The community of Saint Elizabeth Seton has felt a particular call from the Lord to minister to people with HIV/AIDS. The church is particularly open and welcoming to all people affected in any way by AIDS. This has been true since the founding of the church and continues to this day with unabated fervor.

Loretta Dyson is a member of the AIDS National Interfaith Network and chairs the Interfaith Worship Committee of AIDS Project/Hartford. St. Elizabeth Seton Church collaborates with AIDS agencies, such as AIDS Project/Hartford, Tabor House, and Mercy House. The church also initiates a number of ministries on its own.

Some ministries are on-going, others are seasonal.

ON-GOING

The prayers of the faithful often include petitions for people with HIV/AIDS and for people of all sexual orientations. The church has been highly supportive to families who have lost loved ones to AIDS or are living with AIDS. This support extends to non-parishioners as well.

The church participates in the national ringing of the bells on World AIDS Day, an activity promoted by the AIDS National Interfaith Network.

Saint Elizabeth Seton has hosted to date 4 AIDS healing services in cooperation with AIDS Project Hartford. Only 2 other churches in Connecticut have held this many.

A group of about 6 people drop in regularly at Tabor House. A light meal is often brought, but it is the time spent visiting and showing genuine care that the residents value most.

Marilyn Romano provides a delicious home-cooked dinner every Tuesday evening for the people at Tabor.

As a lay Associate of the Sisters of Mercy, Loretta serves as a companion to a woman with AIDS. Loretta is also a member of the steering committee for this ministry of the Sisters and Associates.

Loretta has been associated with Mercy House and Tabor House since their inception. Her work has involved serving on board of directors, office assistance, chairing fund raisers, providing meals, gardening, and spending a lot of time with the living and the dying. Through the offerings of the monthly healing services, she has been able to offer day-long trips to the residents of Tabor, Mercy, and Peter's Retreat to Weston Priory and Watch Hill. She also serves as receptionist once a week at APH.

Luke DiMaria goes "above and beyond" in offering the services of his funeral home to families who have lost someone to AIDS. He has also provided a limo trip to the residents of Tabor to see the area lights at Christmas.

SEASONAL

The major AIDS event of the year is the "Christmas Angels" project which provides a shower of gifts to the residents of Tabor and Mercy. The entire community ardently supports this project which lights up Christmas for people with AIDS. Many of them had not had a celebration since they were children and for many it is their final Christmas on earth. The details of this project are in the files of the Christian Involvement Committee.

When the community is providing special food collections for needy people at Thanksgiving, Easter, and, now, summer picnic time, Tabor and Mercy are always included.

Joyce Comer recently donated a Wurlitzer keyboard to Tabor House. She herself played for the recent prayer service there and is planning a musical event at Christmas.

John Prendergast provided at cost over 150 pictures of the Saint Elizabeth Seton Cross with the red ribbon of AIDS to be used as the AIDS Project Hartford's Christmas card to the churches.

Mike Alessi and Sal Uccello asked guests to give a modest donation for Tabor at their bi-annual Christmas open house. They realized over $900 last year.

Dave Wadstrup has rototilled the gardens at both Tabor and Mercy for several years.

A former parishioner regularly sends flowers in memory of her son, a builder of this church, who died of AIDS.