Last year marked the 50th Anniversary of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s canonization as the first American saint. Her legacy expands over two centuries, including early involvement with the Daughters of Charity who would eventually establish the Seton ministry in Austin, Texas. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s life and vision continue to shape Catholic healthcare in the U.S. and guide Ascension’s work today.
For decades, a statue bearing her likeness stood outside of a Seton clinic in Austin, a quiet but powerful reminder of the mission that calls us to serve with compassion and dignity. From her place on the campus, she symbolically watched over those most vulnerable in our community.
When the statue was damaged beyond repair during a storm in July 2025 and had to be removed, it marked the loss of a physical symbol but not the mission it represents.
According to local history, the statue was transported to Texas years ago by the Daughters of Charity during their time serving in Louisiana, eventually finding its home in Austin.
From her place outside the clinic, she overlooked the very people Ascension’s mission calls everyone to serve: those who are most vulnerable in our community.
Because the statue had been formally blessed, it was considered a religious relic. Special consideration was taken as to where to lay this emblem of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to rest. Careful thought and discussion followed, which ultimately led to the decision to bury her at Mount Calvary, a Catholic cemetery in Austin.
The location carries special meaning, as several of the Daughters of Charity who helped establish the Seton ministry in Texas are buried there, creating a fitting and sacred resting place connected to Ascension’s origins.
On Jan. 16, 2026, Ascension Texas associates and community members gathered for a ceremony to bury the statue with reverence and gratitude. The moment was less about loss and more about continuity, a reminder that while physical symbols may fade, the mission they represent endures.
The closing prayer during the ceremony read:
“O God, accept this statue as a symbol of the devotion and service offered in our community over the years. We ask that through the intercession of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, you continue to watch over this ministry of healing. May the memory of her witness remind and inspire us to be attentive to your voice of Grace, always reflecting your compassion to those who are vulnerable. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Though the statue no longer stands, the spirit it represented remains alive in the daily work of Ascension associates in every act of compassion, every patient encounter and every life touched.
“Faith lifts the staggering soul on one side, Hope supports it on the other, experience says it must be—and love says let it be.” — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Letter to Julia Scott, March 26, 1810)
Published: March 23, 2026
Recent Comments