About St. Anne and Our Lady Of La Wang · Lancaster, Pennsylvania
St. Anne and Our Lady of La Vang Parish is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, serving both English-speaking and Vietnamese Catholic communities under one roof at 929 North Duke Street. Founded in 1923 as St. Anne Parish and renamed in January 2022 to include the Vietnamese Marian title Our Lady of La Vang, the parish is recognized as only the second such officially merged Anglo-Vietnamese parish in the United States (after Baton Rouge, Louisiana). Today the parish offers Mass in both English and Vietnamese nearly every day of the week, runs a K-8 religious education program, and is led by Father Tri M. Luong under the Diocese of Harrisburg.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grandmother of Jesus) and Our Lady of La Vang
- Rector
- Rev. Tri M. Luong
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Anne and Our Lady of La Vang is one of only two parishes in the United States to have formally merged an established Anglo Catholic parish with a Vietnamese Catholic community under one name and one church — a daily witness to Catholic unity across cultures. A bilingual liturgical schedule (English and Vietnamese Masses every day of the week) means no Catholic in Lancaster County has to choose between language and parish. Active ministries include a K-8 Religious Education program (Sunday mornings after the 9:30 am Mass), RCIA, Music Ministry, Saint Monica Ministry for fallen-away Catholics, Hospitality, Community Meals, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Greeters, Altar Servers, and the parish's five ministry foundations — Institution, Herald, Community, Servant and Sacrament.
Mass times at St. Anne and Our Lady Of La Wang
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm (English & Vietnamese)
- Sunday 11:00 am
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 am–1:00 pm
History of St. Anne Parish
St. Anne Parish traces its origins to November 1923, when 200 Catholics in the north section of Lancaster City petitioned Bishop Philip R. McDevitt for a parish. Bishop McDevitt celebrated the first Mass in the convent chapel on December 16, 1923, and Father Thomas McEntee began his 23-year pastorate. St. Anne School opened in 1924 with three Sisters of Mercy and 72 students. The cornerstone for the combined church and school was laid October 5, 1930, and the building was dedicated May 31, 1931 at a cost of $160,000. On December 1, 1948, Bishop George L. Leech joined 60 priests and over 600 laity for the parish's 25th anniversary Mass.
- Established November 5, 1923
- First Mass December 16, 1923
- St. Anne School opened September 1924 (72 students, three Sisters of Mercy)
- Church and school dedicated May 31, 1931
Vietnamese Community & the 2022 Renaming
After the fall of Saigon in April 1975, St. Anne welcomed its first Vietnamese refugee family — Linh Dinh, Mai Thi, and their sons Thien, Duc and Danh — on June 17, 1975, who took up residence in the upper floors of the convent. The Lancaster Catholic Vietnamese community grew and worshipped at multiple Lancaster parishes but never had a permanent home. When Father Tri M. Luong was assigned as pastor in 2015, he was also given pastoral care of the Vietnamese community, and they moved their worship from St. Anthony of Padua to St. Anne. On August 5, 2021 the parish council voted to modify the parish name to include the patronage of Our Lady of La Vang (the Vietnamese title of Mary, recalling an 1798 apparition during persecution). On January 22, 2022 the decree was signed at the Curia of the Diocese of Harrisburg, and on January 29, 2022 Bishop Ronald W. Gainer read it publicly at Mass, formally renaming the parish St. Anne and Our Lady of La Vang Parish and making it only the second such officially merged Anglo-Vietnamese parish in the U.S.
- First Vietnamese refugee family welcomed June 17, 1975
- Father Tri M. Luong assigned 2015 to both St. Anne and the Vietnamese community
- Parish council vote to rename: August 5, 2021
- Decree signed at Curia: January 22, 2022
- Decree publicly read by Bishop Gainer: January 29, 2022
- Second known such merged parish in the U.S. (after Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Centennial Celebration (2023)
One hundred years plus one day after the founding Mass, Bishop Timothy Senior and Bishop Emeritus Ronald Gainer joined Father Tri Luong for a centennial Holy Mass on December 17, 2023. The parish marked a century of Catholic life in the Red Rose City and reflected on Father Luong's eighth year guiding the merged community. The parish's 100th anniversary committee coordinated events including the Tet (Vietnamese New Year) celebration that also marked the first anniversary of the renaming decree.
- Centennial Mass celebrated December 17, 2023
- Bishop Timothy Senior and Bishop Emeritus Ronald Gainer concelebrated
- Father Tri Luong: eighth year as pastor
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Father Tri M. Luong and supported by a small bilingual staff including Sister Mary Nyugen as both Pastoral Associate and Administrative Associate, Christine Whalen as Parish Manager and Parish Council Chair, Ric Iannone as Director of Music, Colleen Dougherty as Director of Religious Education, and Sandy as Parish Bookkeeper.
- Pastor: Rev. Tri M. Luong
- Pastoral Associate / Administrative Associate: Sister Mary Nyugen
- Parish Manager / Parish Council Chair: Christine Whalen
- Director of Music: Ric Iannone
- Director of Religious Education: Colleen Dougherty
- Parish Bookkeeper: Sandy
Religious Education (K-8)
The parish religious education program provides formation for children in public schools, grades K-8. Classes run September through May, meeting Sunday mornings from 10:45 am to 11:45 am, immediately following the 9:30 am Mass. The curriculum centers on the Mass, the Sacraments, prayer, love of God and the lived Catholic faith, with catechists, textbooks, hands-on projects and ministry work.
- Director: Colleen Dougherty ([email protected])
- Sunday mornings 10:45 am – 11:45 am (after 9:30 am Mass)
- September through May
- Grades K-8 for children in public schools
RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
RCIA is an ongoing process designed to welcome new members into the Catholic Church, focused on Jesus as Lord, celebrated through sacrament and community. The group meets weekly from September through Pentecost (May or June). Parishioners are invited to sponsor a candidate or serve as a companion sharing the Catholic faith.
- Contact: Richard Lichty, 717-291-9832
- Meets weekly September through Pentecost
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry works to actively involve the congregation in prayerful song during liturgies and special events. Cantors typically lead the singing at Mass, accompanied by musicians on piano, guitar, or organ. Cantors and musicians are scheduled for the Mass they regularly attend, with song choices set ahead of time for home practice and a pre-Mass practice available in the music room. New cantors and musicians are always welcome.
- Director: Ric Iannone, 717-575-2186
- Cantors and instrumentalists (piano, guitar, organ)
Saint Monica Ministry
The Saint Monica Ministry is a dedicated prayer community offering hope and support to families and friends of fallen-away Catholics. The parish's chapter reaches subscribers in 41 U.S. states and on five continents. Two monthly meeting times are offered — the first Tuesday 6:30–7:30 pm and the first Friday 12:00–1:00 pm — in Room 108, with attendance flexible to participants' schedules.
- Meets in Room 108
- First Tuesday 6:30–7:30 pm and first Friday 12:00–1:00 pm
- Contact: Pat D'Elia, [email protected]
Five Parish Ministry Foundations
The parish organizes its ministries under five biblical foundations, giving every parishioner a way to live out their faith.
- Institution — parish council, finance committee, administration
- Herald — education, evangelization and communication (proclaiming the Word)
- Community — uniting parishioners through parish organization, activities and functions
- Servant — imitating Christ through outreach ministries (Hospitality, Community Meals, etc.)
- Sacrament — the Church as the visible sign of Christ in liturgy, devotions and faith groups
Practical & Sacramental Information
Parishioners and visitors can contact the parish office at (717) 392-2225 for sacramental preparation (Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick) and general inquiries. Confession is offered weekly, and Eucharistic Adoration is held Friday mornings. The parish has a social hall, accessible restrooms, an assistive listening system and a recently refreshed fellowship room (Room 108) available for meetings, classes and small receptions.
- Parish Office: (717) 392-2225
- Email: [email protected]
- Confession: Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm; Sunday 11:00 am
- Adoration: Friday 9:30 am–1:00 pm
- Social hall, accessible restrooms, assistive listening, wheelchair access
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas McEntee1923–1946
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of the 1931 combined church and school building.
- Rev. Gerald Lytle
Directed the 2002 sanctuary remodel costing about $300,000.
- Rev. Tri M. Luong2015–present
Also given pastoral care of the Lancaster Vietnamese Catholic Community in 2015; oversaw the 2022 merger renaming the parish.