Seton Hall University - Galleon Yearbook (South Orange, NJ)

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(Continued from page 7) She died at the age of 46 in 1821, and was buried in Emmitsburg. Seton Hall University is only one of the many schools that bears her name. An official group repre- sented the University at the canonization. Included in the contingent were University President Msgr. Thomas Fahy; Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Edward Hammond; Rev. George White, adminstra- tive assistant; Student Government President Bill Mc- Donough; Galleon editor Paul Kelaher; Setonian editor Rosemary Lomazzo; Rev. James Cafone and Rev. Robert Grady, representing the religious com- munity; Prof. John Harrington, Chairman of the Fac- ulty Council; and Msgr. Noe Field, University librar- ian. During their stay in Rome, the official delegation was graciously received by Msgr. Harold D ' Arcy, formerly from the Archdiocese of Newark. Msgr. D ' Arcy is the rector of the North American College in Vatican City, a seminary. In the chapel of the college, a mass was concele- brated by Archbishop Peter Gerety, Bishop John Dougherty, both from the Newark diocese, and Msgr. Fahy. Following the mass, a reception was held for the SHU representatives at which they met Mr. Shanley, a relative of Mother Seton. Also present at the re- ception was Archbishop Jean Jadot from Belgium. Archbishop Jadot is Pope Paul ' s Apostolic Delegate to the United States. The official SHU members were able to attend the cononization through the generous donation of a private individual to the University to cover all expenses incurred. The canonization celebration in Vatican City lasted for five days. During the week, at the Catacombs of St. Callistus, a Tribute to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Mother Seton, Woman of the Year, was given by John Cardinal Wright, Prefect, the Sacred Congre- gation for the Clergy. Concelebrated masses were held throughout the remaining days at the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls by His Eminence, Lawrence Cardinal She- han; His Eminence, Terence Cardinal Cooke (Arch- bishop, New York); and Most Rev. Joseph L. Bernadin (Archbishop, Cincinnati). The Seton Hall members were fortunate to be among the estimated 120,000 pilgrims that gathered in St. Peter ' s Square on a special Sunday in Septem- ber. The Americans had reason to applaud proudly: they now had a saint of their own. ABOVE: Archbishop Peter L. Gerety, Bishop John J. Dougher- ty and Msgr. Thomas G. Fahy concelebrate mass at North American College in Rome. BELOW: Archbishop Jean Jadot, Archbishop Peter L. Gerety and Mrs. Edward Hammond con- verse at reception held at the North American College for the Seton Hall delegation.

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)t Canonisation of fflotfjcr is eton by Rosemary Lomazzo Photos by Paul Kelaher As the bells chimed throughout St. Peter ' s Square, Pope Paul VI proudly rejoiced: People, rejoice, we say to the great nation of the United States of Amer- ica. Rejoice for your glorious daughter. Be proud of her. And know how to preserve her faithful heritage. This most beautiful figure of a holy woman presents to the world and to history ... On Sunday morning, September 14, 1975, Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton became the first Amer- can-born saint, after officials of the Roman Catholic Church petitioned Pope Paul. Most Holy Father, Holy Mother Church asks that Your Holiness inscribe Blessed Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious and widow, in the calendar of the Saints, so that she might be invoked by all Christians. During a two-hour ceremony, Elizabeth Seton was canonized in all her glory and honor. Hymns, prayers and homilies were dedicated to her. Sr. Hildegarde Marie Mahoney, general superior of New Jersey ' s branch of the Sisters of Charity, delivered a welcoming address on behalf of North America as hundreds of sisters were present to wit- ness the honor bestowed upon their foundress. St. Elizabeth Seton, originally Protestant, was born in 1774, the daughter of Dr. Richard Bayley and Catherine Charlton Bayley. She lived in New York for most of her childhood. In 1794, she married Wil- liam Mazee Seton. The Setons had five children, Anne Marie (who eventually became the first pro- fessed member of the American Sisters of Charity), William, Richard, Catherine and Rebecca. William Seton developed tuberculosis and the family moved to Italy for a change of climate. In 1803, he died and was buried in a Protestant cem- etery in Italy. The Fillichi family assisted Elizabeth as did some of her friends in the United States. She was very im- pressed with their religious beliefs and the beautiful churches in Florence. It was this family that intro- duced Elizabeth to the Catholic doctrine. Elizabeth Seton formally became a Catholic in 1805 at St. Peter ' s Church on Barclay Street in New York. In March 1809, she took her first vows and received the title of Mother. Three months later, she assumed the religious habit at St. Mary ' s Semi- nary in Baltimore. During the same year, she established the first parochial school in America. After founding St. Joseph ' s and inhabiting the Stone House in Emmits- burg, Maryland, she began the first order of nuns in America, the Sisters of Charity. Today, the Sisters operate schools, hospitals, and charity centers in the metropolitan area and through- out the United States. (Continued on page 8)

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We declare and define that Blessed Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a Saint and we inscribe her name in the Calendar of Saints ...”