About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · San Antonio, Texas
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (SEAS) is a Roman Catholic parish located in the Leon Springs / Cross Mountain area of northwest San Antonio, Texas, belonging to the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The parish was born from the 1964 St. Jude Thaddeus Mission and grew into a full parish in 1976, taking the name of America's first native-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton. Today SEAS serves a thriving, bilingual Catholic community with daily and weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a robust faith formation program for all ages, Eucharistic adoration, and dozens of ministries — all set on 25 wooded acres along Cross Mountain Trail that also house the homes of retired priests at Casa de Padres.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, America's first native-born saint)
- Rector
- Rev. John P. Nolan
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
SEAS is a large, bilingual, family-friendly parish with a deep sense of stewardship and an unusually rich set of resources on one campus — daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, Wednesday adoration running from morning through evening, regular Reconciliation, a Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, elementary and high-school faith formation, Vacation Bible School, and a wooded Stations of the Cross trail. Retired priests live on site at Casa de Padres and remain active in liturgy and parish life, giving SEAS an unusual depth of clerical presence for a parish of its size.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:30 PM
- Thursday 8:30 AM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM (English)
Parish History
SEAS traces its roots to 1964, when the St. Jude Thaddeus Mission was created for Leon Springs Catholics and Mass was first offered in the old 'Smith House' by Father Henry Hilscher of Boerne. Father Charles Grahmann — later Bishop of Dallas — took the mission next and served five years. Fathers Quintana and Edward Bily followed through 1974, and in 1975 Father Peter O'Callaghan and a small group of families laid the groundwork for the mission's elevation to parish status, which came in 1976 under the new name St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. By 1986 the parish purchased 25 acres along Cross Mountain Trail, where the limestone church, rectory, Faith Formation Center, athletic center, and Casa de Padres (retired priests' homes) now stand.
- 1964 — St. Jude Thaddeus Mission founded; first Mass in the 'Smith House'
- 1964–1969 — Father Charles Grahmann leads the mission (later Bishop of Dallas)
- Through 1974 — Father Quintana and Father Edward Bily serve
- 1975 — Father Peter O'Callaghan begins building toward parish status
- 1976 — Mission becomes the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS)
- 1986 — Parish purchases 25 acres on Cross Mountain Trail
- Today — Casa de Padres houses retired priests active in parish life
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
SEAS is led by Pastor Rev. John P. Nolan and Parochial Vicar Rev. Alberto Colin-Marín, supported by Deacons Lee Jan, David Plata, and Tom Mansour. A full team of lay staff directs parish operations, liturgy, music, Spanish ministries, counseling, communications, sacraments (baptism/funeral coordination), accounting, and plant maintenance. Many retired priests in residence at Casa de Padres also remain active in the parish, leading Masses and joining parish activities.
- Pastor: Rev. John P. Nolan
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Alberto Colin-Marín
- Deacons: Lee Jan, David Plata, Tom Mansour
- Director of Parish Operations: Rick Olivarez
- Director of Liturgy: Susan Ramsower
- Music Director: Monica Ortiz
- Director of Spanish Ministries: Sonya Torres
- Director of Counseling: Tania Ortiz
- Communications Coordinator: Heidi Neuenfeldt
- Baptism and Funeral Coordinator: Martha Gomez
- Parish Accountant: Gloria Guerra
- AV Operator: David Vela
- Plant Maintenance: Javier Barrientes, Juan Avelar
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at SEAS spans early childhood through adulthood, with an emphasis on safe-environment training for all volunteers and staff. Programs are rooted in Scripture, Catholic doctrine, and Ignatian spirituality, drawing on Loyola Press curricula.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Atrium)
A Montessori-based program for ages 3–12 in which children work with hands-on materials in a specially prepared 'atrium' to reflect on Scripture, prayer, and the liturgical year. SEAS offers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Level sessions in both English and Spanish on Sundays, Mondays (Spanish), Tuesdays, Wednesdays (Spanish), and Thursdays. Children in 2nd Level can begin preparation for First Communion.
- 1st Level (ages 3–6), 2nd Level (6–9), 3rd Level (9–12)
- Sessions in English and Spanish
- Children who have been baptized and are in 2nd Level may begin First Communion preparation
Elementary Religious Education
Using the Finding God curriculum from Loyola Press for Kinder through 5th grade, students gather on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday evenings to grow in Catholic faith rooted in Scripture and Ignatian spirituality. 2nd-graders and older begin First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation using the God's Gifts curriculum, with Reconciliation in January and First Communion Masses in May (or June for the Good Shepherd track).
- Sunday 8:45–9:45 AM, Monday 4:30–5:30 PM, Tuesday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Sacrament Prep: 1st Reconciliation (January), 1st Communion (May/June)
- Contact: Mary Koonce at [email protected]
High School Youth & Confirmation Prep
SEAS offers Confirmation preparation for teens as well as adult Confirmation, combining classes, retreats, and service projects to help candidates deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and take on a more active role in the Church. Inquiries go to Luis at [email protected].
- Teen Confirmation track
- Adult Confirmation track
- Retreats and service-project component
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA (RCIA)
Adult faith formation and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA — formerly RCIA) serve adults exploring Catholicism or completing their sacraments of initiation. Children aged 8 and older who need Baptism follow the OCIA Adapted for Children pathway.
- OCIA for unbaptized adults
- OCIA Adapted for Children (ages 8+)
- Ongoing adult faith formation opportunities
Sacraments
SEAS prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism is celebrated the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM (no Baptisms in December due to Advent), with a parent and godparent class on the 2nd Tuesday at 6:30 PM in the Marron Center. Reconciliation is heard Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings. Confirmation preparation is available for teens and adults, and the parish coordinates Matrimony preparation as well as Anointing of the Sick on request.
- Baptism: 1st & 3rd Saturday, 11:00 AM (English/Spanish dates posted)
- Parent/Godparent class: 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 PM, Marron Center
- First Reconciliation & First Communion: 2nd grade and up
- Confirmation: teens and adults ([email protected])
- Confession: Wed 6:30 PM, Thu 8:30 AM
- Marriage preparation through Director of Liturgical Ministries
- Anointing of the Sick on request
Campus, Grounds & Casa de Padres
SEAS's 25-acre campus along Cross Mountain Trail is laid out to keep the wooded Hill Country feel intact. The limestone church and offices sit along a winding drive; the rectory and Faith Formation Center are behind the sanctuary; the lower grounds hold a multi-purpose athletic center, a concessions booth, and sports fields; and a wooded walking trail offers a quiet place to meditate the Stations of the Cross. Casa de Padres, on the upper acreage, is home to retired priests who continue to lead Masses, interact with the congregation, and attend parish activities.
- Limestone church and offices
- Rectory and Faith Formation Center
- Multi-purpose athletic center, concessions booth, sports fields
- Wooded Stations of the Cross walking trail
- Casa de Padres — residences for retired priests
Get Involved & Ministries
Parishioners can join any of SEAS's ministries through the online 'Join a SEAS Ministry' form on the parish website, choosing from liturgical, formation, outreach, and Spanish-language ministries. The parish also hosts an annual Vacation Bible School (2026: 'Rainforest Falls,' June 22–25) and supports the Archdiocesan Appeal.
- Liturgical ministries (music, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers)
- Faith formation catechists (Religious Education and Good Shepherd)
- Spanish-language ministries
- Vacation Bible School (Rainforest Falls, June 22–25, 2026)
- Stewardship and the Archdiocesan Appeal
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Henry Hilscher1964
Mission founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass in the old 'Smith House' from Boerne.
- Father Charles Grahmann1964–1969
Second leader of St. Jude Thaddeus Mission; later became Bishop of Dallas.
- Father Quintana
Successor pastor through 1974.
- Father Edward Bily
Successor pastor through 1974.
- Father Peter O'Callaghan1975
Directed the small group of families whose work led to the mission receiving full parish status in 1976 under the name St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
- Three continuous pastorslate 1970s–1980s
Per parish history, 'strong leadership and the vision of three continuous pastors' guided the parish through its first two decades and the 1986 land purchase; individual names not published on the site.
- Rev. John P. Nolancurrent
Current pastor per the parish Pastoral Staff page.