St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Community, Ontario, was established in 1980. Fr. Lourenco Avila, founding pastor, celebrated Mass with 26 parishioners in the living room of a newly purchased home that became the church rectory. Two years later a new multipurpose building was completed and the temporary church, dedicated.

In January 1991, a permanent church, seating more than 800, was dedicated. Through the tremendous generosity and hard work of Msgr. Avila and many committed parishioners, the parish complex had grown from a small rectory to a facility with a beautiful church and a large multipurpose room surrounded by classrooms, a pastoral office and a large rectory.

On July 1, 1998, Fr. Charles F. Schultz was appointed pastor of the community now grown to more than 1800 families. In response to the Diocesan Vision, the parish was divided into six Small Neighborhood Communities (SNC). The mission of SNC is to “SOW the Seeds of Christ.” This is accomplished by offering a continual schedule of Spiritual, Outreach and Welfare activities in each SNC.

Today St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Community is a beautiful array of ethnic cultures, including Hispanic, Filipino, Portuguese and Nigerian communities. Throughout the year each community celebrates its individual cultural events, but all are joined as one during multicultural Masses and activities. The entire community has grown to enjoy the diversity, delighting to learn what each group has to offer spiritually and culturally. God has truly blessed the parish, and the Holy Sprit continues to work miracles through each member of the community.