Naperville, Illinois

Parish History and Our Church

Our History

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In July of 1986, Bishop Joseph Imesch of the Joliet Diocese named Father Anthony Nugent as the founding pastor of Naperville's fifth Catholic parish.  It was left to Fr. Tony and his parishioners to name the parish.   Recognizing the family orientation of the community and the appropriateness of acknowledging the role of women and of women, the honor was bestowed on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, America's first native born saint, canonized in 1975, only 11 years before the parish was founded. 

The original parish staff consisted of:

• Fr. Tony Nugent, Pastor,
• Deacon John Baluff
• Fr. Michael Komechak, O.S.B., Weekend Assistant
• Sr. Frances McCarron (Pastoral Associate), 
• Sr. Pat Thompson (Director of Religious Education) 
• Deacon Tom Sheridan

The first liturgy was celebrated at Scott School on July 5, 1986.  Our parish began in 1986 with 228 households.  By December of 1989, it had grown to 1,130 households.  We are still a young parish that continues to grow at a rapid rate.  ***

The first parish office was located in the College Square Shopping Center.  In May of 1987, the staff moved into the new offices and rectory located on the eleven acres of parish property on Lisson Road and along 87th Street. 

Weekend Masses were originally held at Scott Elementary School, but were moved to a larger facility in March of 1987.  Liturgies were then celebrated in Madison Junior High School.  Neighboring Catholic facilities were very accommodating for other liturgical celebrations. Liturgies were celebrated at Scott School and Madison Junior High School from 1986 through 1990. 

Additional space became necessary for large group meetings, so space was acquired in the University Commons Shopping Center in September of 1988.  This space was called the Parish Annex. 

Groundbreaking for the new church was held on September 17, 1989.  On December 18, 1990, Bishop Joseph Imesch celebrated the solemn dedication of St. Elizabeth Seton Church.  The architects was  JOHN VOOSEN.

On May 18, 1994, the Rectory was moved to Bolingbrook and the former Rectory was converted into office space. 

On June 23, 1995, Reverend Ernest R. Norbeck was appointed as Second Pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish. In October of 1995, Fr. Mark became the Pastor of Assumption Parish in Coal City, IL. Fr. Jim Radek joined our parish as Asst. Pastor in February, 1996. 

On February 22, 1997, the present altar was consecrated and the Church building re-dedicated by Bishop Joseph Imesch. 

In March of 1997, our Communion of Saints mural was begun by Joliet Artist Lillian Brulc. 

On September 13, 1997, St. Elizabeth Seton's fourth permanent Deacon, Bart Federici, was  ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Joesph Imesch at St. Raymonds Cathedral, Joliet. 

In the Spring of 1988, our stained glass windows were installed through the Lynchburg Stain Glass Company and were officially blessed by our Pastor, Fr. Ernie.  These brilliant windows reflect the glory of Almighty God in the life of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.  Also in the Spring of 1998, the Great Hall of St. Elizabeth Seton was completed. 

As of September 1998, the current  size of St. Elizabeth Seton is 2,230 families, 8,920 individuals.  We have a full time staff of nine people and a part time staff of 10 - with approximately more than 500 volunteers. 

On February 4, 2000, the St. Elizabeth Seton Parish website was established at www.rc.net/joliet/ses 

SES installed the permanent seating in March of 2000. 

During the summer of 2001, the Worship Center was closed for renovation from June 25 - August 25.  During this time, the altar platform and short wall behind the altar were rebuilt and the tabernacle was relocated into the Worship Center into the raredos. 

January 2003 changed web server and web address to www.sesnaperville.org

June 21, 2006, Rev. Thomas L. Paul was assigned as the third pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish.  Fr. Ernest Norbeck was assigned to St. Mary of Gostyn in Downers Grove at the same time.

Our Parish History

• St. Elizabeth Seton Parish founded on July 1, 1986.

• Parishioners named St. Elizabeth Seton after America’s first native-born Saint.  She was the founder of the Sisters of Charity.

• Bishop Joseph Imesch celebrated the first Mass at Scott School on July 5, 1986.

• Fr. Tony Nugent served as the founding Pastor from 1986 to 1995.

• Initially, 228 families were registered.

• Masses celebrated at Scott School and the parish offices located at College Square Mall.

• Sunday Masses moved to Madison Jr. High School on Easter, 1987 with some summer Sunday Masses celebrated at Kennedy Jr. High School.

• Holy Day Masses celebrated at Sacred Heart Convent in Lisle.

• Baptisms and First Communions took place at St. Procopius Abbey in Lisle.

• Funerals held at St. Margaret Mary Church in Naperville.

• In July 1987 Sr. Frances McCarron, IBVM joined the Staff as Pastoral Associate.  Sr. Frances was with us from 1989 to 1996 and then again from 2002 to 2006.

• Our own Religious Education program began in September, 1987 with Sr. Patricia Thompson as Director from 1987 to 2001

• In June 1988, Fr. John Balluff assigned Parochial Vicar.  (1988-1993)

• Groundbreaking for the current church building occurred on September 17, 1989.  The number of registered families had grown to 1130.

• December 18, 1990, Bishop Joseph Imesch dedicated the Church and the Worship Space.  The Church and Worship Space continued to be a work in progress.

• In June 1993, Fr. Mark Jendrysik appointed Parochial Vicar.  (1993-1996)

• A new Rectory acquired in Bolingbrook in May 1994 to make room for additional office space in the Parish Center.

In June 1995, Fr. Ernest Norbeck named Pastor.  (1995-2006)

• In February 1996, Fr. James Radek appointed Parochial Vicar.  (1996-2002)

• Bishop Joseph Imesch consecrated the present altar and re-dedicated the Worship Space in February 1997.

• The Saint’s mural by artist Lillian Brulc began in March 1997.

• The stained glass windows in the Worship Space installed in the spring of 1998, the Great Hall was completed, and the parish had grown to 2300 registered families.

• St. Elizabeth Seton Preschool opened in September 1999.

• Permanent seating in the Worship Space was installed in March 2000.

 In the summer of 2001, renovation to the Worship Space occurred which included the Reredos, a new altar platform, and fresh painting.  The Crucifix was added and unveiled at the Good Friday Service in April 2002.

• Pope John Paul II Perpetual Adoration Chapel opened April 14, 2002

• In August 2005 St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, St. Margaret Mary Parish and St. Thomas the Apostle opened All Saints Catholic Academy.

Fr. Thomas Paul appointed as the third Pastor in June 2006.

 The 20^th Anniversary of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish was celebrated in July, 2006