The American Parochial School System

The American Parochial School System

            Many people believe that public and catholic schools came about, because that is just the way, but the truth is that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, set the wheels in motion to set up Parochial schools. 

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            Saint Elizabeth, was born in 1774 in New York City, and is the first American Saint, born as Elizabeth Ann Barley. She was raised as a child of the Episcopalian faith, by her parents, her faith is what gave her strength and desire to teach, share and help so many during her lifetime.

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During the beginning years of the Revolutionary War Elizabeth along with her sister-in-law would go out helping the widows and poor families in New York. Elizabeth was married to William M. Seton, who was the heir to a huge family fortune; therefore this gave Elizabeth the freedom and the means to help others. Her sister-in-law, Rebecca and Elizabeth were called the “Protestant Sisters of Charity”, for all their hard work and dedication to helping those less fortunate than themselves. 

            It was after her husband death that she became a Catholic, while still in New York in 1803 her husband William was diagnosed with tuberculosis that they decided to go to Italy where he could rest and recover from his illness; but that was not the case, in Pisa Italy, her husband passed away. Taken in by friends of her husband’s is where Elizabeth was introduced to Catholicism and decided to practice this faith. When she arrived some years later to New York, she joined a Catholic Church. Elizabeth was very excited about her new adventure, even in the mist of losing her husband and other awful events in history she was able to find the good in it all. She firmly believed that “every time one door is closed and new one is opened”, and for her this was the case.

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            Through her love of Christ, and faith she was able to set out to Maryland with her children, where she opened a school for young girls. It was a community-based school that ran according to the rules of “The Sisters of Charity of the St. Vincent de Paul of France”. This led to the formation of the Sisters of Charity, which became the first all female congregation in the Catholic Church. As mother superior Elizabeth worked hard at building up the school, which soon became known as, St. Joseph’s Academy, for the poverty-stricken children in Emmetsburg, Maryland. She lived her life as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, continuing to teach and share her faith with other. The Charity and the Sister work hard along Elizabeth, to establish schools and orphanages for young children with one location in New York. It is because of her love of Christ and her deep roots of family and helping that Elizabeth was able to bring education to the poor, and in this way she set up the path that would one day lead to our American Parochial School System as we know of it today.

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            It is her love of Christ, for other humans, especially the poor and hungry children that drove Elizabeth to be and do all she could for other, in a prayer to her she is said to have the grace of not only a wife and mother, but of that of an educator and foundress.