s. On the very day the new pastor and his people gathered on a field where the parish plant would rise, September 14, 1975, Pope Paul VI canonized Mother Seton in Rome. The parish celebrated with an outdoor Mass, a formal groundbreaking, and a picnic lunch.
The first worship services were held in St. Andrew's Cinema while construction moved ahead. Plans were quickly approved for a temporary church that would later become a gymnasium, together with a school building. The parish chose to partner with neighboring St. Robert Bellarmine, founded in 1963, to open St. Elizabeth/St. Robert Regional Catholic School. Construction finished in the summer of 1976, and classes began that September; registration outstripped capacity almost immediately. The first rectory, a subdivision house on Sunny Days Court, eventually became a convent for two Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters Catherine Ingolia, CSJ (1922 to 1990) and Patricia Flavin, CSJ (1932 to 2018). The current rectory was built on parish grounds in 1981.
During Father Hickel's tenure the parish grew quickly. Many organizations were founded that made St. Elizabeth a vibrant parish family, including the parish Apostolic Works Ministry, formed in response to financial need among parishioners and non-parishioners alike. That ministry grew into a means of providing emergency assistance with mortgages, rent, food, utilities, and medical expenses.
By 1989 the parish had outgrown its worship space and a larger, permanent church was built. Archbishop John May dedicated the new building in 1991. The original design included a chapel for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament open around the clock and a spacious hall for parish gatherings. In 2010 a major renovation added an enhanced vestibule, a bell tower, and an elevator, transforming the worship space. Archbishop Robert Carlson rededicated the renewed church in 2011. In September 2017 the regional school expanded to include students from St. Peter's Parish and was renamed Seton Regional Catholic School.
Mass Times, Reconciliation, and Devotional Life
The parish offers a robust daily Mass schedule. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday through Friday at 6:15 am and 8:15 am, with an additional Mass on Saturday morning at 8:15 am. On Holy Days, Mass is offered at 6:15 am, 8:15 am, 12 noon, and 7:00 pm. Civil Holidays see a single Mass at 9:00 am in place of the usual weekday schedule. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening at 5:00 pm and Sunday morning at 6:30, 8:00, 9:45, and 11:30 am.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered nearly every day. On weekdays priests hear confessions from 6:45 to 7:15 am and again from 7:45 to 8:10 am. Saturday brings two opportunities, from 7:45 to 8:10 am and again at 4:00 pm. On Sunday the sacrament is celebrated at 7:30, 9:15, and 11:00 am. Confession can also be scheduled by appointment through the rectory. A Communion Service is offered occasionally in place of Mass.
A pair of devotional practices shape the rhythm of the week. Mother of Perpetual Help Devotion is held on Tuesday mornings after the 8:15 am Mass. The Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament runs from Tuesday at 9:00 am through Thursday at 9:00 pm, with brief repose from 6:00 am to 9:00 am each day for the celebration of daily Mass. Outside the exposition hours, the adoration chapel remains accessible around the clock through a security keypad available to registered adorers.
The Sacraments at the Heart of Parish Life
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton describes itself as a flourishing family strengthened by sacramental celebration. Baptisms are celebrated on the third Sunday of each month at 12:45 pm, following the 11:30 am Sunday Mass. Parents attend a preparation session on the first Saturday of each month at 9:30 am in the rectory basement. Godparents must be at least sixteen, baptized, confirmed, practicing Catholics, and ideally provide a lifelong example of Christian living. The parish strongly encourages expectant parents to attend before the birth of their child.
Children in second grade and above are invited to celebrate First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through the regional school or the Parish School of Religion program. Confirmation is offered in eighth grade and above, also through these two programs. Adults baptized Catholic who missed Confirmation can prepare to receive the sacrament at the Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday, or through the OCIA process.
The Anointing of the Sick is appropriate for physical, mental, or spiritual sickness, including before scheduled surgery. The parish encourages families to call the rectory when a loved one is hospitalized, since hospitals do not automatically share admissions. Holy Matrimony preparation begins with conversations with the priests, who walk couples through the planning process. Funerals can be arranged through the parish office, with one-hour visitations possible in the Gathering Space before the funeral Mass; the parish accommodates funerals at either St. Elizabeth Ann Seton or its partner parish, St. Robert Bellarmine.
IMPACT: Youth Ministry for High School Teens
IMPACT, the parish's youth ministry, exists to encourage young people to love Jesus and embrace the life of the Church. The program is led by Youth Minister Danielle Farley. The ministry gathers high school teens throughout the week. On Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 pm, teens meet in the SEAS Parish Hall for Youth Nights. Wednesdays bring Disciples Nights at 7 pm in the Youth Ministry Office, where teens dive into the readings for the coming Sunday. The ROCK, held on the first Sunday of each month from 7 to 9 pm in the Parish Hall, is required for students preparing for Confirmation at St. Elizabeth; the goal is for teens to encounter a lived faith witness outside the classroom and to make a personal choice to follow Jesus. Eighth-grade candidates attend a Luke 18 Retreat on the parish grounds as part of their preparation.
In the summer the parish offers two high school experiences. Damascus Summer Camp is a week-long, high-adventure camp that pairs outdoor activity with formation in the faith. Seedbearers is a week-long service mission trip, sending teens to witness Christ to those in need, and includes a mandatory prep day beforehand. The youth ministry publishes its schedule on Instagram at @impact.youth.seton.
Music and the Liturgical Team
Four music groups provide liturgical music at the weekend Masses, offering a blend of traditional and contemporary styles accompanied by a variety of instruments. Cantors assist the assembly in song, with auditions required for those wishing to serve. The Resurrection Choir sings for funerals, and the Liturgy Committee meets to plan the liturgical seasons and major feasts in coordination with priests, music ministers, and lectors.
Jeff Wisniewski serves as Director of Sacred Music. Liturgical ministries across the parish include Altar Servers, open to boys and girls in fifth grade and older plus adult men and women who serve as Acolytes. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during one of the Sunday morning Masses for younger children through adult catechists. Eucharistic Ministers present the gifts at Mass. Greeters welcome newcomers and longtime members at the doors. Hospitality Ministers assist with seating and the collection. Lectors proclaim the Word of God. Sacristans prepare and clean up the sanctuary for each celebration of Holy Mass. Teams of three or four members of the Altar Society keep the worship space in good order.
Seton Regional Catholic School and the Parish School of Religion
Seton Regional Catholic School is the parish's K-8 elementary school, formed in partnership with St. Robert Bellarmine and now also drawing students from St. Peter's Parish. The school opened in 1976 in the parish's southwest St. Charles location and has continued to grow. The Home and School Association supports parents and teachers in understanding and appreciating the Catholic education offered at the regional school, meeting at least four times a year and welcoming all parents and guardians of students.
For children attending public or other non-parish schools, the Seton Regional Parish School of Religion (PSR) offers religious education coordinated by Nancy Burian. The PSR provides faith formation for students whose school does not include Catholic instruction, preparing them to receive the sacraments at the appropriate grade levels. Adult Education is offered through a committee that sponsors faith-formation and Bible study opportunities throughout the liturgical year. Vacation Bible School offers a week-long summer program for children age three through incoming sixth grade, with lessons, crafts, songs, and activities in the school building during morning hours.
Becoming Catholic through OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, known until recently as RCIA, welcomes adults who have never been baptized, those baptized in another Christian tradition who are discerning Catholicism, and Catholics who have not yet received the other sacraments of initiation. Sessions begin in early September and run through the Easter season. After an inquiry period of six to eight weeks, participants decide whether to continue. The group meets Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Additional commitments include attending Mass each weekend and joining a Day of Recollection a few weeks before Easter. The journey culminates with a visit to the Cathedral for a special rite with the Archbishop.
Children in grade school whose families are entering the Church are placed in the appropriate Catholic education program, the parish day school, or the PSR. High-school-age children are welcomed into OCIA itself, with the team making sure each young person is choosing the path for themselves.
Outreach: BAG-IT, St. Vincent de Paul, and Criminal Justice Ministry
The parish lives out its mission through a number of outreach ministries. BAG-IT is a monthly collection of food and other items distributed to local charities from the congregation. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, a newly formed conference at SEAS, provides care for neighbors in need, with opportunities including bringing the Eucharist to the homebound. Through the Criminal Justice Ministry of St. Louis, an independent nonprofit associated with the Archdiocese, parishioners clean and stage apartments for returning citizens in the Mission Welcome Home program and contribute home-baked cookies to the Annual Holiday Cookie Drive.
Parish Organizations and Fellowship
A wide array of organizations sustains the parish's social and spiritual life. The Knights of Columbus, Ladies Auxiliary, Ladies Council, Legion of Mary, Marriage Encounter, Men's Club, and Pro-Life Committee bring adults together around shared vocations and interests. The Quilters and Stitches For Life groups put hands and needles to work, with Stitches For Life supporting the parish's pro-life witness. The Good Timers Club gathers the parish's seniors for fellowship. The Welcome Committee hosts Donut Sundays from September through April and greets new members. The Athletic Association supports youth sports, and the Tweensters program engages middle-school children.
For spiritual growth outside of Mass, That Man Is You gathers more than fifty men of all ages on Saturday mornings for fellowship, breakfast, and an inspirational message. Seton Mom's Ministry brings mothers together on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria (excluding July and August). Women's Ministry gathers women throughout the year for faith-building sessions. SoulCore connects body and soul with a rosary-based stretching class, with a chair class on Wednesdays at 9 am and a mat class on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm, both in the Parish Hall.
Pastoral Care: Grief, Hospital Communion, and Anointing
Pastoral care reaches beyond the church walls. Hospital Communion Ministry trains parishioners to visit Catholics at Barnes St. Peters Hospital, which lies within the parish boundaries, and bring Holy Communion throughout the week. The parish offers the thirteen-week Grief Share program twice a year, free of charge, in the Memorare Room on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The program uses prayer, a video, and small group discussion to walk with those who have lost a loved one. When parishioners are homebound, the parish arranges for someone to bring Communion. The Anointing of the Sick can be administered before surgery or in any time of serious need.
Staff, Council, and Parish Life
The parish staff includes Laurie Schueddig as Business Manager, Jeff Hermann as Operations Director, Shaena Towers as Parish Secretary, and Jeanne Ritter as Child Safety Coordinator. The five-member Finance Council, which advises the pastor on the administration of parish finances and plant maintenance, includes Mike Donovan, Herb Ehrhard, Lisa Kampmeinert, Deacon Phil King, and Jon Panullo. The Parish Council brings together leaders of the parish's ministries to advise the pastor in implementing the parish mission and includes Teresa Bridges, Joe Doyle, John Gabler, Fred Kuhn, Matthew Lytle, Jan McArthur, and Sharon Sanders.
The parish supports online giving through OSV, publishes a weekly bulletin, and offers a smartphone app through My Parish App. Formed, an online platform for Catholic video, audio, and book content, is available to parishioners. Livestreams of parish liturgies are shared on YouTube. The parish calendar and bulletin carry the latest schedule of events, while the parish's Facebook page keeps the community connected throughout the week.