About St. Anna · Monroe, Georgia
St. Anna Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Monroe, Georgia, located in Walton County and part of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Originally founded in the 1950s as All Saints Catholic Mission, the parish was renamed St. Anna's after a donation from the Catholic Extension Society specified the name. The chapel was dedicated on May 16, 1957 by Bishop Francis E. Hyland and was the first rural mission dedicated in the newly established Atlanta diocese. Today, St. Anna's offers two Sunday Masses, daily weekday Mass, a Saturday Vigil, Eucharistic Adoration, a School of Religion, OCIA (formerly RCIA), Youth Ministry, a Sacred Music program, and Vacation Bible School for children pre-K through fifth grade.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- St. Anna
- Rector
- Father Brian Bufford
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
St. Anna's is a warm, growing rural parish with daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, and two Sunday Masses, plus Friday Eucharistic Adoration from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM — making weekday and Sunday worship accessible to Catholics across Walton County. A robust School of Religion (Pre-K through 10th grade), OCIA for adults, Youth Ministry, and a Sacred Music program shape faith formation across every age and stage. Add in Vacation Bible School, Christ Renews His Parish retreats, and active lay ministries, and St. Anna's offers a genuine small-parish community rooted in nearly seventy years of Catholic life in Monroe.
Mass times at St. Anna
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (per third-party aggregator; please confirm with the parish office)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
About St. Anna Catholic Church
St. Anna Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Atlanta serving Walton County from its campus at 1401 Alcovy Street in Monroe, Georgia. The parish's stated mission is: 'For the glory of God we are dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus as taught by the Roman Catholic Church through Scripture, Sacrament, and Service. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we strive together to be faithful stewards of our time, talent, and treasure. In the same Spirit we grow in friendship and love for one another bringing people closer together and closer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.'
- Roman Catholic parish, Archdiocese of Atlanta
- Located at 1401 Alcovy Street, Monroe, GA 30655
- Phone: (770) 267-7637
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.st-annas.com
Our History
St. Anna's began in 1954 as All Saints Catholic Mission, when three Monroe women — Dot Briscoe, Catherine Melton and Mrs. J.T. Wellborn — sold magazine subscriptions to buy land for a chapel. While construction proceeded, Mass was celebrated at the local American Legion house. The chapel at 836 East Spring Street was dedicated May 16, 1957 by Bishop Francis E. Hyland as the first rural mission in the new Diocese of Atlanta, with the name 'St. Anna's' specified by the Catholic Extension Society's gift.
- 1954 — Magazine subscription fundraiser for chapel site
- October 1954 — Property purchased, deed sent to Bishop Hyland
- Summer 1956 — Construction of white frame mission chapel begins at 836 E. Spring St.
- May 16, 1957 — Chapel dedicated by Bishop Francis E. Hyland
- April 24, 1959 — First confirmation class confirmed by Bishop Hyland
- 1960 — Baker Street house purchased for Sunday School and social groups
- 1964 — Father Leonard F. X. Mayhew becomes first resident priest
- 1972 — Mission elevated to parish; Father Anthony T. Curran first pastor
- 1974 — Two-story Parish Hall built
- 1994 — Annex house acquired; five classrooms added for Religious Education
- 1997 — 'Building the Church of Tomorrow' capital campaign raises $175K for Archdiocese, $300K for parish
- 1998 — Adjacent car wash purchased for parking and expansion
- Sept. 7, 2013 — Groundbreaking for new church at 1401 Alcovy Street
- Dec. 8, 2014 — Immaculate Conception Mass celebrated in new church
- 2015 — Historic bells dedicated in the new church
Pastor Succession
The parish website lists the succession of pastors who have served St. Anna's since it became a parish in 1972, as well as the priests from surrounding parishes (especially St. Joseph's in Athens) who ministered here during the mission era.
- Father Anthony T. Curran (1972–1973)
- Father Michael Hogan (1973–1976)
- Father Edward A. Danneker (1976–1983)
- Father John Paul Kelley (1983–1990)
- Father John R. Henley (1990–1997)
- Father Richard A. Kieran (1997–1999)
- Father Daniel Stack (1999–2001)
- Father Daniel R. Toof (2001–2022)
- Father Randy Mattox (2022–2025)
- Father Brian Bufford (2025–Present)
Our Staff
The parish staff combines clergy, religious education leadership, music, youth ministry, and office support to serve the St. Anna's community.
- Father Brian Bufford — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Robinson Collado ([email protected])
- Deacon John Wojcik ([email protected])
- Deacon John Duffield ([email protected])
- Yomaira Diaz — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Gerard Mirandilla — Music Director ([email protected])
- Lisa and Collin Dibble — Youth Ministry ([email protected])
- Bridgette Reger — Secretary ([email protected])
- Patty Schaefer — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Tom Golden — Maintenance
School of Religion
Religious Education classes run September through May for children in Pre-K through Grade 10. Sacramental preparation is a two-year process, completed with summer camps held on the parish campus for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
- Classes for grades PK–10, September through May
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion — two-year preparation in 1st and 2nd grades, completed at parish summer camps
- Confirmation — two-year preparation in 9th and 10th grades
- Confirmation retreat required (off-site weekend in spring of 10th grade)
- 40 service hours required for Confirmation students
- Confirmation typically celebrated in May
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
Formerly known as RCIA, St. Anna's OCIA process welcomes adults and children over the age of seven who are exploring Catholicism or preparing to enter the Church through the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
- Open to non-Catholics exploring the faith
- Open to baptized Catholics seeking Eucharist and/or Confirmation
- Adults and children over age 7 are eligible
- Team includes teachers, mentors, and a support group
Faith Formation & Volunteer Ministries
St. Anna's faith formation page lists many ways for parishioners to get involved as catechists, aides, retreat teams, librarians, and event coordinators for sacramental milestones and parish celebrations.
- Catechist and Catechist Aide for ages 3 through 12th grade
- Adult Faith Formation team
- Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) — separate men's and women's weekend retreats
- Children's Advent Program
- Confirmation Reception and First Communion Reception teams
- Easter Vigil Reception team
- Families of Faith — monthly Bible/book study with potluck
- High School Youth Advisory Board and Middle School Youth Group Team
- Parish Library Service Team
- Summer Days Vacation Bible School (VBS) Service Team
- Substitute Catechist pool
Youth Ministry
Lisa and Collin Dibble lead Youth Ministry at St. Anna's, with a High School Youth Advisory Board and a Middle School Youth Group Team working under the DRE and pastor to plan spiritual and community-building events.
- Lisa and Collin Dibble — Youth Ministry leaders
- Middle School Youth Group Team
- High School Youth Advisory Board
- Confirmation preparation programs
- Summer Days VBS for younger children
Sacraments at St. Anna's
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and healing. The Reconciliation page explains that the sacrament — also known as Confession or Penance — is for those who have reached the age of reason (around 7), including Catholics and baptized Christians from other denominations. Catholics are encouraged to receive the sacrament at least once a year.
- Reconciliation (Confession) — children and adults
- First Holy Communion — two-year preparation
- Confirmation — two-year preparation, including retreat and service hours
- Baptism — through the OCIA process for adults and older children
Music & Liturgy
Gerard Mirandilla serves as Music Director, leading the parish's Sacred Music program that supports the Mass schedule and major liturgical celebrations throughout the year.
- Gerard Mirandilla — Music Director
- Sacred Music program supports Sunday and weekday Masses
- Music for sacramental celebrations including First Communion and Confirmation
Parish Identity & Campus
St. Anna's sits on a two-acre campus at 1401 Alcovy Street in Monroe, with facilities that have grown over time to support worship, religious education, youth ministry, and parish gatherings.
- Current church dedicated in 2014 with historic bells
- Two-story Parish Hall (1974) with reception room, classrooms, and pastor's living quarters
- Annex house — five Religious Education classrooms and youth center
- Adjacent former car wash property used for parking and expansion
- Original 1957 chapel at 836 E. Spring Street replaced by the new church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Anthony T. Curran1972–1973
First pastor when St. Anna's Mission was elevated to parish status; moved into the rectory June 1, 1972.
- Father Michael Hogan1973–1976
Parish's second pastor.
- Father Edward A. Danneker1976–1983
- Father John Paul Kelley1983–1990
- Father John R. Henley1990–1997
- Father Richard A. Kieran1997–1999
- Father Daniel Stack1999–2001
- Father Daniel R. Toof2001–2022
Longest-serving pastor; led the campaign, groundbreaking (Sept. 7, 2013) and dedication of the new church on Alcovy Street in 2014.
- Father Randy Mattox2022–2025
- Father Brian Bufford2025–Present
Current pastor.