About Saint Ann Catholic Church · Florence, South Carolina
Saint Ann Catholic Church is a small, mission-minded Roman Catholic parish on the east side of Florence, South Carolina, part of the Diocese of Charleston (Myrtle Beach Deanery). Founded in 1940 as a mission of St. Anthony of Padua Parish and elevated to full parish status in 1975, the parish today worships in its original one-story brick-veneer church at 113 South Kemp Street, seating about 130. Under pastor Rev. JohnBosco Duraisamy, with parochial vicar Rev. Cosmus Mutie Wambua and two permanent deacons, St. Ann's has roughly 286 registered households and serves a notably diverse flock — including a monthly Filipino Mass on the fourth Sunday — through daily and weekend Masses, OCIA (formerly RCIA), youth CCD, the Ladies Guild, Cursillo, a Prayer Group, and a long tradition of food, clothing, and outreach to the needy of Florence that dates back to the Sisters of St. Mary of Namurs who served here from 1964 to 2000.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- St. Ann (Anne)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Hugo Ruiz Marentes
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Myrtle Beach Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Ann's is the kind of parish where everyone knows each other by name: with about 286 registered households worshiping in a 130-seat church, it is large enough to offer daily Mass, OCIA, youth CCD, a Filipino Mass on the fourth Sunday, Cursillo meetings, a Prayer Group, the Ladies Guild, and a Code Red safety ministry, yet small enough to keep a tight-knit, multi-generational family feel. Rooted in Florence's east side for more than 80 years and shaped by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur's decades-long food-and-clothing outreach, the parish continues to feed, clothe, and accompany the needy regardless of religion — a living mission summed up in its own words: 'To know Jesus Christ as He is revealed in Sacred Scripture, to celebrate His presence within the liturgy, and to serve Him through outreach to the poor and needy within the parish and community.'
Mass times at Saint Ann Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM (about 15 minutes before Vigil Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday 6:00 PM Mass followed by Benediction
History of Our Parish
St. Ann's began in 1940 as a mission of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, which at that time served all of Florence from the west side of town. The original one-story brick-veneer church still stands today on South Kemp Street and has weathered only minimal hurricane damage over the decades. The parish's modern identity was forged in 1962, when Father Russell Nickerson secured funding for a major renovation and an extension of the residential quarters; in 1964 a catechetical center on Dixie Street was added, and a second catechetical center followed in 1969.
- 1940 — Founded as a mission of St. Anthony of Padua Parish
- 1962 — Renovation and extension of residential quarters under Father Russell Nickerson
- 1964 — Dixie Street catechetical center built; three Sisters of St. Mary of Namur invited to Florence
- 1970 — St. Anthony's Church burns; some parishioners remain on the east side and join St. Ann's
- November 12, 1975 — Elevated from mission to full parish status by Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler
- 1977 — St. Ann's Ladies Guild organized under Father Matthew Casey
- August 15, 1985 — Parishioner James (Jim) Johnson ordained as St. Ann's first permanent deacon
- Sisters of St. Mary of Namur served the parish 1964–2000
Our Mission
St. Ann's mission statement reads: 'To know Jesus Christ as He is revealed in Sacred Scripture, to celebrate His presence within the liturgy, and to serve Him through outreach to the poor and needy within the parish and community.' That third element — outreach to the poor — is the heritage the parish inherited directly from the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, whose food-and-clothing work in Florence from 1964 to 2000 still shapes the parish's identity today.
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
St. Ann's is currently served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, two permanent deacons, and a Business Manager. Sacramental emergencies are handled by calling the parish office at 843.661.5012 during the day or 843.662.5674 in the evening and on weekends.
- Rev. Cosmus Mutie Wambua — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Robert L. Cox, III — also Altar Server Training Coordinator and OCIA co-leader
- Deacon David A. Kahn, Sr.
- K. W. (Kathy) Walsh — Business Manager
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Ann's provides faith formation for both adults and children. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, the new name for RCIA) meets on Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM in the St. Ann Memorial Library on the parish campus and is led by Deacon Robert 'Bob' Cox and Mrs. Mary Barcomb; it is open to unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and Catholics who want to complete their initiation sacraments. Youth CCD meets on Sundays, 9:15–11:15 AM in Fr. Foley Hall, from mid-August through mid-May each year, serving students from kindergarten through 8th grade. CCD registration is bilingual (English/Spanish).
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Thursdays, 6:00 PM, Memorial Library; contact Deacon Bob Cox, 843.621.1084
- Youth CCD (K–8) — Sundays, 9:15–11:15 AM, Fr. Foley Hall; Director of Religious Education: Marianne Keenaghan ([email protected])
- Bilingual registration form (English/Spanish)
- Registration: 1 student $45; 2 students $85; 3–4 students $95; 5+ students $110 (late fees begin in September)
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Ann's has a deep bench of lay-led ministries coordinated through the parish office. The Altar Server Ministry trains young parishioners (at least 10 years old and post-First Communion) to assist at Mass; the Bereavement Committee, drawn from the Ladies Guild, supports families through funeral preparation and follow-up; the Code Red Emergency Response Team provides trained medical and safety volunteers during liturgies; and the Disaster Relief Team coordinates parish-wide disaster preparedness. The St. Ann's Ladies Guild (founded 1977) continues to be a backbone of parish life and fundraising, while Cursillo meets Tuesday mornings at 10:15 AM and the Prayer Group gathers Mondays at 11:00 AM.
- Altar Server Ministry (Deacon Robert L. Cox III)
- Annulment Case Assistance (Francois Barcomb)
- Bereavement Committee (Ladies Guild; Sue Cox)
- Code Red Emergency Response Team (Linda Windon)
- Disaster Relief Team
- St. Ann's Ladies Guild (since 1977)
- Cursillo — Tuesdays, 10:15 AM
- St. Ann Prayer Group — Mondays, 11:00 AM
- Online Giving program
Outreach & Charity
Outreach to the poor and needy of Florence — regardless of religious affiliation — is the parish's defining ministry, a charism handed down from the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur who fed and clothed families across the city from 1964 to 2000. The parish continues that work today through the Bereavement Committee's support for grieving families, the Disaster Relief Team, and parish-wide fundraising events such as the long-running annual Barbecue Sale and Harvest Tea.
Sacraments
St. Ann's prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Infant Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office; adult initiation (or completion of initiation) is handled through OCIA on Thursday evenings; youth sacramental preparation is embedded in the CCD program, with Reconciliation and First Communion typically in 2nd grade and above and Confirmation in 8th grade and above.
Communications & News
The parish keeps in touch with parishioners through a downloadable weekly bulletin, a monthly calendar of events, and two blogs on the parish website: 'Parish News & Events' and 'From the Pastor's Desk.' Diocesan news appears in The Catholic Miscellany. The parish is also active on Facebook and YouTube, and has recently added an Online Giving program for regular and special offerings.
- Weekly bulletin — download from the website
- Monthly calendar of events
- Blog: Parish News & Events
- Blog: From the Pastor's Desk
- Diocesan newspaper: The Catholic Miscellany (themiscellany.org)
- Facebook: facebook.com/StAnnFlorence
- YouTube: Saint Ann Catholic Church, Florence, SC
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM, Sunday at 8:00 AM and 11:30 AM) or at the weekly Filipino Mass on the fourth Sunday at 1:30 PM. The parish office at 113 South Kemp Street is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Barbara Lewis is the staff contact for scheduling appointments with the pastor. To become involved, newcomers are encouraged to introduce themselves after Mass, sign up for OCIA or CCD as appropriate, or contact one of the lay-led ministries listed above.
- Parish office: 113 S Kemp St, Florence, SC 29506
- Phone: (843) 661-5012
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Russell Nickerson
Led 1962 renovation and extension of residential quarters; built Dixie Street catechetical center (1964); invited the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur to Florence in 1964
- Father Matthew Casey
Organized the St. Ann's Ladies Guild in 1977
- Father John Lyons
During his pastorship parishioner Jimmy Burch started the annual Barbecue Sale — the parish's longest-running fundraiser
- Rev. JohnBosco Duraisamy
Current pastor