About St. Ann · Jersey City, New Jersey
St. Anne of the Heights (often listed as St. Ann) is a Roman Catholic parish in the Jersey City Heights neighborhood, in the Archdiocese of Newark. Founded as a mission in 1903 and incorporated as a parish in 1904, it has served the western slope of Jersey City for over a century, with its current church dedicated on Christmas Day 1927. Today the parish worships in English and Spanish, runs a parish school, religious education/C.C.D. program, and a wide array of ministries rooted in a baptism-centered, family-oriented mission statement written by longtime pastor Fr. Victor P. Kennedy.
- Established
- 1904 (mission 1903)
- Patron
- St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Nigel (Pastor) — listed as current pastor on the parish's home page; the longtime pastor of the modern era, Fr. Victor P. Kennedy (pastor 1993/1994 onward), authored the parish mission statement and led the church restoration.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Newark
Why belong here
St. Anne's is a multi-generational parish family in the Jersey City Heights offering weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, a parish school, a lifelong Religious Education/C.C.D. program for children and adults, and a remarkable range of ministries — from Legion of Mary and Holy Name Society to Boy/Girl Scouts, Prayer Groups, Bereavement Ministry, and St. Vincent de Paul outreach. With its baptism-centered mission statement, its century-old tradition of small Christian communities, and a calendar that spans healing Masses, charismatic prayer, novena to St. Anne, and an annual festival, the parish is built around the idea of an inclusive, family-oriented community where every member is invited to share their time and talent.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
Adoration times
- Weekdays 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (M–Th Adoration)
History of St. Anne's Parish
St. Anne's grew out of a mission chapel built in 1903 by Fr. Thomas Quinn, then pastor of St. Paul of the Cross, for parishioners on the far 'Western Slope.' It was incorporated as a parish in June 1904 with Fr. John J. Maher as first pastor. A combination chapel-school on Nelson Avenue and Congress Street was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth. Successive pastors — Fr. James Mulhall (Boy Scouts, 1911), Frs. George T. Smith and Patrick F.X. Fitzpatrick (1930s), Fr. James A. McKenna (from 1971), Fr. Frederick Miller (from 1974), and Fr. Victor P. Kennedy (from 1993/94, author of the parish mission statement) — shaped the parish across the 20th century. The current church was completed ahead of schedule and dedicated with its first Mass on Christmas Day 1927.
- Mission Chapel dedicated September 20, 1903
- Incorporated as a parish, June 1904
- First four graduates, June 25, 1908
- First alumnus ordained (Fr. Luke/Frank Hay), 1909
- Present church first Mass, Christmas Day 1927
- Kennedy restoration of the 90-year-old church, 1990s
- Centennial celebrated, July 7, 2004
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish's Religious Education / C.C.D. program is described as lifelong rather than purely sacramental, with four catechetical aims: proclaiming the Christian message, preparing for prayer and worship, building community, and motivating for Christian living and service. Sunday classes follow the 10:00 AM Mass, and the parish also offers Christian Foundations for Ministry (CFM) as adult formation.
- Sunday classes after the 10:00 AM Mass
- Catechetical leadership: Ms. Judy Waddleton and Ms. Elida Roman
- Adult Education Committee
- Christian Foundations for Ministry (CFM) — Thursdays
- Baptismal Preparation by married couples
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Anne's runs one of the broadest ministry rosters in the Archdiocese of Newark, with more than three dozen active groups — from traditional sodalities like the Holy Name Society, Rosary Altar Society, and Legion of Mary, to family and youth groups (Scouts, CYO, Altar Servers), prayer groups (Morning Prayer, Jesus and Mary, Padre Pio, Charismatic Prayer Group), outreach (Ministry to the Sick, Ministry to the Shut-Ins, Ministry to the Poor, Bereavement Ministry), and parish support (Finance Committee, Buildings and Grounds, Bingo Workers, Collection Counters, Fil-Am Society, St. Anne's Seniors).
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish sustains a rich devotional life including a monthly Rosary Altar Society Mass, a monthly Holy Name Society Mass, a First Friday Healing Mass with the Charismatic Prayer Group, a daily Morning Prayer Group reciting the Rosary after Mass, weekly Legion of Mary meetings, the Bereavement Ministry, and the international novena in honor of St. Anne before her July 26 feast.
- Healing Mass — 1st Friday at 7:00 PM
- Rosary Altar Society Mass — Saturday before 1st Sunday at 6:00 PM
- Holy Name Society Mass — 2nd Sunday at 10:30 AM
- Legion of Mary — Mondays 7:30 PM in Rectory
- Novena to St. Anne leading to July 26
Parish School & Education Heritage
St. Anne's School has been in continuous operation since 1903 (as the mission-chapel school) and produced its first four graduates on June 25, 1908. The parish emphasizes both the parish school and Religious Education as twin pillars of youth education and heritage sharing, and the school is supported by parish fundraisers including Bingo (Tuesdays and Fridays) and the annual auction.
- Bingo Workers (Tues. & Fri. afternoons) — proceeds offset tuition
- Annual Auction workers
- Home-School Association
- CCD Parent's Association
- CYO
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Quinn1887 onward
Pastor of St. Paul of the Cross who recognized the needs of the Western Slope and launched the mission chapel/school that became St. Anne's.
- Rev. John J. Maher1904–
First pastor of the incorporated parish of St. Anne's, appointed June 1904; organized Holy Name, Rosary Society, and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Rev. James Mulhall1911–
Introduced the Boy Scouts and the St. Anne's Boy Scout Band; parishioners pledged $50,000 for a new church.
- Rev. George T. Smith1930s
Continued the parish's growth and community involvement.
- Rev. Patrick F.X. Fitzpatrick1930s
Continued the parish's growth and community involvement.
- Rev. James A. McKennafrom 1971
Welcomed assisting priests including Fathers Mark Urbano and John Basil; oversaw changes during a period of transition.
- Rev. Frederick Millerfrom 1974
Integral part of religious education for young people and directed the Adult Education Program.
- Rev. Victor P. Kennedy1993/1994 onward
Pastoral mission statement author; led successful restoration of the then-90-year-old church; elected Dean of Jersey City North in 1994; expanded youth, young-adult, and small Christian community programs.