About St. Ann · Tubac, Arizona
St. Ann's Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Tubac, Arizona, part of the Diocese of Tucson. Sitting at 11 Calle Iglesia, the parish serves not only Tubac itself but also two mission churches — the Assumption Chapel in Amado and St. Ferdinand's in Arivaca — making it a worship hub for a wide stretch of southern Santa Cruz County. Its mission statement commits the community to spreading the word of God and promoting peace, love, and unity, with open doors to anyone who wishes to enter.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- St. Ann (Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph Esson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. Ann's offers a faithful, intimate Catholic community rooted in deep local history — the same ground De Anza blessed in the 1700s — while serving three southern Arizona communities from one parish family. Active members pray together through daily weekday Mass, a weekly Rosary, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of ministries for every age and ability. With two mission chapels, a remodeled parish hall for celebrations, religious education for the youth, and Knights of Columbus service, it's an easy parish to call home for visitors and snowbirds alike.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM (also by appointment)
Adoration times
- First and Third Thursday of the month, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, at St. Ann's Parish
About St. Ann's Parish
St. Ann's Parish is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Tucson located at 11 Calle Iglesia in the historic village of Tubac, Arizona. Its mission is to spread the word of God and to promote peace, love, and unity to everyone in the community, with the parish and its missions explicitly open to all who wish to enter.
- Roman Catholic, Diocese of Tucson
- Located at 11 Calle Iglesia, Tubac, AZ 85646
- Includes two mission chapels in Amado and Arivaca
Parish History
Catholic life in Tubac stretches back more than 250 years. The first priests to reach the area were Jesuits like Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino (1691–1711), followed by Padre Augustine Campos (1726–1751), whose diary records a 1741 baptism in Tubac. After the 1751 Pima rebellion destroyed the village, Captain Juan Bautista de Anza built a new presidio and oversaw a cruciform Church of Santa Gertrudis, completed by Franciscans in 1767 — the same foundations on which today's church stands. The community built a new church in 1910, completed in 1912; its walls fell in just eight years later during severe rains. The current adobe church was raised on the same historic ground and completed in 1930, retaining a steep alpine roof and bell tower. GCatholic records the modern parish as established in 1987, continuing the unbroken Catholic presence on the site.
- 1741 — first recorded baptism in Tubac
- 1767 — Santa Gertrudis church completed on current foundations
- 1877 — becomes a vicarate under Bishop Salpointe
- 1912 — new church completed
- 1920 — walls collapse after heavy rains
- 1930 — present adobe church completed
- 1987 — modern parish established (GCatholic)
Mission Statement
As a Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Tucson, St. Ann's mission is to spread the word of God, promote peace, love, and unity to all the people of the community, and keep its doors open to anyone who wishes to enter — including visitors looking up Mass times for the Tubac church.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Joseph Esson, who is named on the parish site as the resident priest. The parish office handles calls and sacramental scheduling Monday through Friday.
- Fr. Joseph Esson — Pastor (named on parish website)
Missions and Chapels
St. Ann's is the parent parish for two mission chapels serving the wider Santa Cruz County area. Each mission has its own weekly Mass and is administered from the parish office in Tubac.
- Assumption Chapel — 17 Amado Montosa Road, Amado, AZ — Sunday Mass 11:00 AM
- St. Ferdinand's — 17140 W. Arivaca Road, Arivaca, AZ — Sunday Mass 1:00 PM
Parish Life and Ministries
Parishioners of all ages take part in a wide range of ministries. There are dedicated prayer groups for men and women, liturgical roles at Mass, a homebound Communion ministry, and the Knights of Columbus. Volunteers are welcomed and categorized by level of responsibility (e.g., roles involving parish finances or transport).
- Men's Prayer Group
- Women's Prayer Group
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound
- Lectors
- Cantors / Music Ministries
- Ushers
- Knights of Columbus
Religious Education and Sacraments
Children's faith formation runs through the new academic year, with a two-year Sacrament Preparation track beginning in grade 3 (First Reconciliation, then First Communion) and continuing through grades 8–12 for Confirmation. Children age 7 and older needing Baptism enter the same preparation flow.
- Baptism (children age 7+ enter Sacrament Preparation)
- First Reconciliation (grades 3–7, first year)
- First Holy Communion (grades 3–7, second year)
- Confirmation (grades 8–12, two-year program)
- Registration form available on the parish website
Sacrament of Marriage and Anointing of the Sick
Couples interested in marrying at St. Ann's or its missions are asked to consult with an ordained priest or deacon before setting a date, and to begin at least six months in advance. Anniversary celebrations can be arranged through the office. Anointing of the Sick is available by appointment for registered parishioners.
- Marriage prep begins ≥6 months before the wedding
- Anniversary celebrations coordinated through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick by appointment for registered parishioners
Community Hall
St. Ann's Community Hall has been recently remodeled and now accommodates 160–200 guests. Updated interiors with warm aesthetics make it a popular venue for parish and community events.
- Seats 160–200 guests
- Hosts weddings, quinceañeras, anniversaries, graduations, receptions, meetings
- Available for parish and outside community gatherings