About St. Anne · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
St. Anne Catholic Church is a Roman Rite parish in northeast Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, founded in 1929 to serve the growing Catholic population on the north side of the city. Originally established under the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, it became a founding member of the Diocese of Allentown in 1960 and today ministers to roughly 1,800 registered families under Bishop Alfred A. Schlert. The parish operates the parish school (PreK–8), a CCD religious education program, an extensive music ministry anchored by a 1977 Schantz pipe organ, parish sodality and Vincent de Paul outreach, and a rich devotional life including daily Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and weekly recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Giuseppe C. Esposito
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
St. Anne's offers the full rhythm of a classic, medium-sized American Catholic parish: multiple daily Masses, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament twice a week, a Friday Divine Mercy chaplet, the Sodality Rosary on Mondays, a parish school and a CCD program, and an active St. Vincent de Paul conference reaching into the surrounding community. Liturgically it leans traditional and musical — with a 45-rank Schantz organ, a choir, cantors, and instrumentalists — while remaining welcoming to families new to the area or to the faith through its lively bulletin and sacramental-preparation programs. Add to that the Deanery-wide Serra Club, multiple Bible studies, and visibly invested clergy, and St. Anne's reads less like a commuter parish than a multi-generational faith community rooted in 95 years of continuity on Bethlehem's north side.
Mass times at St. Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (some bulletins list 3:15–4:00 PM)
- 1st Friday: 6:15 AM
- Wednesday (new, beginning June 17, 2026): 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM during Adoration
Adoration times
- Monday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament between the 7:00 AM and 8:45 AM Masses
- Wednesday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament between the 7:00 AM and 8:45 AM Masses
- Wednesday (new, beginning June 17, 2026): Adoration after the 8:45 AM Mass until 5:30 PM, closing with Benediction
History of St. Anne Parish
St. Anne's was founded on November 14, 1929 by Rev. Joseph P. Mooney at the commission of Cardinal Dennis Dougherty of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, in response to the rapid growth of Bethlehem's north side. Within weeks, Father Mooney and his founding parishioners converted an old garage into a chapel, and the parish's first Mass was celebrated there on December 1, 1929. The parish built out its permanent church, rectory, convent, and school at 450 East Washington Avenue through the 1930s and 1940s. In 1960, when Pope John XXIII created the Diocese of Allentown, St. Anne's was transferred out of Philadelphia into the new diocese, where it has remained.
- Founded November 14, 1929
- First Mass celebrated December 1, 1929
- Founder: Rev. Joseph P. Mooney
- Transferred to Diocese of Allentown in 1960
- Approximately 1,800 registered families today
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The pastoral team is led by Rev. Giuseppe C. Esposito, appointed pastor by Bishop Schlert effective June 17, 2025. He succeeds Very Rev. Anthony P. Mongiello, V.F., who served St. Anne's from 2002 to 2025 and also served as Vicar Forane of the Northampton Deanery. In residence is Very Rev. Jerome Tauber. The diaconate includes Deacon Stephen Gorbos and Deacon Richard Scrak. In June 2026, newly ordained Fr. Mai joined the parish as assistant pastor following his ordination by Bishop Schlert on June 6, 2026.
- Rev. Giuseppe C. Esposito — Pastor (2025– )
- Fr. Mai — Assistant Pastor (2026– )
- Very Rev. Jerome Tauber — In Residence
- Deacon Stephen Gorbos
- Deacon Richard Scrak
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Anne's offers three Sunday Masses (8:00, 10:00, 12:00 Noon), a Saturday Vigil at 4:30 PM, and a daily Mass schedule that includes two Masses most weekdays. Confessions are heard on Saturday afternoons (3:00–4:00 PM) and on First Fridays before the morning Masses. The parish also offers Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Mondays and Wednesdays between the daily Masses, with expanded Wednesday Adoration (ending in Benediction) beginning June 17, 2026.
- Sunday Masses: 8:00, 10:00, 12:00 Noon
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM
- Confessions: Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
- Exposition: Monday & Wednesday mornings
- First Friday confessions: 6:15 AM
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish maintains a rich devotional calendar that includes Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, weekly recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Sodality Rosary, and a network of Bible studies. The chapel and church are open daily from 6:30 AM until 4:30 PM for personal prayer.
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Fridays, 3:00 PM, Chapel
- Sodality Rosary — Mondays 6:30 PM and four Sundays at 9:25 AM, Church
- Bible Study — 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 6:30 PM, Rectory Meeting Room
- Bible in a Year Group — 2nd & 4th Thursday, 6:30 PM, Convent
- Daytime Bible Study — 2nd & 4th Friday, 2:00 PM, Rectory Meeting Room
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
St. Anne's parish CCD program, directed by Mrs. Amy Lisson, operates mid-September through the end of April and follows the standards of the Diocesan Education Office and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is designed to catechize children whose families are registered with the parish, with re-registration required each year for both new and existing families due to high turnover in the parish area. The CCD office can be reached at (610) 868-7514.
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Amy Lisson
- CCD Office: (610) 868-7514
- Program year: mid-September – end of April
- Follows Diocesan Education Office and USCCB standards
St. Anne School & Preschool
St. Anne School, an affiliated PreK through 8th-grade Catholic school on the parish campus, is led by principal Dr. Gregory Fries (Mrs. Karen Bentz served as interim principal and Karen Miklus as interim principal before Dr. Fries's appointment). The school also operates a preschool under Mrs. Amy Lisson and an Extended Care program. The George Karabin St. Anne Education Endowment Fund, rededicated in November 2024 and supported by parishioner gifts for fifteen years, has provided more than $550,000 in scholarships to parish families. The school's website is www.stannebethlehem.org.
- Principal: Dr. Gregory Fries
- Preschool Director: Mrs. Amy Lisson
- Extended Care Director: Dr. Gregory Fries
- Grades served: Early Education through 8th
- George Karabin Education Endowment Fund (over $550,000 in scholarships awarded)
Music & Liturgical Arts
The parish music program is directed by Mrs. Jane Errera and includes an adult choir, twelve cantors, and instrumentalists who accompany the Masses and the parish's two principal devotional Masses. The liturgical backbone is a III/45 Schantz pipe organ installed and dedicated in 1977 — fulfilling Sacrosanctum Concilium's directive that the pipe organ 'add a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies.' Two large devotional murals by Dana Van Horn depicting St. Anne with Mary and St. Anne with St. Joachim were blessed in the sanctuary on July 22, 2018.
- Director of Sacred Music / Choir Director: Mrs. Jane Errera
- Adult choir, 12 cantors, and instrumentalists
- Schantz pipe organ III/45, installed 1977
- Dana Van Horn murals blessed July 22, 2018 by Bishop-elect Schlert
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Anne's parishioners participate in a wide array of ministries — both within the parish and in service to the wider Bethlehem community. The St. Vincent de Paul Society meets monthly in the convent and serves local neighbors in material need; the Serra Club of Bethlehem (vocations awareness) holds its meetings on the parish campus; the St. Anne Sodality promotes Marian devotion through monthly Rosary gatherings; and the parish staff — including a Coordinator of Spiritual Activities — organizes sacramental and devotional programming throughout the year.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — meets 2nd Thursday, 6:30 PM, Convent
- Serra Club of Bethlehem — meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, Convent
- St. Anne Sodality — Rosary devotions
- Coordinator of Spiritual Activities: Ms. Fidelia Akabogu
Parish Staff & Office
Day-to-day parish operations are supported by a full lay staff working alongside the priests and deacons. The parish office is staffed by Mrs. Suzanne Connell (Parish Secretary) and Mrs. Ethel Seibert (Secretary / Bulletin Editor). Finances are administered by Mrs. Dana Alia and facilities by Mr. Jeremy Brunnabend (Plant Supervisor). Sacramental coordination runs through Ms. Fidelia Akabogu, who also serves as Baptism Coordinator at [email protected].
- Parish Secretary: Mrs. Suzanne Connell
- Bulletin Editor: Mrs. Ethel Seibert
- Finance Office: Mrs. Dana Alia
- Plant Supervisor: Mr. Jeremy Brunnabend
- Coordinator of Spiritual Activities / Baptism: Ms. Fidelia Akabogu
Sacraments at St. Anne's
St. Anne's prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled through the parish Baptism Coordinator (parents should email 3–4 months before the expected birth to register for the Baptism Prep Class). Marriages require engagement of a priest at least six months in advance so couples can complete the Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons, First Fridays, and (from June 17, 2026) during Wednesday Adoration. The sick and homebound are visited on request — families should notify the rectory when a loved one is hospitalized so a priest can call.
- Baptism Coordinator: [email protected]
- Marriage Prep: at least 6 months in advance
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM and 1st Friday 6:15 AM
- Anointing / Hospital Visits: notify the rectory
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph P. Mooney1929–
Founder and first rector, commissioned by Cardinal Dennis Dougherty of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Converted an old garage into the parish's first chapel; first Mass celebrated December 1, 1929.
- Rev. Daniel Kravatz
Assistant pastor (served at least through summer 2018; participated in unveiling the Van Horn murals alongside Father Mongiello).
- Very Rev. Anthony P. Mongiello, V.F., Th.M., M.Ed.2002–2025
Longtime pastor (17 years celebrated by the school in early 2020). A native of Glenolden, PA, ordained in 1980; served at St. Joseph, Girardville and St. Jerome, Tamaqua before St. Anne's. Also served as Vicar Forane of the Northampton Deanery. Reassigned June 17, 2025 to St. Rocco Parish, Martins Creek.
- Rev. Giuseppe C. Esposito2025–present
Appointed pastor effective June 17, 2025 by Bishop Schlert; previously pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland and St. Joseph the Worker, Frackville.
- Fr. Mai2026–present
Newly ordained assistant pastor, ordained June 6, 2026 by Bishop Alfred Schlert; welcomed to St. Anne's parish family in June 2026.
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