“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”
St. Louise de Marillac
Accepting the Call: Meet New Associate Elizabeth Ann Wright
By Sebastian Isaacs, Communications intern
Elizabeth Ann Wright and her husband, Jim, have been married for 28 years.
On Jan. 4, 2026, Elizabeth Ann Wright made her commitment as an Associate in Mission during a ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church in Spring Hill, Florida. The decision to commit was intuitive, shaped in part by her closeness in name to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and her proximity to Seton Hall University in New Jersey, near where she was raised.
Elizabeth first encountered the Sisters of Charity this past July through Associate Rose Ann Lescio, who hosted coffee and donuts with other Spring Hill Associates at their parish. Elizabeth and her family were new to St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, and she recalls feeling “an urge to ask her who she was with” when Rose Ann came to clean her table at the event.
After Rose Ann’s introduction to the Sisters of Charity, Elizabeth says, “I was so interested and excited to learn about them. I’ve wanted to become part of a group like this.”
Although she was baptized Roman Catholic and received her sacraments, Elizabeth’s family was non-practicing, aside from attending Mass on major holidays. She describes her first true encounter with God happening after being expelled from school at age 15 and entering a rehabilitation program due to severe childhood trauma. During recovery, Elizabeth met her husband, Jim, at age 19 and began feeling “a calling back to the Church.”
It wasn’t until homeschooling their two teenagers, Megan and James, who decided to become Catholic after watching YouTube videos together, that Elizabeth was drawn back to the Church. She attended Mass each weekend, but was unable to fully practice the faith because her marriage to her Irish Protestant husband had not yet been convalidated.
Since her husband was initially not interested in Catholicism, it came as a surprise when he decided to join the Catholic faith five years ago and have their marriage convalidated. Elizabeth is happy he has “been involved with the Church ever since.” The two have been married for 28 years.
Today, Elizabeth serves as a catechist, teaching kindergarten and facilitating Breaking Open the Word sessions for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Though her children have moved out, she is grateful to stay home and care for her 5-year-old goddaughter and niece, Kayla, who was baptized this January.
She says, “I feel like God led me to Rose Ann that day.” Since then, she remarks, “I have met many Associates at our gatherings. I especially hit it off with Cathy Palmer, Pat McNiff, and Debbie Garland. Everyone has been really nice, and I am still learning names.”
As a new Associate of the Sisters of Charity, Elizabeth looks forward to volunteering and praying with the Associates, as “it means so much to me to be able to do the Lord’s work.”
Currently, Elizabeth Ann Wright enjoys spending time with her niece, Kayla, and her dog, Jack.
Elizabeth Ann Wright felt called back to the Church alongside her children, James (left) and Megan (right).
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