About St. Ann Shrine · Highland Heights, Ohio
St. Ann Shrine is a Catholic diocesan shrine located in the Oratory of the Blessed Sacrament on the grounds of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (Province of Saint Ann) in Highland Heights, Ohio, adjacent to Saint Paschal Baylon parish in the Diocese of Cleveland. It is one of only two St. Ann shrines administered by the Blessed Sacrament Fathers in the United States, the other being the original at Église Saint Jean Baptiste in New York City. The shrine houses a first-class relic of St. Ann, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is a center of Eucharistic devotion, offering daily Mass on weekdays, a weekly Perpetual Novena with adoration and Benediction, and the well-known annual St. Ann Triduum each July 24–26.
- Established
- 1987 (Shrine devotion moved to Highland Heights in 1987; Oratory of the Blessed Sacrament consecrated 1965)
- Patron
- St. Ann (Saint Anne), mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus
- Rector
- Father John Thomas Lane, SSS (Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Province of Saint Ann, and Pastor of Saint Paschal Baylon, the territorial parish that hosts the shrine)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Visitors come to St. Ann Shrine for daily Mass in a uniquely intimate Eucharistic chapel reserved for the Blessed Sacrament year-round, and for the chance to venerate a first-class relic of St. Ann in the country. It is the only diocesan shrine to St. Anne in the Diocese of Cleveland and one of just two administered by the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament — a community whose entire charism is the Eucharist. Devotees can join the weekly Perpetual Novena and Eucharistic Adoration each Tuesday, walk the same grounds the SSS Fathers have used since the seminary moved here in 1965, and gather each July 24–26 for the celebrated St. Ann Triduum with blessing of children, anointing of the sick, and procession with the Blessed Sacrament.
Mass times at St. Ann Shrine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available during Shrine hours (Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, except holidays and Holy Days); request through the chaplain or a member of the Congregation.
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament each Tuesday as part of the weekly Perpetual Novena to St. Ann, in the Oratory of the Blessed Sacrament (Blessed Sacrament reserved in a special tabernacle except during the Sacred Triduum).
History and Origins
The story of the shrine begins in 1892 with a first-class relic of St. Ann sent by Pope Leo XIII from Rome to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec. En route, the relic stopped in New York City at the French-Canadian parish of Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where it was venerated for three weeks and crowds reported healings and conversions. The relic was divided; a portion remained in New York and an annual nine-day Novena has been held there each July 19–26 ever since. In 1900 the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament was invited to administer the parish, making Saint Jean-Baptiste the first U.S. community of the Congregation and a center for the Priests' Eucharistic League, the People's Eucharistic League and the Nocturnal Adoration Society. The Province of Saint Ann eventually took its name from this custodianship of the St. Ann relic. The Province moved to Cleveland in 1931 and to Highland Heights in 1953, when Saint Paschal Baylon parish was founded and the congregation was given responsibility for it. The Oratory of the Blessed Sacrament was consecrated on May 4, 1965 by Bishop Clarence Issenmann as the chapel of Saint Joseph Seminary on the parish grounds. Saint Ann devotion moved formally into the Oratory with the first Triduum celebrated July 24–26, 1987.
Diocesan Shrine Status (2023)
On the Feast of the Archangels, September 29, 2023, Bishop Edward C. Malesic formally elevated Saint Ann Shrine to a diocesan shrine in the Diocese of Cleveland. The decree establishing the shrine and a description of the spiritual benefits of diocesan shrine status (indulgences, pilgrimage graces, etc.) are linked from the official Saint Ann Shrine webpage. Today it is one of only eleven designated sacred sites in the Diocese of Cleveland and the only one dedicated to Saint Ann.
The Oratory of the Blessed Sacrament
The Oratory is the chapel of the former Saint Joseph Seminary, a building whose construction began in 1963 to extend the existing rectory after the original Euclid Avenue SSS seminary was abandoned because of repeated flooding. The Oratory was consecrated for the house of studies of the Province of Saint Ann on May 4, 1965. After the seminary ran for only five years (vocations dropped and students joined John Carroll University), the building returned to parish use for offices, classrooms and CYO activities, but the Oratory itself has remained in continuous Eucharistic use for over sixty years. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a special tabernacle in the Oratory every day of the year except during the Sacred Triduum.
Devotional Life
The devotional life of the shrine flows from two streams that are central to the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament's charism: devotion to the Eucharist and devotion to St. Ann. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a special tabernacle year-round. Each Tuesday the weekly Perpetual Novena to St. Ann is observed with veneration of her relic, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. The Rosary is recited before daily Mass. Indulgences are available under the Manual of Indulgences (33, paragraph 1, number 4). Spiritual direction is offered by the chaplain and other members of the Congregation, and the Sacrament of Penance is available during Shrine hours.
- Weekly Tuesday: Perpetual Novena to Saint Ann, veneration of relic, Adoration and Benediction
- Rosary before daily Mass
- Confession during Shrine hours by request
- Spiritual direction by chaplains
- Indulgences per the Manual of Indulgences 33.1.4
Annual Saint Ann Triduum (July 24–26)
Each July 24, 25 and 26, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Ann with a three-day Triduum — the annual high point of the shrine year. Solemnity-rank Masses are celebrated in the neighboring Saint Paschal Baylon Church, with the relic of St. Ann venerated each day. Special elements include a Blessing of Children (with medals) on Day 1, the Anointing of the Sick on Day 2, a Eucharistic Procession on Day 3 and time for veneration of the relic throughout. The Triduum is timed to coincide with the older nine-day Novena still held at Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, July 19–26. Each Mass is livestreamed on the St. Ann Shrine Facebook page. Parking for the Triduum is south of the church, accessed from Colony Drive or Blue Ribbon Way.
- Day 1 (July 24): Mass with Blessing of Children and sharing of medals
- Day 2 (July 25): Mass with Anointing of the Sick
- Day 3 (July 26): Mass with Eucharistic Procession
- All three days: veneration of the relic of St. Ann
- In the Jubilee Year 2025 a special 4:30 PM Mass on July 26 was followed by a Eucharistic Procession and ice cream social
Leadership and Clergy
The shrine is administered by the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Province of Saint Ann. The Provincial Superior (and pastor of Saint Paschal Baylon, the territorial parish that hosts the shrine) is Father John Thomas Lane, SSS. A Greater Cleveland native, Father Lane grew up in St. Paschal Baylon parish, served in Albuquerque, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and Salt Lake City, and holds a graduate degree in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame. He was elected Provincial Superior in August 2022 for a four-year term. Scott R. Gongos is the Director of Mission Advancement and the main point of contact for the shrine.
- Father John Thomas Lane, SSS — Provincial Superior & Pastor
- Father John Kamas, SSS — Provincial Treasurer
- Father William Fickel, SSS — Consultor
- Father Thomas Smithson, SSS — Consultor
- Father Norman Pelletier, SSS — Delegate
- Father John A. Keenan, SSS — Alternate Delegate
- Scott R. Gongos — Director of Mission Advancement
Visiting, Pilgrimages and Tours
The shrine welcomes individual visitors, parish groups and Jubilee Year pilgrims. Located on the Saint Paschal Baylon campus at 5384 Wilson Mills Road, the Oratory offers daily Mass, weekly adoration, and (by appointment) tours for groups. As one of eleven official sacred sites of the Diocese of Cleveland, it is a regular stop on the Jubilee Year 2025 'Pilgrims of Hope' pilgrimage program; parishes such as Our Lady of Peace have made pilgrimages to the shrine in 2025, led by Father John Thomas Lane. Arrangements for tours and pilgrimages can be made by calling 440-449-2700 or emailing [email protected].
- Open Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Daily Mass Monday–Friday at 11:30 AM
- Tours and group pilgrimages by appointment
- Jubilee Year 2025 pilgrimages hosted (one of 11 diocesan sacred sites)
- Parking south of church, via Colony Drive or Blue Ribbon Way
Connection to the Province of Saint Ann
Saint Ann Shrine is deeply tied to the Province of Saint Ann of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Founded in Paris in 1856 by St. Peter Julian Eymard — whom Pope St. John Paul II called 'the eminent apostle of the Eucharist' — the Congregation arrived in the United States in 1900 at Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste in New York City. The Province moved to Cleveland in 1931, relocated to Highland Heights in 1953 (alongside the founding of St. Paschal Baylon) and consolidated its U.S. provincial headquarters on the campus in 1978. In 2025 the Congregation celebrated 125 years in the United States with a Mass at St. Paschal Baylon attended by Bishop Edward Malesic, Provincial Father Lane, Father Benzi Philip Romician, SSS (Superior General, from India), and members of the Eymardian family.
- Province of Saint Ann officially named for its custody of the St. Ann relic
- Headquarters and publishing office moved to Highland Heights in 1978
- 125th anniversary in the U.S. celebrated August 2025
- General Superior Father Benzi Philip Romician, SSS, joined the August 2025 anniversary Mass
Sacraments and Spiritual Services
Beyond the daily Mass, the shrine and its chaplains make available the other sacraments and a range of spiritual services. The Anointing of the Sick is offered upon request, with special emphasis during the annual Triduum. The Sacrament of Penance is available during Shrine hours. Spiritual direction is offered by the chaplain and other members of the Congregation. Memorial Mass intentions and other special liturgies (weddings, anniversaries) can be arranged through the Shrine office. Indulgences attached to pilgrimage visits are described under the Manual of Indulgences, 33, paragraph 1, number 4.
- Anointing of the Sick — on request and during the Triduum
- Penance — during Shrine hours
- Spiritual direction — by the chaplain and Congregation members
- Memorial Mass intentions — request through the office
- Indulgences — Manual of Indulgences 33.1.4
Outreach and Charitable Ministries
All donations to Saint Ann Shrine support the various ministries of the priests, deacons and brothers of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. The Congregation's outreach — carried out from the Highland Heights campus and supported in part by the shrine — includes a weekly distribution of food and clothing for the needy. The shrine also participates in the International Priest Support Appeal, gathering donations for retired and infirm SSS religious (including those in Bethany and Regina Health Center in Richfield, Ohio).
- Weekly food and clothing distribution for the needy
- International Priest Support Appeal (for retired/infirm SSS members)
- Spiritual support for benefactors through daily Mass and Eucharistic prayer
- Donations requested for holy cards, books, holy water, rosaries, and memorial Masses
Getting Involved
Visitors and benefactors are encouraged to pray for the ministries of the Congregation and to support the shrine through donations, Mass intentions, the International Priest Support Appeal, and purchase of devotional items (holy cards, books, holy water, rosaries). Volunteer and pilgrimage inquiries, as well as Tour or special-liturgy bookings, can be directed to Scott R. Gongos, Director of Mission Advancement, at 440-449-2700 / [email protected].
- Donate to the shrine / International Priest Support Appeal
- Request Mass intentions and devotional items
- Book group tours or pilgrimages
- Pray for the priests, deacons and brothers of the Province
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John J. O'Brien, SSS1953–founding pastor
Founding pastor of St. Paschal Baylon (the territorial parish for the shrine); came from Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste NYC; editor of Emmanuel magazine.
- Father Donald Jette, SSS (Brother Paschal)3rd pastor of St. Paschal Baylon
Suggested the parish's patron, St. Paschal Baylon.
- Father William Fickel, SSS4th pastor
Co-author of parish's 60-year history.
- Father Michael J. Arkins, SSS7th pastor
Co-author of parish's 60-year history.
- Father John Thomas Lane, SSS8th pastor of St. Paschal Baylon (current); Provincial Superior since 2022
Greater Cleveland native; grew up in St. Paschal Baylon parish; graduate degree in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame.