About St. Ann · Clayton, North Carolina
St. Ann Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Clayton, North Carolina, located at 4057 US Highway 70 Business West in Johnston County. It is the only Catholic parish serving all of Johnston County and belongs to the Diocese of Raleigh. The parish is bilingual (English and Spanish), offering a robust schedule of daily and weekend Masses in both languages, and is currently staffed by Passionist (CP) priests and three deacons. With more than 1,100 registered households, it is one of the largest and fastest-growing parishes in the diocese.
- Established
- 1942
- Patron
- Saint Ann (mother of the Virgin Mary, wife of St. Joachim, and grandmother of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew Okeyo Ogacho, CP (Passionist)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Ann is the only Catholic parish in all of Johnston County, making it a natural spiritual home for Catholics across the region. Its bilingual English/Spanish Mass schedule — six weekend Masses plus daily Masses — welcomes families of every background, and more than 1,100 households worship here. With a large faith-formation program, active youth ministry, a thriving food pantry serving the hungry of Johnston County, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, Bible study, and a forthcoming church expansion on 16.5 newly-acquired acres, St. Ann offers a place to belong, to be formed, and to serve.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (English) [Diocese of Raleigh listing; official site lists Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM English]
- Tuesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Spanish)
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (English)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Bilingual)
- Also available by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration (Friday morning events listed on the parish calendar)
Parish History & Growth
St. Ann's story stretches back to the 1800s, when scattered Catholic families in Johnston County welcomed traveling priests into their homes. Smithfield became a regular 'station' and was raised to mission status in 1915. In 1935 a donation from Mrs. Doyle of Boston — given on the condition that a church be built in North Carolina in honor of Saint Ann — was directed by Bishop Hafey to Smithfield. A small St. Peter chapel was built, and in 1942 Fr. McGuirk became the parish's first resident pastor, formally establishing the canonical parish.
- 1800s: Johnston County Catholics gather in homes; Smithfield becomes a station and then a mission in 1915.
- 1935: Mrs. Doyle's $5,000 bond gift seeds a church in honor of Saint Ann; Bishop Hafey allocates funds to Smithfield.
- 1942: Fr. McGuirk named first resident pastor.
- 1989: Fr. Joseph Lynn, O.S.F.S. adds the first Spanish Mass.
- 1998: Fr. Joseph Mulroney launches a building campaign, raising $1.5M+ and purchasing 14 acres.
- 2001: First Mass celebrated in the new church (August 21).
- 2002: Bishop Joseph Gossman dedicates the new church (June 30).
- 2002: Fr. Scott McCue appointed administrator, then installed as pastor (August 1).
- 2007: Msgr. Michael Clay installed as pastor by Bishop Burbidge (July 24).
- Today: 1,100+ registered households and a diocesan-approved expansion plan.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Faith Formation program walks children and adults through the sacraments and the life of faith, with sacramental prep built right into the curriculum. Lupe Villa serves as Director of Religious Education.
- First Penance & Reconciliation: 1st grade
- First Holy Communion: 2nd grade
- RCIA for adults seeking initiation
- Bible Study for ongoing adult formation
Youth Ministry & Vacation Bible School
Cristian Santiago coordinates Youth Ministry at St. Ann, building community and faith among the parish's young people. The parish also hosts an annual Vacation Bible School.
- Ongoing youth gatherings and formation
- Annual Vacation Bible School (VBS)
Sacraments
St. Ann celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, with clear prep pathways for children and ongoing support for adults. The Anointing of the Sick is offered communally on the last Tuesday of every month at all three daily Masses, and privately by appointment through the Pastor's Assistant.
- Baptism — coordinated through Elsa Leon, Baptism & Sacramental Records Coordinator
- First Penance & Reconciliation — 1st-grade Faith Formation
- First Holy Communion — 2nd-grade Faith Formation
- Confirmation — through parish Faith Formation
- Anointing of the Sick — last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 7:00 PM Masses; also by appointment
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Holy Orders / Vocations — supported through parish prayer life
Liturgical Ministries
A wide range of liturgical ministries invite parishioners to serve at the altar and during Mass. The Music Ministry helps the parish pray through song, while the Multi-Media Ministry handles livestream, audio-visual production, and graphic design for parish communications.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Music Ministry
- Ushers
- Multi-Media Ministry
- Divine Mercy devotion
Prayer & Devotions
Beyond Mass, the parish hosts regular prayer gatherings and devotions, including Eucharistic Adoration on scheduled Friday mornings and two vibrant prayer communities.
- Eucharistic Adoration (scheduled Friday mornings)
- Servants of the Holy Spirit Prayer Group
- Prayer Warriors
- Divine Mercy devotion
Outreach & Charity
St. Ann takes its role as the only Catholic parish in Johnston County seriously, running food and financial-assistance ministries that serve residents throughout the county regardless of parish registration. The Backpack Buddies program fights childhood hunger weekly.
- St. Ann Food Pantry — serves the hungry of Johnston County, body and spirit
- Emergency Financial Assistance Ministry (EFAM) — counsels and helps with utility bills
- Backpack Buddies — recurring weekend-food outreach for children
- Sick & Homebound Ministry — brings the Eucharist to those who cannot attend Mass
Parish Leadership & Staff
St. Ann is currently led by Passionist (CP) clergy with the support of three deacons and a dedicated lay staff. The parish also benefits from advisory bodies — the Pastoral Council and Finance Council — that collaborate with the pastor in guiding the parish's mission, finances, and future.
- Pastor: Fr. Andrew Okeyo Ogacho, CP
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Genelio Garcia Antigua, CP and Fr. Nicholas Ochieng Otieno, CP
- Deacons: Ken Bandiera, Mike Wundsam, Michael Dean Miller
- Business Manager: Bradley Shepard
- Pastor's Assistant: Carmen Ruiz
- Director of Religious Education: Lupe Villa
- Youth Ministry Coordinator: Cristian Santiago
- Special Mass Coordinator: Lisette Uriostegui
- Baptism & Sacramental Records Coordinator: Elsa Leon
- Facilities Manager: Fred Forthofer
- Bookkeeper: Lorrie Bailey
- Receptionist: Mary Worley
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council
Building Fund & Expansion
The parish is in the middle of an exciting growth chapter. A diocesan-approved master plan provides the schematic design for a new, larger church, and the recent purchase of 16.5 adjacent acres opens up room for new facilities, additional parking, and new points of entry. Information sessions are part of the parish's rollout as the building fund moves toward construction.
- Diocesan-approved master plan and schematic design for church expansion
- 16.5 adjacent acres purchased to support future facilities and parking
- Building Fund milestones shared regularly with parishioners
- Information sessions ongoing as the campaign moves toward construction
Community & Events
Beyond worship and service, St. Ann runs community-building events that bring parishioners together throughout the year.
- St. Ann Soccer Tournament (parish-wide signature event)
- Homeschool Meet-Up
- Vacation Bible School
- Backpack Buddies volunteers
- Parish announcements and weekly bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. McGuirk1942
First resident pastor of Saint Ann when the community became a canonical parish.
- Fr. Joseph Lynn, O.S.F.S.
Added the first Spanish Mass in 1989 to serve the growing Hispanic migrant population in Johnston County.
- Fr. Joseph Mulroney1998
Launched a building campaign that raised $1.5M+ in pledges and purchased 14 acres for a new church.
- Fr. Scott McCue2002
Appointed administrator in 2002 and installed as pastor on August 1, 2002; presided over completion of the new church and parish hall.
- Msgr. Michael Clay2007
Installed as pastor by Bishop Burbidge on July 24, 2007; led continued growth in faith formation and Hispanic ministry.
- Padre Marcos León
Installed as pastor in August.
- Msgr. David Brockman
Appointed Administrator effective June 26, with Fr. Carlos Arce as Priestly Minister.
- Fr. Andrew Okeyo Ogacho, CP
Current pastor; Passionist (Congregation of the Passion) priest leading the parish today.