About St. Ann · Hamilton, Ohio
St. Ann Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Lindenwald neighborhood of Hamilton, Ohio, belonging to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Founded as a mission of St. Joseph Parish in 1908 and established as its own parish in 1909, St. Ann has served the growing south Hamilton community for more than a century. Since 2013 it has shared a pastoral region with Sacred Heart Parish in Fairfield, and the two are now formally known as the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The parish also operates St. Ann Catholic School, which opened in 1909 and still uses its 1911 combination church-and-school building.
- Established
- 1908 (mission) / 1909 (parish)
- Patron
- St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. David Sunberg (effective July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. Ann is a multigenerational parish where most parishioners have been there their whole lives, giving the community a warm, family feel. Worship is grounded in a beautifully crafted 1938 church with traditional devotional touches — real candles, kneelers, detailed stained glass and wood carvings — and a full Sunday schedule plus daily morning Masses. The parish runs an active Catholic school (since 1909), a year-round religious education program, an OCIA process for adults, a music ministry, Eucharistic ministers to the sick and homebound, a bereavement (Arimatheans) ministry, and outreach to local businesses and families. As part of the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with neighboring Sacred Heart in Fairfield, St. Ann offers the resources of two parishes while retaining its own close-knit Lindenwald identity.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Anytime by request
- Tuesday 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM (per third-party listing)
History of St. Ann Parish
St. Ann was organized in 1908 as a mission of St. Joseph Parish in Hamilton to serve the growing Catholic population of the Lindenwald neighborhood south of the city, where the unpaved Mt. Pleasant Pike made the two-mile trip to St. Joseph difficult in bad weather. After informal meetings in Catholic homes — beginning with the Eckert home on Laurel Avenue and a formal gathering on October 6, 1907 at the home of Mrs. Palidia Ruhl — Archbishop Henry J. Moeller of Cincinnati approved the new mission, and Fr. Henry Holthaus celebrated the first Mass on July 26, 1908, the Feast of St. Anne, in a rented Ruhl home on Hooven Avenue. The mission was raised to parish status on August 30, 1909, with Fr. Herman N. Santen as first resident pastor, and the parish school opened on September 20, 1909 with 46 students in five grades.
- 1908 — Organized as a mission of St. Joseph Parish; first Mass on July 26, 1908 (Feast of St. Anne)
- 1909 — Established as a parish; Fr. Herman N. Santen appointed first resident pastor
- 1909 — St. Ann Catholic School opens September 20 with 46 students
- 1910 — Work begun on the combination church-and-school on Pleasant & Hooven Avenues; first Mass in the basement on Christmas Day 1910
- 1911 — Combination building dedicated by Archbishop Moeller on June 22; Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg arrive September 11 to staff the school
- 1921 — Convent built for the school's teachers
- 1936 — Construction begun on the present church, designed by architect Edward Schulte
- 1938 — New church completed; old combination building becomes solely the school
- 2009 — Parish centennial celebrated
- 2011 — School centennial celebrated
- 2013 — St. Ann enters pastoral region with Sacred Heart Parish in Fairfield, forming the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Architecture & Worship Space
The present St. Ann Church was designed by Cincinnati architect Edward Schulte in 1936 and completed in 1938 in a rare pairing of styles: a Streamline Art Deco Indiana limestone exterior combined with a modified Gothic Revival interior. The sanctuary woodwork throughout — altar, side altars, and devotional furnishings — was carved by the E. Hackner Altar Company of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Stained glass windows with traditional Catholic symbols light the nave, and the parish retains older devotional features such as real candles and kneelers, which longtime parishioners describe as 'old school' and warmly traditional.
- Architect: Edward Schulte of Cincinnati
- Exterior style: Streamline Art Deco in Indiana limestone
- Interior style: Modified Gothic Revival
- Woodwork: E. Hackner Altar Company, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Stained glass: installed 1910 by John and Lawrence Obowa; symbols include Alpha and Omega, Crown of Thorns, Sacred Heart, Keys of the Kingdom, and Marian emblems
- Original combination church-and-school building (1911) continues in use as St. Ann School; 1952 addition added five classrooms
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Ann celebrates a full week of Masses, with morning weekday Masses Monday through Thursday at 6:30 AM, Friday at 8:00 AM, a Saturday Vigil at 5:15 PM, and two Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The Sacrament of Penance is offered Saturday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30 PM and at any other time by request. Holy Day schedules are published in the bulletin and on the parish website as they approach.
- Monday: 6:30 AM
- Tuesday: 6:30 AM
- Wednesday: 6:30 AM
- Thursday: 6:30 AM
- Friday: 8:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil: 5:15 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
- Confessions: Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM, and anytime by request
- Holy Days: see bulletin / saintanncc.com
Faith Formation & School
St. Ann Catholic School has been in continuous operation since opening on September 20, 1909, and still occupies the original 1911 combination church-and-school building (with a five-classroom addition added in 1952). The parish also runs a Religious Education program for school-age children, coordinated by Joelle Martinez, and an Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process for adults inquiring about becoming Catholic, coordinated by Director of Evangelization Jose Martinez.
- St. Ann Catholic School — est. 1909; housed in the 1911 building; Principal Gwenda Laney (513-863-0604, [email protected])
- Religious Education (K–8) — Coordinator Joelle Martinez, [email protected]
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — Director of Evangelization Jose Martinez, 513-858-4210 ext. 3025
- Becoming Catholic inquiries — call the parish office
Liturgical Ministries
As part of the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Ann invites parishioners to serve in a wide range of liturgical ministries at both the St. Ann and Sacred Heart campuses. The Director of Worship and Music, Melody Wallace, coordinates sacristans for daily and weekend Masses, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Altar Servers, Ushers and Greeters (including a Youth Greeters program), Wedding Coordinators, the Bereavement/Arimatheans Ministry, and the Music Ministry. St. Ann's own Music Director is Rick Crone.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including Communion Ministers to the Sick and Homebound)
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Ushers / Greeters / Youth Greeters
- Sacristans (daily and weekend Masses)
- Music Ministry — St. Ann Director Rick Crone; Director of Worship & Music Melody Wallace
- Wedding Coordinators
- Bereavement / Arimatheans Ministry
- Parish Council
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the usual sacraments. Parents preparing for a first infant baptism attend a formation class held the second Monday of every month at 8:00 PM in the undercroft of Sacred Heart Church (no registration required). Couples should contact Fr. Sunberg (via 513-858-4210) well in advance of a wedding because marriage preparation is required. The Sacrament of Penance is heard Saturday afternoons and by appointment; Anointing of the Sick and homebound Communion visits are arranged through the parish.
- Infant Baptism — formation class second Monday, 8:00 PM, Sacred Heart undercroft
- First Communion & Confirmation — through Religious Education or St. Ann School
- Matrimony — contact Fr. Sunberg; marriage preparation required
- Penance — Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM and by request
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the Homebound — by request
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — Jose Martinez, 513-858-4210 ext. 3025
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. Ann is led pastorally by Fr. David Sunberg, who became pastor of the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on July 1, 2025, succeeding Fr. Larry Tharp. Day-to-day operations are run by a regional staff serving both St. Ann and Sacred Heart, including a Director of Administration, Director of Worship and Music, Director of Evangelization, Communications & Support Coordinator, Bulletin Editor & Parish Secretary, Business Manager, and Director of Property Management. A Parish Council provides lay governance.
- Pastor — Rev. David Sunberg (effective July 1, 2025)
- Pastor Emeritus — Rev. Larry Tharp
- Director of Administration — Kathy Middendorf ([email protected] / [email protected])
- Director of Worship and Music — Melody Wallace (513-237-3978, [email protected])
- Director of Evangelization — Jose Martinez ([email protected], ext. 3025)
- Coordinator of Religious Education — Joelle Martinez ([email protected])
- Communications & Support Coordinator — Lauren Obszarski ([email protected], ext. 3026)
- Bulletin Editor & Parish Secretary — Julie Kluesener (513-863-4963, [email protected])
- Business Manager — Susan McAbee
- Director of Property Management — Bill Dirr ([email protected], ext. 3022)
- Music Director (St. Ann) — Rick Crone
- Parish Council — Arline Argentati, Mark Conese, Erin Fontaine, Carol Mulcahey, Dan Schindler, Charles Smith, Jim Stemann, Joyce Thomas, Tim Vaughn
Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Pastoral Region)
Since 2013, St. Ann Catholic Church has shared a pastoral region with Sacred Heart Parish in Fairfield, Ohio, and the two are formally known as the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The combined parishes operate under a single pastor (currently Fr. David Sunberg) and a shared administrative and ministry staff, with bulletins, faith formation, and many events running jointly. The communities are pursuing a canonical and legal merger with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, a step Fr. Tharp and Fr. Sunberg resubmitted to Archbishop Casey.
- Parish family includes St. Ann (Hamilton) and Sacred Heart (Fairfield)
- Pastoral region formed in 2013
- Single pastor for both parishes
- Canonical merger pending with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
St. Ann Catholic Church is located at 3028 Pleasant Avenue in the Lindenwald neighborhood of Hamilton, Ohio 45015. The parish phone is (513) 863-4963, with email [email protected] for general inquiries and [email protected] for the business office. The combined Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary offices can also be reached through Sacred Heart at (513) 858-4210. The parish maintains an active Facebook presence at facebook.com/SaintAnnCC, and the school website is saintanncs.com.
- Address: 3028 Pleasant Avenue, Hamilton, OH 45015
- Phone: (513) 863-4963
- Email: [email protected]
- Regional offices: (513) 858-4210
- Website: http://www.saintanncc.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintAnnCC/
- School website: https://www.saintanncs.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Henry Holthaus1908–1909
Organized St. Ann as a mission of St. Joseph Parish and offered the first Mass on July 26, 1908.
- Fr. Herman N. Santen1909–1914
First resident pastor; oversaw the opening of St. Ann School (1909), the building of the combination church-and-school (dedicated June 22, 1911), and brought the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg to staff the school.
- Fr. Larry Tharp2006–2025 (St. Ann since 2013)
Ordained 1977; became pastor of Sacred Heart in 2006 and of the combined Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes from 2013 onward; oversaw the centennial celebrations and the pastoral-region merger; transitioned July 1, 2025 to Fr. Sunberg.
- Fr. David Sunberg2025–present
Named pastor of the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (St. Ann & Sacred Heart) effective July 1, 2025.