About St. Anne Roman Catholic Church · Jersey City, New Jersey
St. Anne Roman Catholic Church (also known as "St. Anne's of the Heights") is a large, multigenerational parish serving the Jersey City Heights neighborhood on the western slope of Hudson County, New Jersey. Founded in 1903 as a mission chapel out of St. Paul of the Cross Church, it was incorporated as an independent parish in June 1904 and today numbers close to 2,000 families within the Archdiocese of Newark. The parish is anchored by a tall, light-colored Gothic Revival church that is a well-recognized landmark on Kennedy Boulevard, and it ministers in both English and Spanish, with a parish school, food pantry, and a wide array of prayer groups and sodalities.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- St. Anne
- Rector
- Father Nigel Mohammed
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Newark
Why belong here
St. Anne's offers an unusually full parish life for a Heights family: a Gothic Revival landmark church on Kennedy Boulevard, daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a long-standing nine-day novena to St. Anne leading up to her July 26 feast. The parish school (about 350 children at last count) and a robust CCD program under DRE Alberta anchor faith formation from childhood through the young-adults group, while the food pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Ministry to the Sick, Legion of Mary, Holy Name Society, Rosary Society, Fil-Am Society, Boy Scouts, and Padre Pio, Jesus and Mary, and Morning Prayer groups give parishioners of every age and background a concrete way to belong and serve.
Mass times at St. Anne Roman Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 1:00–1:30 PM
- Saturday 5:00–5:30 PM
- Saturday 6:45 PM
- Eves of Holy Days and First Fridays: 4:00–5:00 PM and 7:00–7:30 PM
- By appointment with a priest (the parish encourages choosing a consistent personal confessor)
Adoration times
- Weekly: Monday 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Weekly: Thursday 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- First Friday of every month: 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Parish Overview
St. Anne's is a multigenerational Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Newark serving the Jersey City Heights. With close to 2,000 registered families, it is one of the larger parishes in Hudson County and ministers in both English and Spanish from its landmark Gothic church on Kennedy Boulevard.
Founding and Early Mission
St. Anne's traces back to 1887, when Father Quinn of St. Paul of the Cross Church recognized that parishioners on the western side of Jersey City needed a church closer to home. With Bishop John J. O'Connor's approval, Father Quinn purchased land at Nelson Avenue and Congress Street, where Reverend M.F. McGinnis dedicated a Mission Chapel and school on September 20, 1903.
- Sisters of Charity from St. Paul of the Cross staffed the original five classrooms
- Early Masses: Sundays 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., Holy Days 8 a.m.
- A farmhouse at Congress Street and the Boulevard was renovated as the first rectory
Incorporation as a Parish (1904)
In June 1904 the mission became the incorporated parish of St. Anne's, with Reverend John J. Maher as its first pastor. Under Father Maher the parish purchased 246 Congress Street for a new rectory (1906) and seeded the sodalities that would sustain parish life for generations.
- First Holy Name Men of Hudson County — September 17, 1904
- Rosary Society and Saint Vincent de Paul Society soon followed
- First school graduates in 1908; first priestly vocation (Father Luke, nee Frank Hay) in 1909
Building the Present Gothic Church
Father James Mulhall, pastor from 1911, recognized the need for a larger church and rallied parishioners who pledged $50,000. The result was the present tall, light-colored Gothic Revival church on Kennedy Boulevard, completed ahead of schedule and opened with its first Mass on Christmas Day, 1927.
- Gothic Revival architecture visible from great distances
- First Mass celebrated December 25, 1927
- Monsignor Shovlin later added school improvements and a new convent (1945–1954)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish describes catechesis as a lifelong education built on Jesus' command to 'make disciples of all nations.' Two schools support parents in passing on the faith, and the CCD program is sacramental-oriented only insofar as it serves a broader goal of proclaiming the Christian message, building community, and motivating Christian service.
- St. Anne's Parish School (principal: Mrs. Marlene Bartram)
- CCD / Religious Education program (DRE: Alberta)
- Classes on Sundays after the 9:00 AM Mass
- RCIA for unbaptized adults, those seeking full communion, and adults needing First Communion or Confirmation
Sacraments
St. Anne's celebrates the seven sacraments with an emphasis on lifelong formation. Baptisms take place monthly, marriages require a year's notice, and the homebound remain a vital part of parish life through visits and the Eucharist brought to their homes.
- Baptism: 4th Sunday of each month at 1:30 PM (pre-baptismal program required)
- Marriage: contact a priest one year in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: for the seriously ill or elderly; call the rectory in emergencies
- Homebound Ministry: Marie Pianese (English), Maria Gomez (Spanish)
Parish Life, Sodalities, and Outreach
St. Anne's long history of sodalities continues through a robust network of prayer groups, cultural societies, scouting, and a parish food pantry that ministers to families beyond the parish boundary.
- Holy Name Society, Rosary Society, Legion of Mary
- St. Vincent de Paul Society and Parish Food Pantry
- Padre Pio Prayer Group, Jesus and Mary Prayer Group, Morning Prayer Group
- Fil-Am Society, Seniors, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts
- Altar Servers, Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by Father Nigel Mohammed as pastor, supported by a Pastoral Associate for Adult Education, an Administrative Assistant, and a wide network of lay ministry contacts.
- Father Nigel Mohammed — Pastor (201-360-0838; text 201-984-1743; [email protected])
- Mrs. Begonia Jensen — Pastoral Associate, Adult Education
- Mrs. Georgene DeBenedetto — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
Visit, Contact, and Location
St. Anne's sits on Kennedy Boulevard in the Jersey City Heights and welcomes visitors and newcomers through its rectory and parish email.
- Address: 3545 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07307
- Rectory phone: 201-360-0838
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John J. Maher1904–c.1911
First pastor of the incorporated parish; acquired the farmhouse rectory on Congress Street; oversaw founding of Holy Name Men, Rosary Society, and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Rev. James Mulhall1911–c.1945
Introduced Boy Scouts and St. Anne's Boy Scout Band; led the campaign for the present Gothic church, which opened Christmas Day 1927; parishioners pledged $50,000.
- Monsignor Shovlin1945–1954
Made major physical improvements to the school and built a new convent; honored by the Pope in 1954.
- Monsignor Edward J. Larkinfrom 1968
Adapted the liturgy at St. Anne's to the changes of the Second Vatican Council.
- Rev. James A. McKennafrom 1971
Oversaw changes to the church interior and participated in archdiocesan 'Project Lifeline'; Home-School Association replaced Mother's Guild in 1972.
- Father Gurski1991–1993
Began repairs to the deteriorating school and church; stepped down due to illness in 1993.
- Rev. Victor P. Kennedy, V.F.December 1993–
Dean of Jersey City North (Deanery 10) from 1994; led the $500,000+ Gothic church restoration; initiated outdoor deanery Liturgies at Pershing Field; Archdiocesan Chaplain for the Boy Scouts.
- Father Nigel Mohammedcurrent
Current pastor; reachable via the rectory (201-360-0838) or by text at 201-984-1743.