About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Franklin, West Virginia
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a small Catholic parish in Franklin, West Virginia, that is part of the three-church Potomac Highlands Catholic cluster along with St. Mary's in Petersburg and Epiphany of the Lord in Moorefield. Established in the mid-1970s as a mission of St. Mary's in Petersburg, the parish serves the rural mountain communities of Pendleton County and the surrounding South Branch Potomac highlands. It is pastored by Rev. Jose Manuel Escalante of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, and is named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American to be canonized a Catholic saint. Visitors to the parish website are warmly welcomed: 'Our parish families are small but our faith is strong.'
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, S.C.)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Manuel Escalante
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton offers a faithful Catholic presence in the rural South Branch Potomac highlands of West Virginia, where Mass is celebrated regularly on Saturday afternoons and on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The parish is part of a tight-knit three-parish cluster where families know one another and the priest personally; the welcome on the parish website extends to anyone passing through the area around Franklin, Petersburg, or Moorefield. The parish supports itself and its sister churches through the diocesan Catholic Sharing Appeal, and the community is known for its warm, faithful character despite its small size.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After weekday Mass or by appointment
About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a small Catholic mission-parish in Franklin, the county seat of Pendleton County, West Virginia. Established in the mid-1970s under the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, it serves Catholics in the South Branch Potomac highlands and today is part of a three-parish cluster. The parish is named for the first native-born American saint, who was canonized in 1975 — the same year the parish is officially dated to. The parish community is modest in number but deeply committed, describing itself as 'small but faith-strong.'
History
According to the official history of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Franklin was established in 1974 as a mission of St. Mary's Parish in Petersburg, with Rev. Richard B. Hite, MSsA, as its first administrator. The creation of the mission coincided with St. Mary's being elevated from mission to full parish and given pastoral care of Grant, Hardy, and Pendleton Counties. GCatholic dates the parish to 1975, the same year St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized by Pope Paul VI in Rome. The parish takes its patron's name in honor of the new American saint.
- 1974 – Established as mission of St. Mary's, Petersburg
- 1975 – GCatholic founding date; year of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's canonization
- First administrator: Rev. Richard B. Hite, MSsA
- Today: part of the Potomac Highlands Catholic tri-parish cluster
Pastor and Clergy
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is currently served by Rev. Jose Manuel Escalante, who pastors the parish together with two other Potomac Highlands parishes — St. Mary's, Petersburg and Epiphany of the Lord, Moorefield. Father Escalante can be reached through the parish phone line or directly by email or mobile.
- Pastor: Rev. Jose Manuel Escalante
- Cell: 304-719-1336
- Email: [email protected]
- First administrator (1974): Rev. Richard B. Hite, MSsA
Lent and Devotions
During the season of Lent, the parish joins the other Potomac Highlands parishes in praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays.
- Stations of the Cross – Fridays during Lent at 12:00 PM (Noon) at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Potomac Highlands Catholic Cluster
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is one of three sister-parishes served by a single pastor under the umbrella name 'Potomac Highlands Catholic.' Together they form a tightly-knit Catholic presence across the rural South Branch Potomac River valley of eastern West Virginia.
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton – Franklin (545 Walnut Street) – (304) 358-7012
- St. Mary's – Petersburg (4 Grant Street) – (304) 257-1057
- Epiphany of the Lord – Moorefield (2029 Co Rte 55/7) – (304) 434-2547
- Shared pastor: Rev. Jose Manuel Escalante
- Welcome line: 'Our parish families are small but our faith is strong.'
Support and Giving
Parishioners and friends are invited to support the three Potomac Highlands parishes through the diocesan Catholic Sharing Appeal. Donations can be made online by selecting the parish designation.
- Diocesan Catholic Sharing Appeal
- Online giving available via the diocesan website (dwc.org)
- General office email: [email protected]
Visit — Address and Directions
The parish is located at 545 Walnut Street in Franklin, West Virginia. Mailing addresses sometimes list the church at 167 Walnut Street. The church sits on a hill above the town of Franklin, the seat of Pendleton County.
- Address: 545 Walnut Street, Franklin, WV 26807 (mailing: P.O. Box 890)
- From Route 220 / Main Street: turn onto Walnut Street / Halls Hill Road
- Proceed to the first stop sign, continue ahead, turn left
- Travel approximately 1.4 miles up the hill to the church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Richard B. Hite, MSsA1974–
First administrator; served when St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was established as a mission of St. Mary's, Petersburg.