About The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton · Emmitsburg, Maryland
The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Catholic minor basilica and national shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland, dedicated to the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized (1774–1821). Set on the historic grounds where Mother Seton lived and founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's in 1809, the shrine complex includes her c. 1750 Stone House, the 1810 White House, the walled 'God's Little Acre' cemetery with its 1840s Gothic Revival Mortuary Chapel, the 1965 Byzantine-influenced basilica that houses her relics, a museum, and a visitor center. It is governed by a Board appointed by the Sisters of Charity Federation of North America, operates within the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and welcomes tens of thousands of pilgrims, school groups, and tourists each year from its scenic location along U.S. Route 15 between Frederick, MD, and Gettysburg, PA.
- Established
- 1809 (community) / 1965 (basilica) / 1991 (minor basilica)
- Patron
- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (also Patroness for the Sea Services)
- Rector
- Rob Judge (Executive Director, lay leadership)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
The Seton Shrine is a working national shrine rather than a territorial parish, but it warmly welcomes Catholics and visitors to pray at the tomb of the first American-born saint, attend daily Mass and confessions in the basilica, spend time in adoration, walk the historic grounds where Mother Seton lived and died, and join a deep tradition of pilgrimage including the annual Sea Services Pilgrimage and the Footsteps of Mother Seton Walking Pilgrimage. The shrine's Seeds of Hope ministry intentionally extends that welcome to people on the margins — those facing poverty, isolation, disability, or difficult life circumstances — and its retreat program serves school groups, Knights of Columbus councils, confirmation candidates, parish staffs, and sodalities from across the U.S. and Canada. It is an ideal destination for anyone drawn to the Catholic origins of the United States, to Catholic education, or to the spirituality of the Sisters of Charity and the Vincentian family.
Mass times at The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday 12:45–1:15 PM (before Mass)
- Monday–Friday 2:15–3:00 PM (after Mass during Adoration)
- Sunday 12:15–1:15 PM (during Adoration, before the 1:30 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 2:15–3:00 PM
- Sunday 12:15–1:15 PM
History of the Shrine
The story of the National Shrine begins in 1808, when Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton — a widowed New York convert — came to Maryland and opened a school next to St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. The following June she established the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's at Emmitsburg in 'Saint Joseph's Valley,' first occupying the c. 1750 Stone House, then (from February 1810) the newly-built White House. There she opened the first free Catholic school for girls staffed by sisters in the United States. After her death on January 4, 1821, she was buried in the walled cemetery she called 'God's Little Acre'; her remains were moved to a Mortuary Chapel in 1846 and finally translated into the basilica's Altar of Relics in 1968. The chapel that became the basilica was built between 1962 and 1965 by Maguolo and Quick for the new Provincial House of the Daughters of Charity, and was designated a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II on August 4, 1991.
Mother Seton's Path to Sainthood
Venerable Elizabeth Ann Seton was declared such by Pope John XXIII on December 18, 1959. Two miracles were approved in 1961; she was beatified by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963, and canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975, becoming the first American-born citizen recognized as a saint.
The Basilica and Historic Site
The 1965 Byzantine-inspired basilica is the spiritual center of the shrine. Its Latin-cross plan, tile roofs, dome on a drum, narrow clerestory windows, Italian and German marble, mosaics, and approximately 200 stained-glass windows depicting saints from five continents make it one of the most distinctive pilgrimage churches in the mid-Atlantic. Outside, visitors tour the c. 1750 Stone House, the 1810 White House, the walled 'God's Little Acre' cemetery with its c. 1840 Gothic Revival Mortuary Chapel, and the museum.
Stained Glass and Sacred Art
Approximately 200 stained-glass windows were crafted by German artisans in the post-WWII years and obtained through a partnership with the project contractor; Europe was rebuilding churches at the time. The Daughters chose the saints and stories depicted: St. Joseph (Mother Seton's patron of devotion), Saints Peter and Paul at the altar, the Corporal Works of Mercy performed by the Daughters, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, the titles of Mary from the Litany of Loreto, and in the choir loft King David, Pope Gregory I, and Pope Pius X. Marble, bronze, and mosaics throughout the interior were crafted by Italian and German artisans.
The Seton Shrine Museum
The shrine's new museum features engaging, hands-on technology and new artifacts and is free to visit. Exhibits interpret Mother Seton's life, her conversion, and the work of the Sisters of Charity Federation of North America throughout the world.
Holy Day and Special Occasion Schedule
The shrine publishes an annual Holy Day schedule with adjustments for major feasts such as the Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1), Epiphany / Mother Seton's Memorial (Jan 4), Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:30 PM with Adoration to 11:00 PM, Good Friday Stations at 12:00 PM and service at 3:00 PM, the Easter Vigil at 8:00 PM, Easter Sunday at 11:00 AM only, Divine Mercy Sunday with an additional Holy Hour, Ascension, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, the Sacred Heart, All Saints, All Souls, the Immaculate Conception, and Christmas.
Seven Core Ministries
The shrine organizes its mission around seven core ministries: Fostering Worship and Devotion, Making A Joyful Noise Unto the Lord, Renewing the Spirit of God's People, Educating and Inspiring Future Generations, Discovering and Experiencing Our Historic Site, Bringing Faith and History to Life, and Communicating Mother Seton's Legacy to the World. A Catholic shrine is meant to be a place of encounter, not merely a memorial — a place where visitors retreat from a busy world to receive God's grace.
Seeds of Hope
Launched in 2017 in response to Pope Francis's call for Catholic shrines to reach those experiencing poverty, Seeds of Hope offers subsidized retreat days at the shrine for those who could never otherwise attend. Retreats are customized for groups from homeless shelters, 12-step programs, pregnancy homes, and other ministries serving the financially or culturally marginalized, the disabled, and those in isolation. Transportation, meals, and fees are largely covered by the Shrine and generous donors. A Prayer Line (1-866-202-4934) lets anyone chat and pray with a caring volunteer.
Pilgrimages and Special Events
The shrine hosts several signature pilgrimages. The annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services on the first Sunday in October draws Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and U.S. Public Health Service members and families. The Footsteps of Mother Seton Walking Pilgrimage each June retraces her 1809 journey from the Baltimore Basilica to Emmitsburg, concluding on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Camino of Maryland is a 14-day, 218-mile cross-state pilgrimage ending at the Shrine. The annual 'Elizabeth and Elizabeth Ann' celebration honors all girls and women bearing those names with a Mass and procession.
Retreats and Group Visits
The shrine hosts retreats for groups from across the U.S. and Canada, with spacious meeting rooms, an on-site theater, beautiful gardens, and quiet prayer rooms on its peaceful historic grounds nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. School groups visit each spring and fall, along with Sodalities, Knights of Columbus, confirmation candidates, parish staffs, and other Catholic groups. The shrine has made its planning process simpler for parish and diocesan staff to schedule their own pilgrimages and retreats.
Getting Involved: Visit, Volunteer, Support
Visitors are welcome seven days a week, with the Visitor Center, Museum, and Gift Shop open 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (and until 7:30 PM on Wednesdays). The grounds and historic cemetery are open dawn to dusk, year-round. Volunteers are coordinated by Penny Sims, and the Parish Directory program helps friends of the Shrine stay connected. The Donor Relations team (Maida Connor, Director; Anne Mattia, Donor Relations Manager; Kathy LaPoint, Donor Systems Manager) supports the Shrine's mission financially.
Shrine Staff and Governance
The Shrine is led by Executive Director Rob Judge (since April 2012, previously Development Director from January 2011). The senior team includes Susan Shelton (Director of Finance & Administration), Maida Connor (Director of Donor Relations), Becca Corbell (Director of Programs and Operations), Anne Mattia (Donor Relations Manager), Kathy LaPoint (Donor Systems Manager), Paige Knott (Human Resources Manager), Kelly Smith (Operations and Visitor Services Manager), Kelly Gordon (Worship and Retreats Coordinator), Erica Delp (Education Programs Coordinator), Lisa Donahue (Research & Exhibitions Coordinator), Penny Sims (Volunteer Coordinator), Maria Shellenhamer (Gift Shop Coordinator), Kara Deardorff (Visitor Services Coordinator), and Katherine Almeida Ramos (Outreach and Faith Programs Manager). The Shrine is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Sisters of Charity Federation of North America, a voluntary membership association of 14 congregations of women religious numbering more than 3,000 sisters whose mission continues the work of Saints Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, and Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Nearby Catholic and Memorial Sites
The former St. Joseph's campus adjacent to the Shrine is now the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Emergency Training Center (closed to the public), and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial is also nearby. The National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes — one of the oldest American replicas of the French Lourdes grotto — is located off U.S. 15 South at 16330 Grotto Road. Together, these sites make Emmitsburg a destination rich in Catholic and American heritage.
