About St. Anne · Monroe, Michigan
St. Anne Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Detroit Beach area of Monroe, Michigan, part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's Monroe Vicariate Family 2. The community traces its roots to 1940, when local residents first gathered for summer Masses in the Detroit Beach clubhouse; a permanent church on N. Dixie Highway was dedicated in 1947. Today the parish is served by a team of Pallottine (S.A.C.) and diocesan priests in solidum, with Rev. David Burgard as Moderator and Rev. Hendrico (Henry) Rebello, S.A.C., as Pastor, and shares priestly ministry with neighboring St. Charles Borromeo in Newport. The parish continues its small, family-style character with a Saturday vigil Mass, two weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, and a long-running devotion to St. Anne.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grandmother of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. Hendrico (Henry) Rebello, S.A.C.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Monroe Vicariate Family 2, with St. Mary Monroe, St. John Monroe, St. Michael Monroe, and St. Charles Borromeo Newport)
Why belong here
St. Anne is a small, family-style parish with deep roots in the Detroit Beach neighborhood — a place where, as the local history records, Protestants and Lutherans once worshipped alongside Catholics in a borrowed clubhouse ballroom. Parishioners today worship in a church built by their predecessors in 1947, keep St. Anne's novena devotion alive, and are shepherded by a Pallottine pastor who also serves neighboring St. Charles Borromeo in Newport. With a Saturday vigil Mass, two weekday Masses, weekly Saturday confessions, and a tightly-knit Monroe Vicariate Family 2 network of parishes, St. Anne offers a quiet, prayerful Catholic home for families in the Monroe area.
Mass times at St. Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
History of St. Anne Parish
St. Anne began not as a building but as an act of neighborliness: in 1940, Detroit Beach trustee William J. Braunlich offered the subdivision's clubhouse ballroom for Catholic Masses so residents wouldn't have to drive to Monroe or to Oldtown. After wartime summers of worship in the clubhouse, the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1944 approved regular Sunday Masses there, and by 1947 the community had built a permanent church on Dixie Highway. The parish grew through the 1950s and '60s under Fr. Alphonse Madeja, expanded its campus with a rectory, hall, school, and shrine, and was later linked in 2020 to other Monroe-area parishes as part of the Archdiocese's Families of Parishes model.
- 1940 — William J. Braunlich offers the Detroit Beach clubhouse ballroom for Masses.
- June 15, 1944 — Archbishop Edward Mooney approves Sunday summer Masses; first Mass celebrated by Fr. Leo Huver on June 25, 1944.
- December 1945 — Architect Reed Dunbar hired for a 60-by-42-foot church seating ~250.
- August 10, 1947 — First Mass in the new permanent church, celebrated by Fr. William Shaw.
- June 16, 1948 — Fr. Clarence Dorsey installed as first permanent pastor.
- May 1949 — Brick rectory and parish hall completed by volunteer labor.
- June 15, 1950 — Fr. Alphonse Madeja becomes second pastor; serves until 1967.
- 1957 — St. Anne's Shrine founded after a July 18 novena inspires three women.
- 1961 — Parish school opens with Felician Sister Mary Ludwina as first principal.
- 1969 — $100,000 church addition completed.
- 1984 — Parish school closes.
- 1990 — $750,000 church renovation completed.
- December 9, 2020 — St. Anne joins Monroe Vicariate Family 2 under Moderator Rev. David Burgard.
The Detroit Beach Clubhouse Years (1940–1947)
Before St. Anne had walls, it had a borrowed ballroom. Detroit Beach residents who didn't want to travel into Monroe or down to Oldtown (St. Charles Borromeo, Newport) for Sunday Mass were offered a local alternative by trustee William J. Braunlich, who opened the subdivision's clubhouse to worship. Fr. Leo Huver of St. John the Baptist (Monroe) carried the request to Archbishop Mooney, and on June 25, 1944 the first authorized Sunday Mass was said in the clubhouse, with Braunlich's sons Paul and Bernard as altar boys and Mrs. Braunlich providing linens and flowers — a service she would continue for years. Summer Masses continued through the war years and averaged around 300 worshippers each Sunday, including Protestant and Lutheran families who joined the Catholic congregation in the modest space.
- Clubhouse ballroom served as the original worship site from 1940.
- Archdiocesan permission granted June 15, 1944.
- First Mass: June 25, 1944, by Fr. Leo Huver.
- Average Sunday attendance ~300 during WWII summers, including Protestants and Lutherans.
Building the Permanent Church (1945–1947)
Even while Masses were still being said in the clubhouse, planning for a real church was underway. In December 1945 the Archdiocese of Detroit retained architect Reed Dunbar, who drew up a 60-by-42-foot building to seat about 250. William Braunlich secured 239 feet of highway frontage from the National Utilities Company in 1946, and a 271-foot parcel on Dixie Highway was donated to the bishop by Mr. and Mrs. John Bronson, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Fix, and Mrs. J. Alexander Navarre, on the condition that a chapel or church be built there. Hale & Emrick Construction won the $40,000 contract (including furnishings), broke ground in February 1947, and finished in August. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Sunday, August 10, 1947, by Fr. William Shaw of St. John the Baptist; the first baptism (Gerald Albert Mata, by Fr. Edward Stevens) and first wedding (Ronald and Marge Gillean, Nov. 8, 1947) followed that fall.
- Architect: Reed Dunbar (commissioned December 1945).
- Original footprint: 60 ft × 42 ft, ~250 seats.
- Contractor: Hale & Emrick Construction — $40,000 including furnishings.
- Construction: February – August 1947.
- First Mass: Aug. 10, 1947, by Fr. William Shaw.
- First baptism: Gerald Albert Mata, fall 1947.
- First wedding: Ronald & Marge Gillean, Nov. 8, 1947.
Worship & Sacramental Schedule
St. Anne keeps a small, traditional weekly schedule centered on a Saturday vigil Mass, two weekday Masses, and Saturday afternoon confessions. First Friday Masses are celebrated at the parish's sister community, St. Charles Borromeo in Newport. The schedule published by the Archdiocese of Detroit's Mass Finder, Find A Mass, and Discover Mass all agree on the times below; parishioners are encouraged to verify any changes by calling the parish office.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:30 PM
- Tuesday Mass — 9:00 AM (not First Friday)
- Friday Mass — 9:00 AM (not First Friday)
- First Friday Mass — 8:30 AM, held at St. Charles Borromeo Newport Campus
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
Devotion to St. Anne & the Parish Shrine
Devotion to St. Anne has been part of the parish's identity since its earliest years. The parish St. Anne's Shrine itself was established in 1957, born from the enthusiasm of three women who had just attended the St. Anne novena on July 18, 1957. The annual novena, observed in late July leading up to the July 26 feast of St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus), remains a feature of parish life and continues to draw the community together in prayer each summer.
- St. Anne's Shrine founded 1957 (inspired by July 18, 1957 novena).
- St. Anne's novena observed annually in late July.
- Feast of St. Anne: July 26.
Parish School (1961–1984)
St. Anne opened its own parish school in 1961, with Sister Mary Ludwina of the Felician Sisters as the first principal. The school served Detroit Beach and surrounding Monroe families for just over two decades before closing in 1984, after which religious education continued through parish-based religious-ed programs.
- School opened 1961.
- First principal: Sister Mary Ludwina, Felician Sisters.
- School closed 1984.
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Following the 1984 closure of the parish school, St. Anne's religious education program has continued to form young parishioners in the faith. The Faith Formation Commission coordinates the parish's K–8 religious education, junior high and high school youth ministry, a high school leadership committee, and sacramental preparation. Adult formation is offered through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), Scripture Study, and Small Faith Sharing Groups, and the parish prepares couples and families for the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage.
- K–5 Religious Education Program
- Junior High School Ministry
- High School Youth Ministry
- High School Leadership Committee
- High School and College Appalachia Trip (referenced on the Faith Formation Commission pages)
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA / RCIA)
- Scripture Study
- Small Faith Sharing Groups
- Baptismal Preparation
- Marriage Preparation
Monroe Vicariate Family 2
In December 2020, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron's Families of Parishes initiative brought St. Anne together with St. Mary Monroe, St. John Monroe, St. Michael Monroe, and St. Charles Borromeo Newport as Monroe Vicariate Family 2. The parishes share an in-solidum team of priests under Moderator Rev. David Burgard, allowing the small communities to collaborate on evangelization, formation, and sacramental life. St. Anne's own pastor, Rev. Hendrico (Henry) Rebello, S.A.C., also serves St. Charles Borromeo, reflecting the close pastoral bond between the two campuses.
- Formed December 9, 2020 under Archbishop Vigneron's Families of Parishes model.
- Sister parishes: St. Mary Monroe, St. John Monroe, St. Michael Monroe, St. Charles Borromeo Newport.
- Moderator: Rev. David Burgard.
- Priests-in-solidum include Rev. Hendrico (Henry) Rebello, S.A.C., Rev. Michael Anagbogu, and Rev. Kishore Battu, S.A.C.
Parish Campus & Buildings
The St. Anne campus sits along N. Dixie Highway in the Detroit Beach area of Monroe. In addition to the 1947 church (expanded in 1969 and renovated in 1990), the parish grounds include a 1949 brick rectory just north of the church and a 1949 parish hall just south — both built largely with donated parishioner labor. The site also once held the 1961–1984 parish school.
- Church (1947; 1969 addition; 1990 renovation).
- Brick rectory (completed May 1949, just north of the church).
- Parish hall (completed May 1949, just south of the church).
- Former parish school site (1961–1984).
Contact & Visiting
St. Anne Parish is located at 2420 N. Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48162, and can be reached by phone at (734) 289-2910 (fax: 734-289-1098). The parish's website is stannemonroe.org, and the Archdiocese of Detroit's parish directory page (aodfinder.org/parishes/21) carries the most up-to-date Mass and confession schedule. Visitors are welcome at the Saturday vigil Mass, weekday Masses on Tuesday and Friday mornings, and the Saturday 3:00 PM reconciliation hour.
- Address: 2420 N. Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48162
- Phone: (734) 289-2910
- Fax: (734) 289-1098
- Website: stannemonroe.org
- Archdiocese directory: aodfinder.org/parishes/21
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Leo Huver1944–1947 (Sunday Masses from St. John the Baptist, Monroe)
Celebrated the first Mass at the Detroit Beach clubhouse on June 25, 1944 after obtaining permission from Archbishop Mooney on June 15, 1944.
- Fr. William Shaw1947 (visiting, pastor of St. John the Baptist Monroe)
Celebrated the first Mass in the new permanent church on Sunday, Aug. 10, 1947.
- Fr. Edward Stevens1947 (visiting, St. John the Baptist Monroe)
Baptized the parish's first infant, Gerald Albert Mata, in the fall of 1947.
- Fr. Clarence DorseyJune 16, 1948 – Sept. 9, 1949
St. Anne's first permanent pastor; died suddenly in office.
- Fr. Alphonse MadejaJune 15, 1950 – 1967
Long-serving second pastor; oversaw the founding of the St. Anne's Shrine (1957) and other growth.