National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton opens museum honoring life of American saint

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori blessed and dedicated a new $4 million museum and visitor center at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg during a special Sept. 22 celebration recognizing the life and legacy of the first native-born American to be canonized.

The museum, years in the making, uses rarely seen artifacts and state-of-the-art, interactive experiences to tell the story of Elizabeth Ann Seton, a widowed socialite and mother. After being received into the Catholic Church in Revolutionary-era America, she opened one of the first free Catholic schools for girls in the United States and established the first order of women religious in the country – the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s – on the very grounds where her shrine and the new museum now rest.

What was formerly the provincial entrance near the shrine’s basilica has been transformed into a visitor center, connecting visitors to the gift shop and museum galleries. Inside, the galleries paint an intimate portrait of Mother Seton through dozens of artifacts, visual storytelling displays and digital interactive exhibits.

“The museum, with its precious artifacts and interactive displays, invites us to grow in our appreciation of the spiritual journey which she underwent, to strive for the sanctity she attained, and to embrace the legacy of loving service which she bequeathed to the church, especially the church in the still-young United States of America,” Archbishop Lori said in his homily.

Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of former president Lyndon Baines Johnson and a Catholic convert like Mother Seton, is the chairwoman of the Shrine’s National Leaders Council that raised the funds for the museum. 

“You have to dream big,” she said, “otherwise, how are you going to make a dream come true?”

The museum is comprised of three core galleries, according to a news release from the shrine:

·       The Seeker exhibit delves into Mother Seton’s troubled childhood, fairytale marriage, bankruptcy, widowhood and conversion to Catholicism.

·       The Servant exhibit explores how Mother Seton founded a new community of consecrated religious and pioneered a way for women in America to serve God.

·       The Saint exhibit provides insights into the dedicated efforts of thousands of Americans across four generations for Mother Seton to be declared a saint.

Artifacts include Mother Seton’s iconic bonnet, her dancing slippers, wedding portrait miniatures of her and her husband and her daughter’s christening dress. Her rosary and her copies of “The Following of Christ,” better known as “The Imitation of Christ,” and “An Introduction to the Devout Life,” are also included, along with other items that humanize this saint who lived and ultimately died on the grounds where the museum is located.

 Many of the items were donated by the congregations of religious sisters that resulted from the founding of Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s in 1809, shortly after St. Elizabeth Ann moved to Emmitsburg with her children. Mother Seton died in 1821 from tuberculosis at age 47. 

“The grand opening of our new museum and visitor center is a historic occasion for the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and all who find inspiration in her remarkable journey,” said Rob Judge, executive director of the Shrine, in a news release. “This museum not only enriches the Seton Shrine but also ensures that Mother Seton’s enduring legacy continues to touch the hearts and souls of the thousands who pilgrimage to our sacred grounds. It is a testament to our commitment to preserving her story for generations to come and our desire to foster a connection that transcends time.”

During a luncheon preceding the blessing, shrine leaders presented the Setonian Award to The Tersigni Family Foundation whose leadership challenge grant helped launch the $10 million capital campaign that funded the construction of the museum, along with other projects at the shrine. Ascension, of the nation’s largest Catholic nonprofit healthcare systems, was the capital campaign’s lead donor.

“This new museum honors one of the seminal figures in the history of the Catholic Church in America, now and for generations to come,” said Sister of Charity Donna Geernaert, board chairwoman of the Seton Shrine. “The story of her struggles and joys is just as relevant for people today as it was 200 years ago. She’s a great role model for all women.” 

In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum also debuted two special exhibits that will be on display for a limited time. The first is “Fancywork: Early American Needlework from St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School,” an exhibit with more than 20 pieces of needlework dating from the early 1800s to the 1870s and the stories of the students behind the works.

The second is “Getting in the Habit: Iconic Clothing of the Daughters of Charity,” which displays dozens of historic artifacts that explore the ranging apparel of The Daughters of Charity throughout the years, Exhibited by the Daughter of Charity Province of St. Louise, Provincial Archives.

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