The genesis of our Parish took place in 1970 in the form of a Mass Station at the First Methodist Church of Troy with 50 interested families.  The City of Troy at that time was just in its infancy, with farms and fields slowly being replaced by the ever burgeoning population and establishment of suburban communities.  In these early days, the Mass Station was called the Catholic Community of Troy, and services were conducted by priests from Guardian Angels in Clawson.  By 1972, the Archdiocese of Detroit had taken an interest in forming an official parish, as the Community had grown substantially (including a choir, the women's group Friends of Mary, the teen group Friends in Action Together, and much more), but the Community declined, wanting to build up the spiritual foundation on firmer ground.  It would not be until the spring of 1975 that the Community requested Parish status; in Septmber of 1975 that status would be granted, and our first official priest, Father Arthur Baranowski, was assigned in December.  As Elizabeth Ann Seton had been canonized in September, our newly designated Parish would be the first in the country to be named in her honor.

By 1978, the 50 original families had grown to 419, and a need for a physical worship site was needed more than ever.  After years of planning and countless meetings, a viable location had been found, and on July 1st, 1980, the groundbreaking began, and less than a year later, on May 2nd, 1981, the late Cardinal John Francis Deardan presided at the dedication and consecrated the altar.

Father Baranowski would lead the church until 1986, at which time he departed and was replaced by Father Edmund Schwager.  Father Schwager would remain with the church until his death on May 8th, 1995.  While a sad time for the Parish community, it would not be long before a new pastor, Father Ronald Essman, would be appointed...June 27th of the same year, in fact.  As the St. Elizabeth Community continued to grow, it was decided through many meetings and discussions that the Church needed renovation and expansion, and on April 2nd of 2000, groundbreaking began on what would become the parish complex that stands today.  The work would be completed over the next year, and the newly renovated and expanded St. Elizabeth Ann Seton would be dedicated September 23rd, 2001.

Father Essman would be reassigned in March of 2003, and St. Elizabeth would receive its second Father Ron, Ronald Jozwiak, in June of that year.  Father Jozwiak resigned from the Parish February of 2011, and was led by Msgr. John Kasza as administrator until Fr. Norman Nawrocki, was installed in July of 2011.  Fr. Norm retired in June 2022 and Fr. Dominic Macioce became pastor in July 2022.

Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church.

Born two years before the American Revolution, Elizabeth grew up in the 'cream' of New York society.  She was a prolific reader, reading everything from the Bible to contemporary novels.  In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth's early life was quiet, simple, and often lonely.  As she grew older, the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support and comfort; she would continue to love the Scriptures for the rest of her life.

In 1794, Elizabeth married William Magee Seton, with whom she was deeply in love.  The first years of their marriage were happy and prosperous.  Elizabeth wrote in her diary, "My own home at twenty - the world and heaven too - quite impossible."  This time of Elizabeth's life was to be a brief moment of earthly happiness before the many deaths she was to suffer.

Within four years, William's father died, leaving the young couple in charge of William's seven half brothers and sisters, as well as the family's importing business.  Events began to move fast, and with devastating effect.  Both William's business and his health failed, and he was finally forced to file a petition of bankruptcy.  In a final attempt to save William, the Setons sailed for Italy, where William had business friends.  However, William died of tuberculosis while there, and Elizabeth's one consolation was that William had recently awakened to the things of God.

The many enforced separations from dear ones by death and distance served to draw Elizabeth's heart to God and eternity.  The accepting and embracing of God's will - "The Will," as she called it - would be a keynote in her spiritual life.  Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church.

In Italy, Elizabeth captivated everyone by her own kindness, patience, good sense, wit and courtesy.  During this time, Elizabeth became interested in the Catholic Faith, and over a period of months her Italian friends guided her in Catholic instructions.

The Filicchi family, longtime friends of William Seton, continued to befriend Elizabeth and welcomed her into their home in Leghorn. Here Elizabeth encountered Roman Catholicism for the first time. 

Elizabeth returned to New York in 1804 and, despite the opposition of family and friends, entered the Catholic church in the spring of 1805. She sought to support her family by teaching. Archbishop John Carroll of Baltimore invited her to establish a school for girls in his diocese. Other young women joined her in this ministry of education and eventually they formed a religious community, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's. In 1809, they moved to Emmitsburg where Elizabeth Ann Seton lived with her growing community until her death in 1821. 

The rule of the Daughters of Charity in France, a congregation founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1633 seemed applicable to the new community. Adaptations to this rule were made by Archbishop Carroll and by Elizabeth Seton, to suit the American situation and a foundress with a family. It became the rule of the Sisters of Charity who by the time of Elizabeth's death in 1821 were fifty in number.