Upon the North Birmingham parish’s closure, Bishop Joseph Vath, First Bishop of Birmingham, assigned Father Thomas Cairns as pastor of St. Edward’s and tasked him with establishing a new parish to better serve the faith communities of the two parishes. Due to an illness however, two short years after his arrival, Father Cairns was succeeded by Benedictine Father Malachy Shanaghan. The faithful gave their support for moving forward with building a new church and voted to have St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as the patron. St. Elizabeth was chosen due to her recent canonization as the first American saint in 1975.

Later that same year, on Dec. 21, Father Shanaghan joined Bishop Vath as he broke ground on the first of three planned building phases. The multi-purpose education building was to sit on a 16-acre property, located at 334 Main Street in Gardendale, which had been purchased years earlier thanks to the foresight of Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen.

With construction under way, Father Shanaghan offered the last public Mass at St. Edward’s on Aug. 29, 1976. Not long after, he was recalled to St. Bernard Monastery, and it was at that time that Father Charles Cross was appointed as the first official pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

On Dec. 18, 1976, Father Cross celebrated the first Mass in the newly constructed multi-purpose education building, which brought to fruition the joining of St. Edward’s and St. Augustine’s faith communities. Bishop Vath would dedicate the building on Feb. 18, 1979. Thanks to Father Cross’ “gift of finance,” the parish burned its mortgage on the building in November of 1983.

Father Cross was succeeded by Father Liam Sullivan, who led the parish from 1985 until 1991. One year after his arrival a new building committee was formed to begin the second phase of construction, a church building.

Father Ray Keiser arrived at the parish to serve as pastor after Father Sullivan. Under his leadership, the parish launched a capital campaign, broke ground in 1992, and, on Oct. 24, 1993, Father Brian Egan, then administrator of the diocese, dedicated the new church building with Fathers Keiser, Sullivan, and Cross concelebrating. Honoring the parish’s roots, the crucifix came from St. Edward’s and the chapel’s stained glass came from St. Augustine’s sanctuary.

Reflecting on the building effort, Father Keiser wrote to the congregation: “This project for 240 middle income families should have been impossible. Yet, the Lord let it happen and encouraged it. There have been many times that I have stood in the back of the church and said to God, ‘Lord, what have You got in mind for this parish?’ This church building is no accident. God knows what He is doing and He is calling us to a mission, which has not been totally revealed yet. We must be ready to accept that call when it comes.”

Following Father Keiser’s tenure, Father Bill Lucas briefly served as pastor for one year before the parish welcomed its fifth pastor, Msgr. Michael Deering, who oversaw extensive grounds excavation and renovation, the installation of new drainage systems, and the paving parking lots. His leadership also led to paying off the church loan.

Upon Msgr. Deering’s reassignment, Father Johnson Tharayil was appointed parish administrator, followed by a brief two-month assignment by Father Joy Nellissery. In December 2020, Father Wyman Vintson was assigned as pastor.

With Father Vintson at the helm, the parish initiated a major interior renovation. The project was designed and executed by the renowned Conrad Schmitt Studios. This year on Jan. 4, the feast of the parish’s patron, Bishop Steven Raica rededicated the church.

Unknowingly echoing Father Keiser’s sentiments from over 30 years prior, the bishop noted in his homily: “Nothing of great consequence is easy. Raising the necessary funds, dreaming the big dreams, and putting the idea into motion can oftentimes meet with resistance until it is finally completed. … As we dedicate this sacred place today, we recall the words of Pope St. Paul VI in his homily at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s canonization: ‘Her secret was simply this: she saw God’s will in all things, and she adored it.’ May this church, named in her honor, inspire us to embrace simplicity of heart and generosity of spirit. Like her, we, too, seek God’s will in all things and find joy in fulfilling it. This parish church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, is a sacred place that forms us as disciples who live not for ourselves but for others, cooperating with God’s grace to make visible the Kingdom of God.”