Our history had its immediate origins in the parish of St. Martha’s in La Puente. Responding to the many requests from the Catholic people in Rowland Heights, who longed to have a parish of their own, His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Manning asked that a census be taken. After the census was complete, Monsignor McNamara gave his consent. The Cardinal then declared that Rowland Heights would become a separate parish as of July 1, 1981 with Msgr. Michael F. Killeen as the first Pastor. The parish was named St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, after the first American born saint. Our first mass was celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother on August 15, 1981 in our temporary Church which is now our parish hall.
Our Founding Pastor: Msgr. Michael F. Killeen
Msgr. Michael F. Killeen was born in County Clare. In 1948 he entered Mungret College, an all-boys secondary school and seminary. It was here that he first heard his calling to the vocation of the priesthood. He was recruited to come to the United States in 1955 to study for the priesthood for the Los Angeles Archdiocese at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, CA.
On April 30, 1959, he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Vibiana’s Cathedral. After serving many years in five parishes throughout the Archdiocese, Father Michael Killeen was named as Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Rowland Heights in 1981. In 1988, Father Killeen was named a Monsignor. After years of faithful service, Msgr. Killeen retired in June 2006 and resided at Nazareth House, a Catholic Retirement Home for Priests and Lay people.
He was called home by the Lord on August 16, 2022, at 6:20 PM.
Our Patron Saint: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Nuestra historia tuvo sus orígenes inmediatos en la parroquia de Santa Marta en La Puente.
Respondiendo a las muchas peticiones del pueblo católico en Rowland Heights, que anhelaba tener una parroquia propia, el Cardenal Eminencia Timothy Manning pidió que se hiciera un censo.
Después de completar el censo, Monseñor McNamara dio su consentimiento. El Cardenal luego declaró que Rowland Heights se convertiría en una parroquia separada a partir del 1 de julio de 1981 con Msgr. Michael F. Killeen como el primer pastor. La parroquia fue nombrada Iglesia de St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, después del primer santo nacido en Estados Unidos.
Nuestra primera misa se celebró en la fiesta de la Asunción de nuestra Santísima Madre el 15 de agosto de 1981 en nuestra iglesia temporal, que ahora es nuestro salón parroquial.