St. Elizabeth Seton at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, is revered for her extraordinary legacy of faith, charity, and education. Born on August 28, 1774, she converted to Catholicism in 1805 and went on to found the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, the first religious community for women in the United States. As a pioneer in Catholic education, she established the nation's first Catholic girls' school and free school for the poor, laying the foundation for the modern parochial school system. Today, she is honored as the patron saint of Catholic schools, educators, widows, orphans, and the State of Maryland. Each year on January 4, her feast day, devotees celebrate her enduring spirit of prayer, charity, and education. In the Rocky Hill area, a shrine and devotional site at 280 Brook St., Rocky Hill, NJ, offers a sacred space for pilgrims to pray before her relics, reflect on her heroic virtue, and seek her intercession. Through her remarkable life and legacy, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton continues to inspire generations of Catholics, educators, and individuals seeking to make a positive impact on their communities.