About Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton · Fort Wayne, Indiana
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a large Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, serving the southwest side of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the growing Aboite Township area. Established in 1988 as the Catholic population of southwest Allen County expanded, the parish first worshipped at Haverhill Elementary School before moving into its own church in 1990. Today it is one of the largest parishes in the diocese with roughly 2,240 households, its own preschool-through-eighth-grade school, an active livestream ministry, daily and Sunday Mass, and a wide network of faith-formation, youth, and outreach programs.
- Established
- 1988
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Rev. Terrence M. (Terry) Coonan Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton offers the full life of a large Catholic parish while keeping a strong family feel. Sunday Mass is offered four times a day, weekday Mass twice a day most days, and one of those Masses is livestreamed, so homebound and traveling parishioners can stay connected. The parish supports every stage of Catholic life: OCIA (RCIA) for adults coming into the Church, robust youth ministry (Fraternus, Fidelis, Little Flowers), a Christ Renews His Parish retreat program that Deacon Jim Kitchens credits with sustaining the parish's warm community, a 600-student preschool-through-8th-grade Catholic school, daily Eucharistic adoration including a 24-hour tabernacle chapel, and outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, Project HOPE, a pro-life committee, and a bereavement ministry.
Mass times at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- After most weekday Masses
- Tuesday evenings during 'The Light is on for You' (6:00 PM)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- 24-Hour Chapel near the Homestead Road entrance (tabernacle prayer available any time)
- Tuesday 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Children's adoration hour Tuesdays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
- Wednesday 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Additional unscheduled hours of Eucharistic Exposition during the week (sign up via Flocknote)
History of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
The parish was born out of mission Masses celebrated by priests from nearby St. Joseph Church at Haverhill Elementary School on Fort Wayne's southwest side in the early 1980s. Bishop John M. D'Arcy formally announced the new parish on January 1, 1988 and appointed Father Robert C. Schulte as founding pastor. The parish broke ground in August 1989 and celebrated its first Mass in the new church on September 8, 1990, with a small daily Mass chapel, a Eucharistic adoration chapel, and a parish hall.
- 1984 – Mission Masses begin at Haverhill Elementary School through St. Joseph Parish
- January 1, 1988 – Bishop D'Arcy announces the new parish; Father Robert Schulte named founding pastor
- August 6, 1989 – Groundbreaking at Aboite Center and Homestead Roads
- September 8, 1990 – First Mass in the new church building
- 1998 – 10-room catechetical center added; joint school with St. Joseph Parish opens
- 2006 – Additional classrooms, gymnasium, stage, and cafeteria built
- 2014 – School split into independent schools; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School becomes stand-alone pre-K–8
- 2023 – Church renovation improves lighting, sound, and visual presentation under 4th pastor
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Father Terry M. Coonan Jr., the parish's fourth pastor, who joined St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in June 2021 from St. Therese Little Flower in South Bend. He is assisted by two parochial vicars, two permanent deacons, a pastoral associate, directors of music, discipleship, evangelization, and youth formation, and a full parish office and maintenance team.
- Father Terry Coonan – Pastor (ext. 108, [email protected])
- Father Jake Schneider – Associate Pastor (ext. 109, [email protected])
- Father LeeAllen Fortin – Associate Pastor (ext. 103, [email protected])
- Deacon Rob Slocum (ext. 106, [email protected])
- Deacon Steve Reed (ext. 114, [email protected])
- Raeann Mullen – Pastoral Associate (ext. 104)
- Ben Wedler – Director of Music and Liturgy (ext. 105)
- Kim Conte – Director of Discipleship Formation / Youth Formation (ext. 111)
- JeriSue Petrie – Director of Evangelization (ext. 107)
- Travis Fudge – Facilities Manager (ext. 110)
- Bryan Smith / Jennifer Engquist – Business Manager (ext. 112)
- Sue Ogg – Bulletin Editor / Parish Office (ext. 101)
- Bonnie Ratti – Social Media / Parish Office (ext. 100)
Faith Formation and OCIA
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton runs a broad faith-formation program for every age, led by the Director of Discipleship Formation and the Director of Youth Formation. Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church participate in OCIA (the new name for RCIA). The parish is also known for its Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat and formation process, which Deacon Jim Kitchens credits with creating the parish's family atmosphere.
- OCIA / RCIA for adults
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) for K-8 faith formation
- Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) weekend retreat and follow-up
- Bible and continuing-faith-education classes for adults
- Mary, Martha, Lazarus Prayer Group
- Healing Prayer Ministry
Youth Ministry and Youth Programs
A dedicated Director of Youth Formation oversees programs for middle-school and high-school students, alongside the parish school's Catholic identity programs. Mentorship groups for boys (Fraternus) and girls (Fidelis), as well as Little Flowers Girls' Club, give younger children age-appropriate ways to grow in virtue and friendship.
- Fraternus (boys' mentoring)
- Fidelis (girls' formation)
- Little Flowers Girls' Club
- Middle school and high school youth group
- Rachel's Challenge and Rachel's Club (school)
- National Junior Honor Society (school)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School serves about 600 students from preschool through eighth grade on its campus at 10650 Aboite Center Road. The school became an independent parish school in 2014 after years of operating jointly with St. Joseph Parish. It offers two state-of-the-art computer labs, a media center capable of livestreaming, Spanish from kindergarten through eighth grade, an arts program (including show choir, band, and guitar club), and CYO athletics.
- Principal: Lois Widner; Assistant Principal: Chris Schuhler; Dean of Students: Stan Liponoga
- Approximately 600 students, preschool through 8th grade
- Weekly school Mass, daily religion classes, 8th-grade Journey of Faith retreat
- Rachel's Challenge character program and Rachel's Club outreach
- Starbase Indiana (DoD-sponsored STEM program) for grades 5–8
- Spanish program K-8, National Junior Honor Society, student council
- CYO sports: football, volleyball, basketball, cross country, track
- School phone: (260) 432-4001
Outreach and Charitable Ministries
The parish supports the local community through a mature network of outreach ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul chapter maintains a food pantry serving three to four families per week and 'twins' with other Fort Wayne parish chapters to widen its reach. Project HOPE offers confidential assistance to parishioners in need. Bereavement support comes through the five-week Grieving with Great Hope workshop, and the pro-life committee keeps the parish engaged in life issues.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society – food pantry and parish-boundaries outreach
- Project HOPE – confidential family assistance
- Bereavement / Grieving with Great Hope
- Pro-Life Committee
- Knights of Columbus council
- Mary Our Mother (MOMs) group
- Dads group
Livestream, Bulletins, and Parish Communications
Parishioners can stay connected through a robust digital presence. The Sunday 9:45 AM Mass and weekday 8:15 AM Mass are livestreamed on the website, Facebook, and YouTube; recordings remain available for later viewing. Weekly bulletins are posted online, and the parish uses Flocknote for text-message alerts including weather closures and unscheduled adoration hours.
- Livestreamed Masses on seasfw.org, Facebook (/SEASFW), and YouTube
- Online weekly bulletin at seasfw.org/bulletins
- Flocknote text alerts for weather and adoration
- YouTube archive of previous Masses and homilies
Visiting, Registration, and Becoming Catholic
The parish's About page extends a specific welcome to four groups of visitors: those who are just visiting, those looking for a new parish home, returning Catholics, and those interested in becoming Catholic. Online forms let visitors register as parishioners, indicate they are returning Catholics, or request information about OCIA.
- New parishioner registration (online form)
- Returning Catholic – connection form
- OCIA inquiry – learn about the Catholic faith
- Mass will always be held as scheduled; campus closures are communicated via Flocknote
- Office hours posted on the staff page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Robert C. Schulte1988–2000
Founding pastor; oversaw land acquisition, groundbreaking (1989) and opening of the first church (1990).
- Father James Shafer2000–2016
Arrived in 2000; led the parish through multiple expansion projects including the educational wing addition.
- Father Dave VoorsJune 2016–June 2021
Third pastor; arrived from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
- Father Terry CoonanJune 2021–present
Fourth pastor; came to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton from St. Therese Little Flower Parish in South Bend.