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"The little house on the
prairie church"…this is how
Father Steve Lape referred
to Saint Ann's during his
first Mass with the parish
community. And in so many
respects this is what makes
Saint Ann's parish truly
unique.
In the history and tradition
of the early Christian
church, Saint Ann's is about
as close as anyone may come
to a "house" church today.
There is one Sunday
Eucharist and all the
members of the parish
community attend the one
Mass creating a truly church
family atmosphere.
During the summer the parish
welcomes vacationing
visitors and the church
fills beyond capacity. In
every sense there is
community…people reaching
out to support each other in
good times through community
gatherings and in sickness
and/or death through home
and hospital visits and
personal support for those
in need.
Most everyone knows of Saint
Ann's Chicken Barbeque and
Bazaar each July. It is
always held on the Sunday
closest to the Feast of
Saint Ann (July 26th).
This community-wide
get-together has been going
on since the Altar and
Rosary Society and the Men's
Club held the first chicken
and biscuit dinner at Camp
Columbus not long after
World War II. Today it is
still a great
community-gathering event
for people to enjoy good
food and the pleasant
country setting.
The parish is always a place
where volunteers abound.
Recent pastors and Sister
Chris Treichel, our current
Pastoral Administrator, have
all noted that all they need
to do is ask and
parishioners young and old
step forward generously
offering their time, talent
and treasure. This in a
very real and tangible way
demonstrates the commitment
of the community and makes
St. Ann's truly unique in
this day and age.
Luke Christianelli, a young
Lector, noted that Saint
Ann's is "small, but nice
because there is a lot of
discussion and a lot of
banquets and things to go to
talk to people and get to
know them". The parish is
always happy to host guests
and even in the winter the
parish enjoys a Super Bowl
Sunday Breakfast. And many
people stay and talk after
Mass during the monthly
after Mass coffee hours; as
Janet Stinson explains,
"there is a feeling of
community and being part of
a small church makes you
feel like you belong, and
the cookies are good on the
1st Sunday of the
month too".
Saint Ann's started out as a
Mission Church when Rev.
Cornelius Silke celebrated
the first Mass in January
1912. Since it always has
been a Mission throughout
its history there is always
that feeling of being a
deeply grateful orphan.
Everyone knows it is the
community that makes the
church. Things that other
churches take for granted,
priests and programs have
been most gratefully
received and for anything
the parish is given…the
community is truly
grateful! The parish knows
due to space it will always
be a small community, but it
enjoys being a community
with a modest country feel
that any visitor may quietly
enjoy…only if you choose to
scratch the surface will you
see it is filled with a life
giving spirit and deep
caring about each of its
members.
original September 2005 |
