About Saint Elizabeth Seton. St. Joseph of the Holy Family Parish. · North Falmouth, Massachusetts
St. Elizabeth Seton Church is one of four worship sites of St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish in Falmouth, Massachusetts (Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River). Tucked along Quaker Road in North Falmouth and just a short walk from Old Silver Beach on Cape Cod, the church was founded in 1977 and named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born Catholic saint, canonized just two years earlier. In 2021 the parish was merged with St. Anthony (East Falmouth), St. Patrick (Downtown Falmouth), and St. Joseph (Woods Hole) — together with St. Thomas Chapel — into a single unified parish under the patronage of St. Joseph, while retaining each historic church and chapel.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Stephen J. Avila
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Seton offers a deeply rooted Catholic community on the upper Cape, with weekend Masses, weekday Masses Tuesday through Thursday, regular Thursday confession and Euchar adoration, and a rich tradition of stained-glass beauty that local press has called 'a work of art and a thriving family.' It is served by an unusually well-staffed parish: a pastor, a parochial vicar, and five permanent deacons, alongside dedicated lay directors of music, faith formation, and operations. Parishioners can get involved through the choir, prayer shawl ministry, rosary-making for missionaries, sanctuary upkeep, altar serving, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul-style sick visitation, and Sacramental preparation for their children — all within the larger family of St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish.
Mass times at Saint Elizabeth Seton. St. Joseph of the Holy Family Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (St. Elizabeth Seton, following 9 AM Mass)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (St. Anthony and St. Elizabeth Seton)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (St. Elizabeth Seton Church, following the 9 AM Mass)
History of St. Elizabeth Seton Church & St. Joseph Chapel
The Catholic faithful of North Falmouth, West Falmouth, and Hatchville were originally part of St. Joseph Parish in Woods Hole. Around 1915, an abandoned summer casino-theatre on County Road in Megansett was purchased and converted into the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception — a mission outpost with no resident priest. In 1977 Bishop Daniel A. Cronin of the Fall River Diocese separated this chapel area from Woods Hole and erected it as a parish in its own right, naming Father Joseph L. Powers as founding pastor. The new church was consecrated on July 17, 1977 by the Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Jean Jadot under the title of St. Elizabeth Seton, canonized just two years earlier as the first American-born Catholic saint.
- 1915 – Chapel of the Immaculate Conception established in former Megansett casino-theatre, mission of St. Joseph, Woods Hole
- 1977 – Bishop Daniel A. Cronin erects St. Elizabeth Seton as a separate parish; Father Joseph L. Powers named founding pastor
- June 11, 1977 – First Mass celebrated in the newly-completed church
- July 17, 1977 – Church consecrated by Apostolic Delegate Most Reverend Jean Jadot
- 2018 – Joins the Catholic Community of Falmouth Collaborative
- July 1, 2021 – Merged with St. Anthony, St. Patrick and St. Joseph (Woods Hole) into St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish
Patron and Dedication
The church is dedicated to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774–1821), an American convert, foundress of Catholic charitable schools and the Sisters of Charity, and the first person born in the United States to be canonized a saint (by Pope Paul VI in 1975). Her feast day in the Roman calendar is January 4. Choosing her as patron connected the new North Falmouth parish to a young, distinctly American Catholic heritage just two years after her canonization.
- Patron: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Feast Day: January 4
- Canonized: 1975, by Pope Paul VI — first American-born Catholic saint
Architecture & Sacred Art
Built in 1977 under Father Powers's direction, the church is a sturdy shingled building set among trees and hedges on Quaker Road, designed on a cruciform plan. Its signature feature is a complete program of stained-glass windows designed and executed by Edward Hiemer and Co. of New Jersey, telling salvation history from Abraham and Moses through the Annunciation and Nativity of Christ, alongside stained-glass portraits of the saints. The Italian hand-carved wooden crucifix over the altar bears the Risen Christ — arms outstretched — rather than the traditional crucified figure, a deliberate choice by the founding pastor.
- Style: Cruciform plan, shingled Cape Cod exterior tucked among trees
- Stained-glass windows: Edward Hiemer and Co., New Jersey
- Window program: Abraham, Moses, Annunciation, Nativity, and saint portraits (St. Peter, St. Francis of Assisi)
- Crucifix: Italian hand-carved wood depicting the Risen Christ
Clergy & Staff Serving St. Elizabeth Seton
St. Elizabeth Seton is served by the unified parish's pastoral team: Msgr. Stephen J. Avila (Pastor), Fr. Bryan R. Bangs (Parochial Vicar), and five permanent deacons (James 'Gus' Adams, Peter M. Guresh, Paul J. Harney, William W. Hays, and Patrick J. Mahoney). Kari Fietek serves as Director of Music Ministry specifically for St. Elizabeth Seton, and Mary Voci serves as the parish secretary for the site.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Stephen J. Avila (ext. 125)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Bryan R. Bangs (ext. 110)
- Deacons: Adams, Guresh, Harney, Hays, Mahoney
- Director of Music (St. Elizabeth Seton): Kari Fietek
- Site Secretary: Mary Voci (ext. 123, [email protected])
Parish Ministries & Groups
Parishioners serve in a wide range of ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul Conference of North Falmouth meets every Wednesday after the 9 AM Mass (contact JoAnn Amaral, 508-563-6079). The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls, baptismal blankets and pocket prayer shawls for the sick and grieving, meeting on the first Thursday of the month. Rosary makers supply rosaries for missionary countries. Sanctuary Upkeep volunteers meet on Thursdays at 10 AM to clean and care for the altar, sanctuary furnishings, linens, candles and holy water fonts. Music Ministry is led by Kari Fietek; the Holiday Choir sings at Christmas and Easter.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Conference of North Falmouth (Wednesdays after 9 AM Mass)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry (1st Thursday, 10 AM, alternating sites)
- Rosary Making (for missionary countries)
- Sanctuary Upkeep (Thursdays 10 AM, alternating between St. Anthony and St. Elizabeth Seton)
- Music Ministry / Holiday Choir
- Sacristans, Altar Servers (youth & adult)
- Funeral Planning
- Wedding Coordinators
- Ministry to the Sick — Sr. Juleanne Burns (508-563-6079)
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The unified parish's Faith Formation program serves students Grades 1 through High School, with First Penance, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation preparation. Grades 1–5 meet at St. Anthony's Fatima Hall on Sundays from 9:45–10:45 AM, followed by the 11 AM Mass. A new middle-school program called EDGE serves Grades 6–8 with relationship-based small groups, activities and talks. The Youth Choir (Grades 3–8) rehearses from 9:00–9:40 AM on Faith Formation Sundays. All Saints Day Mass and First Communion Masses are celebrated at St. Elizabeth Seton.
- Director: Maura Polles (ext. 109 / 508-548-3515)
- Grades 1–5: Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM, Fatima Hall at St. Anthony
- EDGE (Grades 6–8): relationship-based middle school ministry
- First Penance: Saturday, December 7 at St. Anthony, 1 PM
- First Holy Communion rehearsal: Sunday, April 27 at St. Elizabeth Seton (after 10 AM Mass)
- First Holy Communion Mass: Sunday, May 4 at 2 PM, St. Elizabeth Seton
- Confirmation: High School program
- Youth Choir: Grades 3–8, Sundays 9:00–9:40 AM
Music & Liturgy
Kari Fietek directs Music Ministry at St. Elizabeth Seton, leading the parish choir and the Holiday Choir which sings at Christmas and Easter. The parish-wide music team also includes Kathleen Kanaley at St. Anthony and Barbara Leighton at St. Patrick. Masses at St. Anthony are livestreamed on the parish website.
- Director of Music (St. Elizabeth Seton): Kari Fietek
- Holiday Choir sings at Christmas and Easter
- Sacristans coordinate liturgy preparation
Unification into St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish
On July 1, 2021, the three historic Falmouth parishes — St. Anthony (East Falmouth), St. Patrick (Downtown Falmouth), and St. Elizabeth Seton (North Falmouth), together with St. Joseph (Woods Hole) and St. Thomas Chapel — were united into the new St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., approved the unification after a recommendation from the Pastoral Council. Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, who had served as pastor of the three parishes in the Falmouth Collaborative since 2019, was named first pastor of the new parish, initially assisted by Fr. Peter R. Scheffer, Jr. as Parochial Vicar. The name was chosen because 2021 was the Year of St. Joseph in the universal Church, and because all Falmouth's Catholic churches traced their roots to the first Catholic parish in town, St. Joseph in Woods Hole.
- Established: July 1, 2021
- Pastor: Msgr. Stephen J. Avila (Pastor of the Collaborative since 2019)
- Initial Parochial Vicar: Fr. Peter R. Scheffer, Jr.
- Current Parochial Vicar: Fr. Bryan R. Bangs (ordained June 1, 2024)
- Worship sites retained: St. Anthony, St. Patrick, St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Joseph (Woods Hole), St. Thomas Chapel
Contact, Location & Visiting
St. Elizabeth Seton Church is located at 481 Quaker Road, North Falmouth, MA 02556, near Old Silver Beach. While the church itself is the principal worship site for the North Falmouth community, the parish main office (which handles most administrative business, phone calls, and registrations) is located at St. Anthony's Church, 167 East Falmouth Highway, East Falmouth, MA 02536, open Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. For Mass or to pray privately, St. Anthony is open Monday–Friday 7:30 AM – 3 PM and St. Thomas Chapel Monday–Friday 8 AM – 2 PM (Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekend).
- Church address: 481 Quaker Road, North Falmouth, MA 02556
- Main Parish Office: 167 East Falmouth Hwy., East Falmouth, MA 02536 (St. Anthony's)
- Parish Phone: 508-548-0108
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- St. Anthony open for prayer: M–F 7:30 AM – 3 PM
- St. Thomas Chapel open for prayer: M–F 8 AM – 2 PM (Memorial Day – Columbus Day weekend)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Joseph L. Powers (Father Joseph L. Powers)1977 – (founding pastor; served until his death)
First and founding pastor; built the current St. Elizabeth Seton Church (first Mass June 11, 1977; consecrated July 17, 1977). Died before February 2004.
- Msgr. Stephen J. Avila2019 – present (across Collaborative and unified parish)
Pastor of all three Falmouth parishes in the Collaborative from 2019; appointed first pastor of the unified St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish in 2021.