About St. Ann · Fayetteville, North Carolina
St. Ann Catholic Church is a culturally diverse Roman Catholic parish in historic downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina, belonging to the Diocese of Raleigh. Founded in 1939 by a small group of African American Catholics seeking a church of their own, St. Ann grew from humble beginnings — its first Mass was celebrated in Mack's Barber Shop on Christmas Eve 1939 — into one of the most diverse congregations in the diocese, encompassing Black, white, Latino, Filipino, and Korean communities. The parish is home to St. Ann Catholic School (opened 1956) and is currently staffed by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Sunday Eucharist is celebrated at 8:30 AM (livestreamed) and 11:00 AM, with a Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM, a monthly Filipino Mass in Tagalog, and a rich calendar of faith formation, OCIA, devotions, and community outreach.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- St. Ann (Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Reverend Matthew Nwafor
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Ann is one of the most intentionally diverse Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Raleigh, where Black, white, Latino, Filipino, and Korean Catholics worship side by side in a vibrant downtown setting. A historically African American parish founded in 1939, it continues to host a monthly Filipino Mass in Tagalog and a thriving school that has been integrated since 1956. With strong adult faith formation (Faith Matters, FORMED, Lighthouse Catholic Media), an active OCIA program, a children's liturgy and nursery, an AAMEN chapter, Catholic Charities outreach, and a Neighborhood Youth Center tutoring program for at-risk children, St. Ann offers a true sense of community, heritage, and mission in the heart of Fayetteville.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM (every Wednesday following the 12:15 PM Mass)
Welcome to St. Ann Catholic Church
The parish's homepage greets visitors with a warm letter from Father Matthew Nwafor inviting them into 'a vibrant, growing and engaged community located in historic downtown Fayetteville.' The parish describes itself as 'an active Catholic Community with a long and culturally diverse history,' rooted in the founding vision of 1939 and committed today to Catholic education through St. Ann Catholic School and lifelong Faith Formation. Visitors are encouraged to register with the parish and join the family.
- Sunday Eucharist described as 'the heart of our parish community'
- Active support for St. Ann Catholic School
- Lifelong Faith Formation program for all ages
- Online registration available for new parishioners
Parish History
St. Ann's official history page tells the full founding story in detail, from the 1920 letter to Bishop Haid and the June 24, 1934 meeting of three African American families in the home of Mrs. Claudia Cameron, through the Christmas Eve 1939 first Mass in Mack's Barber Shop, the December 22, 1940 dedication of the original church, the 1956 opening of the school, the 1994 transition from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to diocesan leadership, the 2001 entry of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the 2003 dedication of the new sanctuary, the 2014–2015 75th anniversary, and the parish's recovery from Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018).
- Eight founding families of the Colored Catholic League (1934): Cameron, Evans, McKay, Montgomery, Murphy
- Construction of the original sanctuary completed December 1940 at a cost of ~$15,000
- St. Ann School opened September 4, 1956 — 102 students on day one, 142 by year's end
- Korean Catholic Community recognized by Bishop Gossman on June 27, 1992
- St. Ann Neighborhood Youth Center founded 1995 by the Daughters of Charity
- New sanctuary ground broken May 17, 2001; dedicated June 15, 2003
- 75th anniversary celebrated 2014–2015 with Mass by Bishop Michael Burbidge
- Stained-glass windows of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel by Marianne Downs Behle of Warwick, NY
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Ann offers a rich weekly schedule of Masses in English, with a Communion Service on Mondays. The 8:30 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page for the homebound. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration follows the Wednesday noon Mass.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM (English, livestreamed) and 11:00 AM (English)
- Weekday: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 12:15 PM; Thursday 12:15 PM (June–July) / 9:00 AM (school year)
- Monday: 12:15 PM Communion Service (no Mass)
- Confessions: Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM or by appointment
- Adoration: Wednesday 1:00–1:30 PM
- Monthly Filipino Mass: 2nd Sunday at 3:00 PM (Tagalog every other month), followed by a potluck fiesta
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Ann offers faith formation for every age. Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Associate Antony Bishop oversees a Children's Ministry (Pre-K through 8th grade), a High School Ministry with Confirmation preparation, OCIA/OCIC for adults and children, and a robust adult formation program. Adult offerings include the 'Faith Matters' class held Tuesday evenings at 7 PM and Thursday mornings at 10 AM (same topic each week), a parish subscription to FORMED (Catholic video, audio, and book library), and a Lighthouse Catholic Media kiosk of CDs in the church gathering space.
- Children's Ministry: Pre-K through 8th grade
- High School Ministry / Confirmation preparation
- OCIA (adults) and OCIC (children) — Sundays 10:00–10:45 AM in the school
- Faith Matters adult classes: Tuesdays 7 PM and Thursdays 10 AM
- FORMED parish subscription — register at formed.org using 'Fayetteville' and 'St Ann — 357 N. Cool Spring St'
- Lighthouse Catholic Media CD kiosk in the gathering space
- Fayetteville Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–35)
- Contact: [email protected] or 910-483-3216
St. Ann Catholic School
St. Ann Catholic School has served the Fayetteville community and Cape Fear region since September 4, 1956, when 102 students reported on the first day and 142 by year's end. The school describes itself as 'a culturally diverse Catholic School that serves the entire community by promoting academic, spiritual, physical, and moral excellence in a safe, structured environment.' It is accredited by Cognia and has successfully completed the agency's 5-year review. Military families from Fort Bragg have sustained the school for decades. The founding teachers were the Sisters of Providence from St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, with Sister Marie Stephanie as the first principal. The current principal is Mr. Lee Pittman.
- Founded 1956; first principal Sister Marie Stephanie (Sisters of Providence)
- Cognia-accredited, recently completing its 5-year review
- Welcomes students of all races, religious affiliations, and economic backgrounds
- Military-friendly school — sustained by Fort Bragg families for 68+ years
- Mission: 'Our students enter to learn and depart to serve'
- Current principal: Mr. Lee Pittman
- Website: stanncatholicschool.net
Communities & Cultural Ministries
St. Ann is home to multiple language and cultural communities that worship together under one roof. The Filipino Catholic Community of St. Ann celebrates a monthly Mass on the second Sunday of each month at 3:00 PM, followed by a potluck fiesta, with Mass in Tagalog every other month. The parish also maintains an active AAMEN (African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization Network) chapter, which in November 2022 organized a parish-wide celebration of Black Catholic History Month with Deacon Stephen Pickett of the Diocese of Charlotte as homilist and the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral Spiritual Choir providing gospel music. Historically, the Korean Catholic Community of Fayetteville met at St. Ann from 1989 until they were formally recognized by Bishop Gossman in 1992 and eventually moved to their own church.
- Filipino Community contact: Zeny Bohol (910-424-7298)
- Monthly Filipino Mass: 2nd Sunday, 3:00 PM, with Tagalog every other month
- AAMEN (African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization Network) chapter
- Black Catholic History Month celebrated annually each November
- Korean Catholic Community (historical, 1989–early 1990s)
- Diocese of Raleigh AAMEN Administrator Jennifer Jones is a frequent collaborator
Parish Staff
The parish staff listed on the website is led by Father Matthew Nwafor as pastor, with Deacon Gary Stemple assisting. Antony Bishop serves as Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Associate, Lee Pittman as School Principal, and Pok-Hui Folsom as Bookkeeper. Several lay ministry leaders coordinate specific programs.
- Father Matthew Nwafor, Pastor
- Deacon Gary Stemple, Deacon
- Mr. Antony Bishop, Director of Religious Education / Pastoral Associate (also Safe Environment contact)
- Mr. Lee Pittman, School Principal
- Ms. Pok-Hui Folsom, Bookkeeper
- Jo Katherine Dessaw — OCIA Adults contact ([email protected], 910-583-1005)
- Erin Coughlin — OCIC Children contact
- Jennifer Tapia — Children's Liturgy contact
- Vicky Jimenez — Catholic Charities contact (910-424-2020)
- Becky Oskey — Social Committee contact (910-658-7771)
- Barbara Ingano — Arts and Environment Committee contact
- Zeny Bohol — Filipino Community contact (910-424-7298)
Parish Life, Outreach & Committees
Beyond worship, St. Ann is a hub of community life and service. The Social Committee coordinates programs and fellowship events. The Arts and Environment Committee cares for the worship space, gathering space, and social hall — planning and implementing the liturgical decorations of the seasons. The Grounds and Maintenance Committee tends the church, school, and campus. The St. Ann Neighborhood Youth Center, founded in 1995 by the Daughters of Charity under Sister Joanne Goecke, DC, continues to pair at-risk neighborhood children with volunteer tutors. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh is represented at the parish by Vicky Jimenez, working to address immediate needs and issues of economic justice.
- Social Committee — coordinates programs and fellowship (Becky Oskey)
- Arts and Environment Committee — worship space and seasonal décor (Barbara Ingano)
- Grounds and Maintenance Committee — church, school, and campus care
- St. Ann Neighborhood Youth Center (est. 1995) — tutoring for at-risk children
- Catholic Charities outreach (Vicky Jimenez, 910-424-2020)
- Safe Environment / VIRTUS child-abuse prevention training (Antony Bishop)
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and on Friday by appointment only. The mailing address is 357 N. Cool Spring Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301. The main phone line is (910) 483-3216 with fax (910) 483-4185. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed to register with the parish office or online, and the parish notes that parking can be tight — congregants are invited to park behind the office building or, on Easter, at the First Citizens Bank behind the church at 130 Grove Street, Fayetteville NC 28301.
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Fri by appointment
- Phone: (910) 483-3216 | Fax: (910) 483-4185
- DRE email: [email protected]
- Overflow parking: First Citizens Bank, 130 Grove Street, Fayetteville NC 28301 (especially Easter)
- Behind-office parking accessed through the dumpster area
- Website: stanncatholicchurch.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stannfayettevillenorthcarolina
- Mobile app available for Mass times and bulletins
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William P. Ryan, OMI1939–1951 & 1968–1971
Oblate of Mary Immaculate from South Boston, MA; founded and built the parish; original pastor at the Christmas Eve 1939 Mass in Mack's Barber Shop.
- Rev. Edward Moan, OMI1951–1958
Second pastor; Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
- Rev. Matthew Noonan, OMI1958–1962
Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
- Rev. William Lynch, OMI1962–1968
Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
- Rev. William P. Ryan, OMI (return)1968–1971
Founding pastor returned for a second term.
- Rev. Patrick Mangan, OMI1971–1973
Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
- Rev. George White, OMI1973–?
Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
- Rev. John Lyons, OMI1973–1979
Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
- Rev. Richard Roche, OMI1979–1983
Oblate of Mary Immaculate; church was rededicated in 1983.
- Rev. Jack McHugh, OMI1983–1989
Improved the school building and oversaw construction of the grotto of Mary.
- Rev. Patrick Hollywood, OMI1989–1991
Put the parish on a firm financial foundation; Korean Catholic Community began meeting at St. Ann during his tenure.
- Rev. Harry Winter, OMI1991–1994
Finalized plans for the Korean Catholic Community to become an official component; last OMI pastor.
- Rev. Ernest J. "Ernie" Ruede1994–1997
First diocesan priest; refurbished the church — pews, floors, carpet, and paint.
- Rev. Thomas "T" Davis1997–2000
Helped lay the foundation for the sanctuary expansion.
- Rev. Joseph Yaeger2000–2001
Last diocesan priest; helped lay the foundation for the expansion of St. Ann.
- Rev. Thomas Malloy, OSFS2001–2013
First Oblate of St. Francis de Sales pastor; guided construction of the new sanctuary (dedicated 2003); introduced Salesian spirituality with the motto 'Live Jesus.'
- Rev. Stephen E. Shott, OSFS2013–2020
Led the 75th anniversary celebration (2014–2015); introduced modern website, Facebook page, mobile app, and 'Faith Matters' adult classes; began the annual MLK Jr. lecture series in 2015.
- Rev. Michael Coveyou2020–2024
Led the parish through the COVID-19 pandemic era.
- Rev. Matthew Nwafor2024–present
Current pastor.