About St. Anne · Marianna, Florida
St. Anne Roman Catholic Church is a Latin-Rite parish of the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee located at 3009 Fifth Street in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida. Founded in 1947 as a mission split from St. Mary's in Fort Walton Beach, it serves Catholics across Jackson, Washington, Calhoun, and surrounding counties, with a mission church, St. Joseph the Worker, in Chipley. The parish hosts Sunday Masses, a weekly Spanish Mass, religious education, a Knights of Columbus council, a Ladies Group, a prison ministry, a thrift store, and was designated by Bishop Parkes as one of the Jubilee of Mercy Holy Door churches during Pope Francis's 2015–2016 Holy Year.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Philip Fortin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
Why belong here
St. Anne offers the small-town intimacy of a parish where, in the parish's own words, 'the faith was never really forgotten' — with a history that stretches back to Spanish Franciscan missions in 1674 and a sense of community rooted in lay-led fundraising and construction. Worshippers can attend a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, weekday Masses, and a monthly Spanish-language Mass, and they can draw on the sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday afternoon or by appointment. The parish supports families through religious education, a youth ministry, the Knights of Columbus and Ladies Group, sacraments preparation, Communion for the Sick, a prison ministry, and a thrift store that channels donations back into local charity — making St. Anne a good fit for anyone seeking a welcoming, mission-minded parish in the rural Florida Panhandle.
Mass times at St. Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00–5:00 PM
- By appointment (call 850-482-3734)
Parish Identity & Diocese
St. Anne Roman Catholic Church is a parish in the Latin (Roman) rite, belonging to the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee and listed in its East Central Deanery. Its current diocesan bishop is Most Rev. William Wack, and the parish sits within an assigned deanery that covers Jackson, Washington, Calhoun, and adjacent counties. The parish's registered mailing address is 3009 5th Street, Marianna, FL 32446, and it is recognized by GCatholic as a Jubilee Church of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016).
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee (East Central Deanery)
- Bishop: Most Rev. William Wack
- Pastor: Rev. Philip Fortin
- Parish Secretary: Melissa Saggars
History of the Parish
Catholic faith in Jackson County traces to 1674 Franciscan missions under Fr. Rodrigo de la Barreda. After those missions were lost, Marianna Catholics relied for generations on visiting priests out of Pensacola, Apalachicola, and Panama City, gathering for Mass in the old hotel ballroom, City Hall, and a recreation center. The modern parish was erected on December 8, 1947 as a split from St. Mary's, Fort Walton Beach, with Father Patrick Cunningham as founding pastor.
- 1674: Franciscan missions of San Carlos and San Nicholas de Tolencion in Jackson County
- 1910: Jackson County becomes a mission served from Pensacola
- 1941: WWII Army base chaplain Father (Captain) Sullivan celebrates daily Mass
- 1947 (Dec. 8): St. Anne's erected as a parish; Father Patrick Cunningham first pastor
- 1948 (Jan. 23): Ground broken for the new church
- 1948 (July 18): First Mass celebrated in the completed church
- 1950 (March 14): Bishop T.J. Toolen dedicates the church and administers Confirmation
- 1968: Parish reassigned from Mobile to the Diocese of St. Augustine
- 1976: Religious sisters arrive to assist with growing territory
- 1984: Father Paul Stewart appointed pastor (June 6)
- 1998: 50th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone commemorated
Buildings, Campus & Acquisitions
The parish was built in 1948 on five lots purchased for $500 each on Fifth Street, south of Jackson County's old hospital. Plans were prepared by local architect Mr. Tom Sherer, and construction was largely overseen by Father Cunningham and Carl Neal with Mr. Gaynor as foreman. Over the decades the campus grew to include a rectory, and in 2002–2003 two adjacent houses were purchased: one across the street became a new convent (occupied in February 2003 by Sr. Rachel Elias and Sr. Kathleen Garrity, Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia), and the second, facing Kelson Street, became the new rectory — with the old rectory converted to church offices and a conference room.
- Original church + rectory (1948)
- Religious goods store (opened under Bob DeGroot and Boots Ayo)
- New convent (2002–2003) — Sisters of St. Francis
- New rectory on Kelson Street (2002–2003)
- Repainted/recarpeted/refloored church under Fr. Pat Foley (2000–2002)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
St. Anne's Religious Education Program (CCD), a youth ministry, and the parish's RCIA process together form the core of faith formation for children, teens, and adults. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is offered for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church; youth ministry was launched under Fr. Sean Knox with Elizabeth Nelson as the parish's first youth minister, leading retreats, Christian rock concerts, and other activities.
- Religious Education Program (CCD)
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Youth Ministry — founded under Fr. Sean Knox, with Elizabeth Nelson as first youth minister
- Lector & EMHC Schedule (lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion rotations)
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Lay-led organizations form the heart of the parish's community life. The Knights of Columbus and Ladies Group provide fellowship, service, and fundraising; Communion for the Sick brings the Eucharist to homebound parishioners; and a Prison Ministry carries the Church's outreach into correctional settings. The parish Thrift Store, open Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 AM–1 PM, generates revenue for parish operations and charitable outreach, and the religious goods store opened under Father Paul White serves devotional and sacramental needs.
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies Group
- Communion for the Sick
- Prison Ministry
- Thrift Store (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9 AM–1 PM)
- Religious Goods Store (under Bob DeGroot and Boots Ayo)
Parish Office, Communications & Bulletin
Parish office hours (Central Time) are Tuesday 11:30 AM – 2 PM and Wednesday through Friday 9 AM – 2 PM. The parish communicates weekly through a printed and online bulletin (available on the Bulletin Archive page), maintains a public Mass-Times schedule, and lists its current pastor and active ministries on the home page of its website (stannemarianna.net).
- Office hours: Tuesday 11:30 AM–2 PM; Wed–Fri 9 AM–2 PM
- Phone: 850-482-3734
- Fax: 850-482-7241
- Email: [email protected]
- Bulletin Archive (online)
- Lector & EMHC Schedule (online)
Mission Church: St. Joseph the Worker, Chipley
St. Anne's pastoral territory is unusually large for a rural Panhandle parish. Beyond Marianna itself, St. Anne's territory has, at various points, included Blountstown, Fountain, Chipley, and Bonifay. St. Joseph the Worker in Chipley, FL functions as a mission church served by St. Anne's pastor and administrator — with a Tuesday 9:00 AM Mass and joint administration under Fr. Sean Knox — extending Catholic worship and sacraments to Washington County.
- St. Joseph the Worker, Chipley, FL (mission church)
- Tuesday Mass at 9:00 AM
- Shared administration with St. Anne's pastor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father (Captain) Sullivan1941
Chaplain who celebrated daily Mass at the Army air force base chapel during World War II.
- Father Dopak1941–1944 (approx.)
Succeeded Father Sullivan as base chaplain visiting Marianna.
- Father Harold ShermanApril 1944 (two months)
First of three Fort Walton priests visiting Marianna; from St. Mary, Fort Walton Beach.
- Father Edward O'Connell1944–1945
Began celebrating Sunday Mass in Marianna's Community Center.
- Father Patrick J. Ruddy1945–1946
Served one year from St. Mary, Fort Walton Beach.
- Father Patrick Cunningham1946–1950
First and founding pastor of St. Anne's (erected Dec. 8, 1947); broke ground Jan. 23, 1948; first Mass July 18, 1948; transferred to St. Mary's, Fort Walton, after the March 14, 1950 dedication.
- Father O'Connell (second tenure, first pastorate listed)1950–1955
Succeeded Father Cunningham after the dedication.
- Father John1955–1962
Pastored until 1962.
- Father Joseph Notarpole1962–c.1969
Became pastor during 1962.
- Father Brendan Heaslipc.1969–c.1972
First pastor to guest-lecture at Chipola Junior College Humanities classes and to participate in Thanksgiving services; credited with improving community relations.
- Father Richard Altenbaugh1972–1983
Welcomed religious sisters (1976) and oversaw a growing multi-county territory; volunteered for Mexican-American mission work in Ozona, Texas in 1983.
- Father Ronald Barton1983 (interim)
Oblate priest appointed as Interim Episcopal Vicar in charge of the Vicariate under Bishop Gracida; Father Henry Kosakowski served as associate.
- Father Henry Kosakowski1983 (interim associate)
Polish priest; associate pastor until the new bishop settled in.
- Father Paul Stewart1984–1988
Appointed pastor June 6, 1984 with Father William Kelly as assistant; Father Bill Condren later assigned as associate (caring for St. Francis of Assisi Mission in Blountstown). Left June 15, 1988 for St. Margaret's, DeFuniak Springs.
- Father William Kelly1984 (about 6 months)
Newly ordained priest; assistant to Father Stewart; transferred to St. Dominic's, Panama City.
- Father Bill Condren1984–c.1988
Associate pastor; also cared for the St. Francis of Assisi Mission in Blountstown.
- Father Gerry Kocek1988–1995
Cistercian; elected Abbot of a Cistercian monastery (Opactwo Cystersow) in Wachock, Poland, and departed St. Anne in 1995.
- Father Hugh Dolan1995–2000
Irish priest; remained until 2000, then retired in Pensacola.
- Father Pat Foley2000–2002
Repainted the church, installed new carpet, refinished the floor, and completed landscaping; transferred in June 2002 to St. Joseph Parish in Pensacola.
- Father Paul White2002–2005
Became pastor July 7, 2002; purchased and renovated two houses for a new convent and a new rectory; opened the religious goods store; transferred June 28, 2005 to St. Peter, Mary Esther.
- Father Sean Knox2005–(approx.)
Arrived July 1, 2005 as Administrator of both St. Anne and St. Joseph the Worker in Chipley; launched the parish's youth ministry and appointed Elizabeth Nelson as first youth minister.
- Rev. Philip FortinPresent
Current pastor; listed in the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee 2026 Diocesan Directory.