Among the artifacts that the museum will contain are Seton’s bonnet and childhood dance slippers. The museum will also include videos and other exhibits to help visitors experience Seton’s life in a realistic way.
Visitors will learn about Seton’s journey from being a socialite in 18th century New York to being the founder of the first community of women religious established in the U.S.: The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s. They will also learn about the legacy that she has today.
Seton, who was canonized in 1975, was born in New York City in 1774. She was raised Episcopalian and was received into the Catholic Church in 1805, two years after the death of her husband, William. She and William had five children together, including Catherine, the first American to join the Sisters of Charity.
Following her conversion to Catholicism, Seton eventually moved to Emmitsburg and founded a Catholic school for girls and a religious community to care for the poor.
The Sisters of Charity of New York, whose lineage traces back to Seton, were honored for the donation last year of priceless artifacts owned by Seton and her family. These artifacts are in the current “Seton Family Treasures Exhibit” and will be displayed in the renovated museum as well.
“Her struggles are just as relevant today as [they] were 200 years ago,” said Sister Mary Catherine Norris, provincial of the Daughters of Charity province of St. Louise and a member of the shrine’s board of directors. “The legacy of Mother Seton is she was fearless at a time when women weren’t exactly known for that. She’s a great role model whether you’re a mother, an educator, a daughter or a widow.”
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