WARREN—“What a beautiful and special evening it was at St. Ann’s last night. What a lovely commemoration of 100 years at a church that is very dear to all of us,” said Julie Zimmerman the morning after St. Ann Parish in Warren kicked off its 100th year.
Zimmerman, with her husband, Don, and Phil and Sue Trotter, provided music for the July 31 anniversary Mass. All four came to the Catholic faith within a year of each other about 14 years ago, Zimmerman said, adding that the four Monroe-area residents consider St. Ann Parish “as home.”
In his opening remarks, Bishop David Malloy said he had lunch with a friend who expressed his awe at seeing a birthday party for a 94-year-old man at a restaurant the day before. The bishop said that he told his friend, “I can do you one better.”
“One hundred years. What a moment for us not only to celebrate with joy, but in a deeper, religious sense … to thank God,” Bishop Malloy said. That centenary of faith, he added, shows “God’s hand, God’s work, God’s blessing.”
In reviewing the parish history, the bishop said he had noticed that the Catholic faith began in the area before the Civil War, in the 1850s, with Masses being held at the home of an early settler. Although we are used to offices and structures and diocesan announcements, he said, “where did (the faith here) begin — at somebody’s house … before the CCD programs (and other good faith-transmitting efforts), faith was passed on person to person,” with each working so their faith was pure, to assure that they were “keeping together that faith, that beauty (of the faith).”
He reflected also on the parish’s cemetery, established by its first resident pastor, Father Peter S. Masterson.
He pondered the faith “hidden” in that cemetery, noting that those buried there did not just earn their salvation, “they received it” from the sacraments and instruction provided by St. Ann Parish.
Looking around, Bishop Malloy asked “how many eyes of faith … have looked upon these magnificent windows … and had their faith renewed?” The 100th anniversary is a reminder that “you are not just here and now … you are heirs of the faith passed onto you (by) the prayers, the sacrifices of parishioners who have passed on before.”
He complimented parishioners on the “beautiful condition” and the care they so obviously have taken of “the house of God in Warren … to be so beautiful, to be so worthy, to be so welcoming.”
Bishop Malloy encouraged those present to reflect on how the parish has reached out to serve people in need and also to consider themselves invited “you might say, to tug on (St. Ann’s) hem” and benefit from her intercession. He noted his appreciation for their pastors, including three former pastors in attendance — Father William Budden, Msgr. Everett Hiller and Father Max Striedl — and the newest pastor, Father Andrew Skrobutt.
“We thank God for the Holy Spirit who went into the hearts of those who have gone before us,” Bishop Malloy said. “We thank God for the Holy Spirit placed in hearts of those to come after us.
“We thank God for the Holy Spirit placed in the hearts of the parishioners of St. Ann’s.”
At the end of Mass, Father Skrobutt thanked the bishop and all in attendance, adding that it is “a little awe inspiring that in my first month (here) I can celebrate here with you.” He invited all to the dinner that followed in the parish hall downstairs.
In 1914, St. Ann Parish was made a separate parish after almost 40 years of being served by pastors from nearby Apple River. The present church was begun by Father Masterson and completed in 1924 across the street from the original church. Photos of that original church and information about all of the pastors who have served the parish were part of a several-table display on the parish history at the anniversary dinner.