About St. Ann · Wells, New York
St. Ann's Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in the hamlet of Wells, Hamilton County, New York, situated in the heart of the southern Adirondack Mountains. It is served together with St. James Major in nearby Lake Pleasant as the combined 'St. James and St. Ann' parish within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. Established in 1869, the parish serves the year-round residents and seasonal visitors of this rural Adirondack community with weekly Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, the sacraments, and an active Altar Society. The current pastor is Reverend James V. Teti, assisted by Deacon Francis E. Sczerzenie, with the rectory and parish office located at the St. James Major church site in Speculator.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. Ann (Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. James V. Teti
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. Ann's welcomes Catholics and visitors to a small but faithful Adirondack community where the parish family knows one another by name. The parish offers Sunday and weekday Mass, the full range of sacraments (Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation), an Altar Society, and a cared-for parish cemetery — all under the steady shepherding of Fr. James V. Teti and Deacon Francis E. Sczerzenie. For year-round residents and the many who retreat to the southern Adirondacks, St. Ann's offers a peaceful place to worship, serve, and belong within the Diocese of Ogdensburg.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before weekend Masses
- By request
About St. Ann's Parish
St. Ann's is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the hamlet of Wells and the surrounding Adirondack community of southern Hamilton County, New York. It is part of the combined 'St. James and St. Ann' parish of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, sharing clergy and staff with St. James Major Church in Lake Pleasant. The church is located at 1303 State Route 30 in Wells, with the rectory/parish office mailing address at P.O. Box 214, Speculator, NY 12164.
- Founded 1869
- Located in Wells, Hamilton County, NY
- Part of the Diocese of Ogdensburg (Hamilton/Herkimer Deanery)
History
Catholic worship in Wells dates to 1869, when the mission was established to serve the farming and lumbering families of the southern Adirondacks. Through more than 150 years, St. Ann's has remained a steady presence for the Catholic residents of Wells and for the many seasonal visitors drawn to the Sacandaga valley and the surrounding lakes. Today the parish worships at its Wells church and is pastorally linked with St. James Major Church in Lake Pleasant under one priest and one set of lay leaders.
Pastor & Staff
The parish is led by Reverend James V. Teti, pastor of the combined St. James and St. Ann parish. He is assisted by Deacon Francis E. Sczerzenie. Parish administration is supported by a parish secretary (Yvonne) and a financial secretary (Doris Fiorillo). The two St. Ann's trustees are George Heilsberg and Daniel Saltis.
- Pastor: Rev. James V. Teti — [email protected]
- Deacon: Francis E. Sczerzenie
- Parish Secretary: Yvonne
- Financial Secretary: Doris Fiorillo
- Trustees (St. Ann's): George Heilsberg & Daniel Saltis
Sacraments
St. Ann's celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments, with preparation requirements noted on the parish website.
- Baptism — contact the priest two weeks prior
- First Communion & Confirmation — coordinated through parish Faith Formation
- Marriage — contact the priest six months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — inform the priest about the person to be anointed
- Confession (Penance) — before weekend Masses and by request
Parish Ministries & Societies
Like many small Adirondack parishes, St. Ann's life is sustained by a tight circle of lay volunteers and parish societies. The Altar Society is the principal lay organization supporting the church, and trustees oversee temporal affairs and the parish cemetery.
- Altar Society
- Parish Trustees (George Heilsberg & Daniel Saltis)
- St. Ann's Cemetery care
St. Ann's Cemetery
St. Ann's maintains a parish cemetery in Wells serving the local Catholic community. Inquiries about plots, burials, and cemetery care are directed to the parish cemetery trustee.
- Cemetery contact: Vincent Lauria — (518) 924-4401
Visiting & Contact
St. Ann's welcomes visitors, seasonal residents, and travelers to its Sunday Mass and to the Adirondack Catholic community. The parish office can be reached by phone and by email through the pastor's diocesan address.
- Address: 1303 State Route 30, Wells, NY 12190
- Mailing: P.O. Box 214, Speculator, NY 12164
- Phone: (518) 548-6275
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stjamesann.com/