About St. Anne · Carthage, Missouri
St. Ann's Catholic Church is a multicultural Catholic parish in Carthage, Missouri, in the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau. Rooted in a Catholic community that began with the first Mass celebrated in Carthage in 1872 and formally organized as a parish in 1880, St. Ann's today serves a bilingual (English/Spanish) congregation with two Sunday Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, daily Mass most weekdays, a Catholic school, a parish school of religion (PSR), Knights of Columbus Council #9190, RCIA, Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide array of liturgical and social-justice ministries. The parish mission is to 'proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.'
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Ann (Saint Anne), mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel Robles
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
St. Ann's is a multicultural, bilingual (English/Spanish) Eucharistic community in the heart of Southwest Missouri with a weekly schedule that includes a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses (one in Spanish), and daily Mass most weekdays — plus weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays. Parishioners can grow in faith through the parish school of religion (Grades K–6), the school (part of Joplin Area Catholic Schools), RCIA, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, plus a robust network of ministries: Knights of Columbus Council #9190, PCCW, Unidos en Cristo prayer group, Ignite Catholic Charismatic Renewal youth prayer group, Music Ministry, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, sacristans, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and more.
Mass times at St. Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 8:00 am
- Thursday 5:00 pm
- Friday 8:00 am
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm
Adoration times
- Thursday 3:00 pm – 5:45 pm (Eucharistic Adoration; volunteers sign up for one hour or more)
Welcome and Parish Mission
St. Ann's Catholic Church Community welcomes newcomers, long-time parishioners, and visitors passing through Southwest Missouri. According to its website, the parish's goal is that 'each member of our community continues to find a warm home here at St. Ann's, that is both nurturing and supporting in one's journey of faith.' The parish mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the local community in word, deed, and truth, and as disciples of Christ the community seeks to grow as a Eucharistic faith community of prayer, hospitality, and care.
History of St. Ann's Parish
The founding date of St. Ann's, 1872, commemorates the time when the first Mass was celebrated in Carthage. The community did not become a truly established parish until the Kansas City Diocese came into being in 1880. Early Catholics were largely Missouri Pacific Railroad workers, visited by priests from Springfield, Pierce City, and Sarcoxie. The first frame church was begun in 1881 and first used for Mass on April 2, 1882; a school attempted by the Sisters of Mercy in 1890 closed in 1891; from 1893–1895 the parish had no resident pastor. The present Carthage-stone church was built in 1908, and in 1962 Bishop Ignatius Strecker blessed the parish school staffed by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood. The Sisters withdrew in 1971 and were replaced by lay faculty.
- 1872 — First Mass in Carthage
- 1880 — Established as a parish in the new Kansas City Diocese
- April 2, 1882 — First Mass in the original frame church
- 1890–1891 — School attempt by Sisters of Mercy (closed after one year)
- 1893–1895 — No resident pastor; served by a Benedictine from Conception Abbey via Sarcoxie
- 1908 — Present church built of Carthage stone
- 1962 — School blessed by Bishop Strecker; Sisters of the Most Precious Blood staff it
- 1971 — Sisters withdraw; lay faculty take over
- 1986 — Knights of Columbus Council #9190 founded at St. Ann's
Clergy and Parish Staff
St. Ann's is served by a pastor, a parochial administrator who also ministers at Sacred Heart in nearby Webb City, a deacon, a school principal, and parish support staff.
- Rev. Daniel Robles — Pastor (per Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau)
- Rev. Allen Kirchner — Parochial Administrator (appointed 2024 by Bishop Edward M. Rice; also serves Sacred Heart, Webb City; diocesan Regional Vocation Promoter)
- Rev. Francisco Gordillo Villamil — Former Pastor (concluded 2024); continues as Spiritual Director for the Charismatic Renewal Movement in the diocese
- Deacon James V. (Jim) Walter
- Mrs. Heidi Gilligan — Principal, St. Ann Catholic School (Joplin Area Catholic Schools)
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of initiation and supports families through ongoing faith formation.
- Baptism — one-hour preparation class for parents and godparents; schedule with the parish office at least one month ahead.
- First Communion / First Penance — contact parish office or Angelica Macias.
- Confirmation — preparation program for teens.
- Eucharist — Sunday and weekday Masses plus Thursday Eucharistic Adoration.
- RCIA — adult initiation into the Catholic Church (contact Deacon Jim Walter or the parish office).
- Marriage and Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office.
Religious Education (PSR)
The parish is the center of faith formation at St. Ann's. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) offers religious-education classes for students in Grades K through 6, partnering with parents to strengthen Catholic identity through regular religious instruction and participation in the parish's Catholic community of faith. The program emphasizes the message of Jesus, knowledge of scripture and the sacraments, prayer, worship, and service, supported by dedicated catechists.
- PSR classes for Grades K–6
- Sacrament Preparation for 1st Communion & 1st Penance
- Confirmation Preparation
- RCIA for adults
St. Ann Catholic School
St. Ann Catholic School sits at 1156 Grand Ave, Carthage, MO and is part of the regional Joplin Area Catholic Schools (JACS) system. The school was originally blessed on September 16, 1962, by Bishop Ignatius Strecker and was first staffed by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood from O'Fallon, MO; the Sisters withdrew in 1971 and were replaced by lay faculty. The current principal is Heidi Gilligan. The school phone is (417) 358-2674 and the JACS website is https://www.jacss.org/.
- Address: 1156 Grand Ave, Carthage, MO 64836-2832
- Phone: (417) 358-2674
- Principal: Heidi Gilligan
- Website: https://www.jacss.org/
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The heart of a parish is the Eucharist, says St. Ann's, but the parish family is the body that makes it a unique and vibrant community. Beyond the sacraments, the parish offers a wide variety of ways to participate — liturgical, social-justice, prayer, and fraternal — and encourages new ministries as gifts emerge.
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Baptism Preparation
- RCIA
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (at Mass and to the sick/homebound)
- Music Ministry / Choir
- Sacristans
- Knights of Columbus Council #9190 (founded 1986)
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
- Unidos en Cristo Prayer Group
- Youth Group
- Ignite Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) Youth Prayer Group
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Committee
- Walking with Purpose
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Social-justice outreach: visiting the homebound, serving the poor, volunteering at food pantries
Knights of Columbus Council #9190
Council #9190 was founded at St. Ann's in 1986 and continues to thrive today. Built on the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, the council facilitates charitable giving in the community and fosters fellowship within St. Ann's. The Knights have donated to local non-profits including Bright Futures–Carthage, Life Choices, and the Carthage Crisis Center. They host Friday Lenten dinners, an annual golf tournament, and are a staple at the annual Marian Days events.
- Founded 1986 at St. Ann's
- Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of the month, Knights hall above the St. Ann's School Cafeteria
- Contact: Grand Knight Stan Schmidt — [email protected]
- Beneficiaries include Bright Futures–Carthage, Life Choices, Carthage Crisis Center
- Events: Friday Lenten dinners, annual golf tournament, Marian Days presence
Parish Pastoral Council
St. Ann's Parish Council is an advisory body that assists the pastor in shaping programs and policies that enhance the spiritual development of the parish. It works in unison with the Parish Finance Committee and the St. Ann's School Board but is advisory rather than administrative. Members serve three-year terms.
- Chairman — Dina Thomas
- Vice-Chairman — Yolanda Lechuga
- Secretary — Glenita Browning
- Knights of Columbus Representative — Mark Westhoff
- PCCW Representative — Carol Cooper
- Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group Representative — Bertilia Guinac
- Members include Leslie House, Shannon Frieling, Susie Walter, Veronica Mahan, Barb Brightwell, Vicki, Carol, and others
- Contact: [email protected]
- Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Daniel Roblescurrent (per Diocese find-a-church listing)
Listed as Pastor of St. Ann Parish, Carthage on the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau website.
- Rev. Allen Kirchnerappointed 2024
Appointed Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart, Webb City and St. Ann, Carthage by Bishop Edward M. Rice in 2024. Concluded his role as Faculty Member and Lead Chaplain at Springfield Catholic High School and offering of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass at the O'Reilly Catholic Student Center. Continues as diocesan Regional Vocation Promoter.
- Rev. Francisco Gordillo Villamilconcluded assignment 2024
Former Pastor of St. Ann's; per the 2024 diocesan assignment announcement, he concluded this assignment and continues as Spiritual Director for the Charismatic Renewal Movement in the diocese.
- Priests from Springfield, Pierce City, and Sarcoxiepre-1880
Visited Catholic railroad workers building the Missouri Pacific Railroad roughly every two months; celebrated Mass in Casey's Confectionery, Reagan's Hall, or the court house.
- Benedictine priest from Conception Abbey (pastor of Sarcoxie)1893–1895
Celebrated Mass every other week in Carthage while the parish was without a resident pastor.