St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

On September 14, 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized, becoming the first American born person so honoured. An Episcopalian at birth in 1774, she converted to Catholicism while mourning her husband's death in Italy. Known as the mother of the U.S. parochial school system, she devoted much of her ministry to education until her death in 1821. For further details, please refer to a detailed entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia. As well, you should visit the St. Elizabeth Seton Shrine website.

The New Parish

With only one Catholic parish serving a rapidly expanding population in the Newmarket area, the need for a sister parish to St. John Chrysostom was clear. Thus it was that St. Elizabeth Seton Parish came into being in the fall of 1986 with the appointment of Father Matthew Robbertz as Pastor. Father Steve Coates joined the parish as Associate Pastor while Larry Rogers served as Deacon. For the first few years, Masses were held at Sacred Heart Catholic High School and at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. The picture above shows the installation of Fr. Matt (right) by Bishop Clune, assisted by Father Yake and Deacon Larry.

A Parish Steering Committee was formed in October, 1986 and from this initial group, a Building Committee was established in February, 1987. Eventually, the Steering Committee evolved into a Parish Council with formal elections taking place in the spring of 1988.

During the first part of 1987, the Building Committee concerned itself with examining various site options, eventually settling on the current Leslie Street location. A number of demographic studies were developed in order to convince the Chancery office of the need for a complete Parish Complex comprised of church, assembly hall and rectory. At the same time, various fund raising activities in support of the building project were lauched by other newly established groups.

The newly opened St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School became our second temporary home in November, 1988, with Father Rick McKnight assisting Fr. Matt with weekend Masses.

The planning momentum picked up again in 1989 when the Chancery office accepted the generous offer one of our parishioners, John Bloye, to donate his services as Architect for the project. Thus began the task of developing conceptual plans for the church complex.

By the summer of 1990, the Chancery office agreed that the project could proceed provided that the parish raise $750,000 and that the total project cost not exceed $2.2 million. On July 30, 1990, Bishop Wall approved the project, with Ryan Construction Co. as the general contractor. This photograph, taken September 16, 1990, shows Michael Carl, 8, of Newmarket digging deep with a little help from Father Rick McKnight at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Newmarket. Overlooking the ceremony is Fr. Matthew Robbertz (right), St. John's pastor Father Steve Coates and Deacon Larry Rogers.