The History of Our Parish

Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan canonically established a new parish for northwest Omaha in June of 1981, dedicating it to the patronage of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, our nation's first native born canonized saint.  He appointed Fr. Thomas McDermott as the founding pastor.  The new parish would support, with students and resources, the school at St. James Parish, with the school being renamed St. James/Seton Catholic School.  During the first three years, weekend Masses were held at Sunny Slope Elementary School.  In September 1984, our church was dedicated by Archbishop Sheehan.  Fr. McDermott served as pastor.  Fr. Anthony Tresnak succeeded Fr. Petrusic in 1990.  Fr. Joseph Hanefeldt was assigned as pastor in 1995 and served until 2007 when he was appointed director of spiritual formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

On May 1, 1998, ground was broken on the Parish Center and Rectory additions to our facilities and occupancy of the Parish Center began on All Saints Day, November 1, 1999.  In December of 2002, our parish, together with St. James, launched the "Faith First...Campaign."  Donations from this campaign were designated to help update our educational facilities with St. James and to be used here at our parish for capital improvements and debt reduction.

In preparation for the 25th Jubilee of our parish in 2006, the interior of the church was repainted; the pews, carpet, chairs in the chapel, and altar furnishings were replaced and the sanctuary was tiled. 

Fr. Franklin Dvorak was assigned as pastor in 2007.  Fr. Frank Baumert became pastor in 2012, serving until 2019.  Fr. Ryan Lewis became pastor on July 1, 2019 and served until 2024. 

The parish experienced great joy on January 14, 2015, when it was announced that Msgr. Joseph Hanefeldt, our beloved former pastor, had been appointed Bishop of Grand Island, Nebraska, by Pope Francis.  Bishop Hanefeldt was ordained a bishop on March 19, 2015 in Grand Island with many of our parishioners in attendance.

Fr. Patrick Nields, our current pastor, began his duties in 2024.