Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York City in 1774 to a wealthy Episcopalian doctor. She spent a lot of her childhood alone and took comfort in reading the Bible. At 19 she married a businessman named William Seton, but after his business failed and he died, she was left a poor widow with five children. To support her family, she opened a girl’s school in Boston. She was taught about the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist by a business contact of her late husband, and after feeling an intense desire to receive the Eucharist, she converted. She then moved to Maryland where she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, and opened a free Catholic school for girls.
CHALLENGE
The school that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton started became the model and foundation for the Catholic school system in the United States. Today, help spread the news about Catholic schools. Contact your parish or diocese and ask about how you can help with Catholic Schools Week which is celebrated at the end of January.
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