February 22, 2010 was a very special day for the students and staff of Mother Seton School, Emmitsburg.  It was exactly 200 years to the day that Elizabeth Ann Seton started St. Joseph’s Free School and Academy in Emmitsburg with only three pupils. The faculty consisted of Mother Seton and the first Sisters of Charity.  This Seton Legacy of Catholic Education stretched across Frederick County, Maryland, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and eventually the United States.

As a prelude to the Eucharistic celebration, Kate Marshall, Mother Seton School Board Chairperson, stood before a framed Proclamation from the State of Maryland and read its contents to all present.  “Now therefore, I Martin O’Malley, Governor of Maryland, do hereby proclaim February 22, 2010 as a special day of tribute to the Bicentennial of the Seton Legacy of Catholic Education in Maryland and do commend this celebration to all of our citizens” stated the Proclamation.

Ribbons waved, banners were raised, and children sang as the celebration began.  Leading the Eucharistic Celebration was Bishop Mitchell Rozanski as the main celebrant with Rev. Michael Kennedy, C.M. and Rev. Vincent O’Malley, C.M. concelebrating.  

Photo left: Mother Seton School Ribbon dancers process out of the Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton with Bishop Rozanski and Rev. Michael Kennedy, C.M., Chaplain for the Basilica, following.

The Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was filled to capacity by students and staff of Mother Seton School, eight Catholic Schools from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Diocese of Harrisburg, Daughters of Charity, parents, and friends of Mother Seton School.

“Elizabeth Ann Seton was able to affect so many lives because she had such a trust in God” said Bishop Rozanski as he spoke during his homily.  “She affected thousands of people she never met and her role in education is known throughout the land” he said.  “How wonderful to be here in this time and place to celebrate all the good accomplished for over 200 years thanks to Elizabeth Ann Seton, our mother, our patron, and our saint!” said Sister JoAnne Goecke, Principal of Mother Seton School.

As part of the celebration, students from the various schools who attended the Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School Leadership Day were recognized. Sponsored by the Daughters of Charity, the groups initially met in April of 2009 and learned how Mother Seton lived the social justice principles in her own life. Groups then went back into their own schools and put their knowledge to work, designing a project to involve their entire school. After the Bicentennial Mass on February 22, the students who attended met at Mother Seton School for lunch and to present their projects to one another.