Seton Enablement Fund

"Enabling Through Responsible Sharing"

The Seton Enablement Fund is named after Saint Elizabeth Seton, the first American-born saint and foundress of the Sisters of Charity.

In her short span of 47 years (1774-1821), Elizabeth Bayley Seton was a New York socialite, wife, mother of five, widow, convert to Catholicism, and foundress of the United States’ first religious community. She also opened the first Catholic orphanage in this country and established the first Catholic day school, making her the founder of the U.S. parochial school system.

The community she established in Baltimore in 1809 later relocated to Emmitsburgh, Maryland. There are now six independent branches of Elizabeth Seton’s original foundation, including the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

The first Sisters of Charity came to Cincinnati in 1829 and became an independent congregation in 1852. Today, over 400 Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati continue their work of education, social service, pastoral ministry and health care in 18 states and one foreign country. In the spirit of Elizabeth Seton, they are dedicated to serving the Church wherever the needs are greatest.