About Saint Anne · Richmond Hill, Georgia
St. Anne Catholic Church is a vibrant, growing Roman Catholic parish in Richmond Hill, Georgia, in the Diocese of Savannah. The parish serves the Bryan County community south of Savannah from its campus on Ford Avenue, anchored by the historic Martha-Mary Chapel (built by Henry and Clara Ford in 1937) and a modern 24,000-square-foot church dedicated in 2016 that seats about 1,000. Worship is offered daily, including a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, with a strong tradition of both versus populum and ad orientem celebration, incense, traditional chant (Missa de Angelis), and perpetual Eucharistic adoration in a dedicated chapel.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Dawid Kwiatkowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Savannah (Deanery: Savannah)
Why belong here
St. Anne offers one of the fullest weekly liturgical schedules in the Diocese of Savannah — daily Mass (with both versus populum and ad orientem forms, incense, organ, cantor, and the Missa de Angelis), a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, multiple daily confession slots, and 24/7 perpetual Eucharistic adoration in a dedicated chapel. A multigenerational parish of about 1,000 families, it combines a deep respect for traditional liturgy with vibrant ministries for children (CCD PreK–8), youth (CYM grades 6–12), adults, marriage, the homebound, and the broader Bryan County community through St. Anne Charities, a Transportation Ministry, and a Meal Train. Rooted in the historic Martha-Mary Chapel built by the Fords in 1937 and worshipping in a 1,000-seat modern church dedicated in 2016, St. Anne is a place where heritage and present-day mission meet.
Mass times at Saint Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Wednesday: 5:45 PM – 6:25 PM
- Wednesday through Friday: 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
- First Friday: 5:45 PM – 6:25 PM (also listed as 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM)
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:50 PM (listed elsewhere as 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
- By appointment — contact Fr. Dawid at [email protected]
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration: 24 hours/day, 7 days/week in the Eternal Adoration Chapel for registered parishioners with an access code
- Chapel open to all visitors during parish office hours: Mon/Tue/Thu 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Wed 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (use the side door)
- On some Sundays and feast days, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the main altar for Adoration following Mass
History of St. Anne Catholic Church
The parish's spiritual home — the Martha-Mary Chapel — was built in 1937 by automobile magnate Henry Ford and his wife Clara as one of six nondenominational chapels they built around the country in honor of their mothers. After Clara Ford's death in 1950, the chapel fell out of use. Bishop Francis E. Hyland arranged for Mass at the Ways Station Courthouse beginning September 16, 1951, and a few years later secured the chapel for the Diocese through the generosity of Gilbert Verney of New Hampshire. The mission chapel of St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was dedicated June 13, 1955, with five families and a few Catholic soldiers from Hinesville. Bishop Raymond W. Lessard raised the Mission to Parish status on November 1, 1987 under Fr. Douglas Clark. Holy Family Hall was built in October 2004, and a new 24,000-square-foot church seating 1,000 was dedicated February 6, 2016.
- 1937 — Henry and Clara Ford build the Martha-Mary Chapel on the Ford Plantation near the Ways Station School
- 1950 — After Clara Ford's death, the Ford Foundation sells most of the Ford land to International Paper; the chapel is no longer used for worship
- September 16, 1951 — Bishop Francis E. Hyland arranges for Mass at the Ways Station Courthouse; 20 attend the first Mass (community called Mission of St. Joseph)
- June 13, 1955 — Renamed and dedicated as the mission chapel of St. Anne, with five registered families and Catholic soldiers from Hinesville
- November 1, 1987 — Bishop Raymond W. Lessard raises St. Anne from Mission to Parish under Fr. Douglas Clark
- October 2004 — Holy Family Hall built behind the Martha-Mary Chapel for offices, religious education, and social events
- February 6, 2016 — New 24,000-square-foot main church dedicated, seating 1,000
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
St. Anne is served by a pastor, a permanent deacon, and a robust lay staff and council structure. The parish priest is Rev. Dawid Kwiatkowski; Deacon Ben Ernst assists with liturgical and pastoral ministry. Parish operations and faith formation are coordinated through an Office Manager, Receptionist, Religious Education Coordinator, Youth Minister, Music Director, Bulletin Editor, and Operations & Maintenance Director. Pastoral and Finance Councils, the Council of Catholic Women, and the Knights of Columbus provide lay governance and service leadership.
- Rev. Dawid Kwiatkowski — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Ben Ernst — Permanent Deacon ([email protected])
- Mrs. Kathy Zdunich — Coordinator of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Mrs. Macrina West — Youth Minister
- Mrs. Jody DeLiguori — Music Director
- Mrs. Mary Kay Delaney — Office Manager & Bookkeeper
- Mrs. Michele Bryant — Receptionist & Administrative Assistant
- Mr. Brendan Hilleary — Operations & Maintenance Director; President of Pastoral Council
- Mr. Michael Votava — Finance Council
- Mrs. Shannon GaNun — Bulletin Editor
- Mrs. Alice Robben — Council of Catholic Women ([email protected])
- Mr. Allen Lancaster — Knights of Columbus
- Mr. Jamey Hermanns — Knights of Columbus
- Father Noah Pace — Spiritual leadership for OCIA
- Dr. Conan Higgins — OCIA Coordinator; Kate Upshaw — OCIA Administrator
Sacraments
St. Anne prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven sacraments, with detailed formation requirements for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and the Anointing of the Sick. Sacramental emergencies outside office hours are handled through a dedicated line, (912) 421-9813.
- Baptism — Third Saturday of the month at 11:00 AM (not during Advent or Lent); six-month registered attendance required; Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God online course
- First Communion & Confirmation — preparation through CCD/Religious Education
- Matrimony — Six months advance; Saturday 1:00 PM weddings; rehearsal at 6:00 PM the evening before; celebrated ad orientem
- Anointing of the Sick — By appointment; sacramental emergencies: (912) 421-9813
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Sunday mornings 9:15–10:15 AM in the CYM-Youth Center; next classes formally begin August 16, 2026
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Anne spans cradle Catholics through adults, including children's CCD (PreK–8) on Sunday mornings, the Catholic Youth Ministry for middle and high schoolers, Adult Faith Formation, and OCIA for those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Children's Religious Faith Catechists (CCD Teachers) — PreK–8, Sundays beginning 9:15 AM
- Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) — grades 6–12, Wednesdays 6:00–8:30 PM plus first Sundays 6:00–8:30 PM
- Adult Faith Formation — currently suspended until Holy Family Hall re-opens (projected summer 2026)
- OCIA — Sunday 9:15–10:15 AM, CYM-Youth Center; led by Dr. Conan Higgins, Kate Upshaw, and Fr. Noah Pace
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music is central to St. Anne's liturgical identity. The St. Anne Choir sings at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass and all Holy Days of Obligation, and the parish also fields a children's choir. Adult singers rehearse Thursdays and are expected to have prior choir experience and basic music theory; children's choir is open to readers with a love of music.
- St. Anne Choir — Sundays 10:30 AM Mass and Holy Days; rehearsal Thursdays 6:30–8:00 PM; contact Music Director Jody DeLiguori ([email protected] / 912-228-0993, text only)
- St. Anne Children's Choir — rehearsal Fridays 4:00–5:00 PM; open to readers with a love of music
Parish Ministries & Community Outreach
St. Anne's ministries reach every age and stage of life — from the parish's Marriage Ministry and OCIA team to youth formation, men's and women's organizations, the Knights of Columbus, the Council of Catholic Women, and a robust outreach arm serving Bryan County through St. Anne Charities (Catholic Social Services). A new Transportation Ministry uses the parish-owned minivan to bring seniors from Magnolia Manor to Mass, and a Meal Train Ministry supports parishioners during family emergencies.
- Catholic Youth Ministry (grades 6–12)
- CCD Catechists (PreK–8)
- Adult Faith Formation / OCIA
- St. Anne Choir & Children's Choir
- Adult Servers (Acolytes) and Youth Altar Servers
- Homebound Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministry
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration volunteers
- Marriage Ministry
- Marian Movement of Priests (Tuesdays 1:00–2:00 PM)
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW) — Alice Robben, President
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Anne Charities / Catholic Social Services — monthly Food for the Soul meals, Family Connection, Migrant Farm Workers, CRS Operation Rice Bowl, Little Prayer Apron
- Evangelization Ministry — film screenings, Lenten riverfront outreach, spring trolley stops at Martha-Mary Chapel
- Pro-Life Ministry — Rosemary Brown, 912-677-0401
- Welcome and Fellowship Ministry
- Meal Train Ministry — meals for parishioners during emergencies, new babies, hospitalizations
- Transportation Ministry — parish-owned minivan for Magnolia Manor seniors to the Saturday Vigil and Holy Day evening Masses
- Altar Society
Getting Involved & Visiting
Newcomers are asked to register with the parish (online at stannerh.org/forms-2) and are welcomed by the Welcome and Fellowship Ministry. Sacramental emergency coverage is available 24 hours through (912) 421-9813. The parish runs a sign-up portal for ministries and a facility reservation request form, and it publishes a weekly bulletin with announcements (deadline noon Friday, a week before the following Sunday).
- Parish Registration: stannerh.org/forms-2
- Sign-up for a Ministry: stannerh.org/volunteer
- Bulletin Editor (announcement deadline noon Friday, one week ahead): Shannon GaNun
- Submit a Facility Reservation Request online via the parish calendar
- Office Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Wed 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday by appointment; closed for lunch 12:30–1:30 PM Mon–Thu
- Sacramental emergency (outside office hours): (912) 421-9813
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop Francis E. Hyland (Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta)1951
Arranged the first Mass at the Ways Station Courthouse on September 16, 1951; shepherded the acquisition of the Martha-Mary Chapel from International Paper.
- Fr. Douglas Clark1987
Led the parish when Bishop Raymond W. Lessard raised the mission to Parish status on November 1, 1987.
- Fr. Herbert Wellmeier1992 – circa 2001+
Began residence in the community in 1992; launched the Growing in Grace expansion project in 2001.
- Fr. Joseph SmithJanuary 2003
Joined in January 2003; during his tenure the parish grew to nearly 800 families.
- Rev. Dawid Kwiatkowskipresent
Current pastor; serves as [email protected].