Lake Ronkonkoma and the surrounding community have a long and rich history dating back to the indigenous communities who lived around the lake and the colonial settlers who came later looking for rich farmland. As with many communities on Long Island, the post WWII baby boom led to an explosion of growth as families seeking to leave the overcrowded city were in search for their piece of the American Dream moved eastward. The Parish of St. Joseph’s in Ronkonkoma served the needs of this growing community from its earliest days in the 1800’s. St. Joseph’s was the largest parish in the Diocese of Rockville Centre for many years serving at one point, close to 16,000 families. 

In the 1980’s, the then Bishop, John R. McGann decided that it was time split St. Joseph’s in order to make the parish community more manageable. In 1988 three smaller parishes were created from the Eastern and northern borders of St. Joseph’s. Holy Cross, in Nesconset and Resurrection in Farmingville were formed from the northern and eastern borders of St. Joseph’s. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, was created from the area closer to St. Joseph’s on its eastern border.  

Fr. Patrick Whitney was named the founding Pastor of St. Elizabeth’s. The parish began its life on the grounds of the nearby Cenacle Retreat House, where the Sister’s welcomed the burgeoning community with weekly Mass held in the lower chapel. Work on the new church began quickly. Property for the church was obtained by the Diocese and in 1991, the parishioners processed from the Cenacle Retreat House to the property located less than a mile away on Portion Rd. where Mass was celebrated for the first time. Each ministry marched carrying a banner with a symbol contained from the parish mission statement: Striving to make Jesus known by our response to the Gospel, and guided by the Holy Spirit, the Community of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is committed to being a vibrant worshiping family that reaches out in love and friendship to all the people of God. 

Since that time the parish continues to grow. With Fr. Whitney’s transfer, Rev. Daniel A. Picciano, was named the second pastor in June of 2006. He retired in 2017. Fr. Dan was well loved and continued the good work of pastoring the parish into the new millennium. In 2017, Rev. Allan Sikorski, took over for Fr. Dan in his duty as Pastor and helped to carry the parish through the difficult days of the Covid Pandemic. In 2024, Fr. Sikorski was transferred to be the Pastor of St. Matthew’s Parish in nearby Dix Hills, where he had served as a curate. Bishop Barres then named our current Pastor, Rev. Stephen Pietrowski, as Pastor. Father Steve had been named as the Administrator of the Pius X Retired Priest’s Residence, (formerly the Cenacle Retreat House, where the Parish started) the year prior. Along with his duties as Administrator of the Residence and Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Fr. Steve also serves as the Bishop’s Delegate for Senior Priests. With Fr. Steve we have also been blessed to have the accompaniment of some of the Senior Priests of the Residence, who regularly visit and share the wealth of their pastoral experience.