About St. Ann · Janesville, Minnesota
Saint Ann Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish located at 313 West 2nd Street in Janesville, Minnesota, founded in 1876 by Fr. Joseph Herman. The parish has served the Catholic community of Janesville and the surrounding Waseca County area for nearly 150 years, and the community is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary in July 2026. Since July 2023, Saint Ann has been clustered with All Saints Church in Madison Lake and Immaculate Conception Church in St. Clair under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Robert Schneider. The parish is part of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and is named after Saint Ann, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Saint Ann (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Robert Schneider
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Why belong here
Saint Ann is a welcoming, multigenerational Catholic parish with 150 years of history in Janesville. Parishioners gather for Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM and Friday Mass at 10:00 AM, and a full Faith Formation program welcomes children ages 4 through 10th grade, with First Reconciliation and First Communion celebrated in 2nd grade. The parish also reaches teens through a dedicated Youth Ministry led by Nolan Kelly, and the cluster partnership with All Saints and Immaculate Conception broadens sacramental, catechetical, and community life for the whole family.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Welcome to Saint Ann Catholic Church
Saint Ann Catholic Church is a historic parish of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester serving Janesville, Minnesota, and the surrounding Waseca County area since 1876. The parish gathers for Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM and Friday Mass at 10:00 AM, with weekday schedules published in the bulletin. A livestream of Mass is available online for those unable to attend in person. The parish office can be reached at 507-234-6244 or [email protected].
- Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM
- Friday Mass at 10:00 AM
- Livestreamed and archived Masses
- Online Giving available
- Mailing address: PO Box 218, Janesville, MN 56048
History of Saint Ann
Saint Ann was founded in 1876 by Fr. Joseph Herman, who had taken on the St. Mary's pastorate in 1874 and established additional churches at Janesville and Sacred Heart, Waseca. The first Masses were celebrated in Jennison's Hall, and the first church building was constructed that same year. Chartering families included Cahill, Sullivan, Jewison, Burke, Mulcahey, Lilly, Vaughan, Joyce, Hugo, Murphy, Moonan, Campion, Keeley, Gorman, Larkin, Glynn, Hogan, and Bradish. The first child baptized in the new church was Mrs. Anna (Keeley) Burns. Over the decades, the parish has seen extensive remodeling, the construction of a rectory (1927), a Parish Center (1961), a Chapel of Divine Mercy (2005), and a new Parish Center completed in 2023.
- Founded 1876 by Fr. Joseph Herman
- Gothic architecture with brick and Kasota stone
- Rectory built 1927; Parish Center dedicated October 12, 1961
- Kasota stone altars installed 1966
- Chapel of Divine Mercy added 2005
- New Parish Center completed 2023
150th Anniversary Celebration
Saint Ann Parish is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026, with a planned anniversary Mass on July 19, 2026. The parish was established in 1876 by Fr. Joseph Herman and has served the Catholic community of Janesville ever since, looking forward to gathering generations past and present for this historic milestone.
- 150 years in 2026
- Anniversary celebration planned for July 19, 2026
Tri-Parish Cluster: All Saints, Saint Ann & Immaculate Conception
Since July 2023, Saint Ann has been clustered with All Saints Church in Madison Lake and Immaculate Conception Church in St. Clair under Fr. Robert Schneider. The cluster shares sacramental preparation, Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, and bulletins, while each parish retains its own Mass schedule, history, and local identity. All Masses in the cluster are livestreamed and archived.
- All Saints, Madison Lake — Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM
- Saint Ann, Janesville — Sunday 8:30 AM; Friday 10:00 AM
- Immaculate Conception, St. Clair — Sunday 10:00 AM
- All Masses livestreamed and archived
- Cluster website: as-ic.org
Clergy and Staff
Father Robert Schneider serves as pastor of the cluster and pastor of Saint Ann. The parish and cluster are supported by Faith Formation Directors (Colleen Terrell and Carol Jewison are referenced across cluster materials) and a Youth Minister. The parish has been served by a succession of priests dating back to Fr. Joseph Herman in 1876.
- Father Robert Schneider, Pastor
- Faith Formation Director Carol Jewison
- Faith Formation Director Colleen Terrell (cluster)
- Youth Minister Nolan Kelly
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers a full Faith Formation Program for children ages 4 through 10th grade. Sunday morning classes run from 8:45 AM to 9:45 AM for children age four through sixth grade, while Wednesday evening classes meet from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM for grades 7-10. The program is supported by VIRTUS-trained volunteers, and busing from JWP Public School is provided by Palmer Bus Company for grades 1-5.
- Sunday classes for ages 4 through 6th grade (8:45-9:45 AM)
- Wednesday classes for 7th-10th grade (6:30-7:30 PM) in the church basement
- Palmer Bus service from JWP Public School
- Circle of Grace safety training required annually
- VIRTUS training and background check for volunteers
Sacramental Preparation
Saint Ann prepares children for the Sacraments of Initiation through its Faith Formation Program, in close coordination with Father Schneider and family-based learning centers. Sacramental preparation can also be completed via home study by arrangement with the pastor.
- First Reconciliation in 2nd grade, with Reconciliation Learning Center and group celebration
- First Communion in 2nd grade, celebrated at 8:30 AM Mass in spring
- Confirmation in junior year (11th grade), celebrated jointly with Immaculate Conception and All Saints parishes
- Each Confirmation student writes a letter to the bishop
Youth Ministry
The tri-parish Youth Ministry program is led by Youth Minister Nolan Kelly, a Minnesota State University – Mankato student and active member of the Catholic Mavs at the Newman Center in Mankato. His goal is "Walking with Teens as they walk with Christ," through engaging opportunities, youth gatherings, retreats, and service projects such as rolling bandages for the missions, cleaning road ditches, and helping with parish events.
- Youth Minister: Nolan Kelly
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 507-234-6244 (option 4)
- Instagram: @saint_annym
- Service projects and gatherings for high school teens
Altar Serving
Saint Ann welcomes children in 3rd grade and older to serve at the altar. Server training is scheduled periodically throughout the year, and families can sign up multiple children through the Faith Formation registration form.
- Open to 3rd grade and older
- Server training offered periodically
Buildings, Grounds & Cemetery
The Saint Ann campus includes the historic Gothic church, the 1927 rectory, the 1961 Parish Center (now rebuilt and reopened as the new Parish Center in 2023), and the 2005 Chapel of Divine Mercy with handicap-accessible restrooms and offices. Grounds improvements include a memorial flower garden, a tribute to the unborn with a rose-covered trellis fronting old Highway 14, a retaining wall, additional parking south of the church, and accessible entrances. Saint Ann's Cemetery is the resting place of Msgr. Frank T. English (pastor 1945-1960).
- Gothic brick church with Kasota stone trimmings
- Chapel of Divine Mercy (2005)
- New Parish Center completed 2023
- Handicap-accessible restrooms and offices
- Memorial flower garden and tribute to the unborn
- Saint Ann's Cemetery
Giving & Parish Support
Parishioners can support Saint Ann through weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly online giving by creating an account through the parish's Online Giving portal. Contributions can also be mailed to the parish office at PO Box 218, Janesville, MN 56048.
- Online Giving: weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly
- Mailing address: PO Box 218, Janesville, MN 56048
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Herman1876-1881
Founded Saint Ann, Janesville and Sacred Heart, Waseca in 1876.
- Fr. P. Diagnault1881-1885
- Fr. Patrick O'Neill1885-1888
- Fr. Patrick Ryan1888-1904
- Fr. M. Riordan1904-1906
- Fr. Patrick Fox1906-1916
- Fr. Thomas J. McCarthy1916-1917
- Fr. Stephen Condron1917-1927
- Fr. John Parkinson1927-1944
Built the present rectory in 1927.
- Fr. Francis Graf (Assistant)1941
- Fr. Paul Sainsbury (Assistant)1942-1944
- Msgr. Frank T. English1945-1960
Served until his death in 1960; buried in Saint Ann's Cemetery.
- Fr. John Cody (Assistant)1957
- Fr. Donald Grubisch (Assistant)1958-1960
- Fr. Wilford D. Sullivan1960-1974
Built the present Parish Center, dedicated October 12, 1961.
- Fr. Clayton J. Haberman1974-1982
Church completely redecorated in 1976.
- Fr. Elmer Kellen1982-1989
- Fr. Syl Brown1989-2002
Led many building and grounds improvements.
- Fr. Glenn Frerichs2002-2007
Built the Chapel of Divine Mercy in 2005.
- Fr. Syl Brown2008
Returned briefly.
- Fr. Peter J. Klein2008-2013
- Fr. Chinnappa Pothireddy2013-2014
- Fr. Michael J. Cronin2014-2019
Began the three-year Capital Campaign in 2015 for a new Parish Center.
- Fr. Antony Arokiyam2019-2020
- Fr. Brian Mulligan2020-2023
- Fr. Robert Schneider2023-
Current pastor; clustered Saint Ann with All Saints (Madison Lake) and Immaculate Conception (St. Clair).