About St. Ann's Catholic Church · Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi
St. Ann Catholic Church is a Roman Rite parish of the Diocese of Biloxi located at 5858 Lower Bay Road in the Clermont Harbor community of Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. Founded in 1915, the parish serves the Catholic communities of Clermont Harbor, Lakeshore, Ansley, and Pearlington, and is uniquely home to the Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Infant of Good Health, the only diocesan shrine in the United States dedicated to that devotion. The parish is currently led by Fr. Truong Trinh as Parochial Administrator and offers daily Mass, weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, CCD religious education, marriage preparation, and a beloved Lenten Fish Fry.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- St. Ann (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Truong Trinh (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
St. Ann is a small, tight-knit coastal parish where the faithful of Clermont Harbor, Lakeshore, Ansley, and Pearlington truly know one another, gather several times a week around the Eucharist, and serve the wider community. Daily Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration at the Diocesan Shrine, CCD religious education that prepares children for Penance, First Communion, and Confirmation, the Diocese's only Holy Infant of Good Health Shrine, and a beloved Lenten Fish Fry make it a parish where Catholic life is lived richly — and newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Mass times at St. Ann's Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 3:50 pm (and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Holy Infant of Good Health Shrine — 7 days a week, Monday–Sunday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Discover Mass also lists 'Weekdays 9:00 am – 5:00 pm')
Parish Identity & Communities Served
St. Ann Catholic Church is the Catholic parish that gathers the faithful of Clermont Harbor, Lakeshore, Ansley, and Pearlington along the lower Bay of St. Louis. The parish's own mission statement describes its people as 'called to give glory to the Lord through our lives of service to one another,' committed to supporting the poor and one another in times of need, and to investing in the Catholic education of their children. The parish says it 'offers a sincere invitation to people of all walks of life to come and join us in celebrating regularly the Sacraments as well as being part of the stewardship in our community.'
- Serves Clermont Harbor, Lakeshore, Ansley, and Pearlington
- Church office hours: Monday–Wednesday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Welcome message: 'We Welcome All Newcomers and Visitors!!!'
History of St. Ann Catholic Church
St. Ann Catholic Church in Clermont Harbor was founded in 1915, making it more than a century old. It grew to serve a string of small coastal Mississippi communities, including the separate mission of St. Joseph in Pearlington, established in 1939. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed St. Joseph's church building in 2005 and many residents relocated, the Diocese of Biloxi merged St. Joseph into St. Ann; the St. Joseph Church Hall was converted into a chapel and continues to serve the remaining faithful today.
- Founded: 1915 (per GCatholic)
- St. Joseph Parish established 1939, destroyed by Hurricane Katrina 2005
- St. Joseph merged into St. Ann after Katrina
Holy Infant of Good Health Shrine
St. Ann is the home of the Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Infant of Good Health — the only Diocesan Shrine in the United States honoring this devotion. The devotion began in Morelia, Mexico in 1939 with a hand-carved wooden statue in the home of Rosa Maria Guadalupe 'Lupita' Calderon. In 1956, Bay Saint Louis resident Margot James brought the devotion to the United States. After her death in 1994, the Sisters of Morelia entrusted the spreading of the devotion to a Mississippi family, and on February 15, 1997, Bishop Lawson Howze blessed the first Holy Infant chapel in the U.S. at St. Ann. On May 18, 2004, Bishop Thomas Rodi formally elevated the chapel to Diocesan Shrine status. The Pilgrim Statue continues to travel to many states; caretaker Yvonne Garcia coordinates the shrine's ministry.
- Devotion originated in Morelia, Mexico in 1939
- Brought to the U.S. by Margot James in 1956
- Chapel blessed by Bishop Lawson Howze on Feb 15, 1997
- Declared Diocesan Shrine by Bishop Thomas Rodi on May 18, 2004
- Caretaker: Yvonne Garcia — [email protected]
Shrine Schedule & Devotions
The Holy Infant of Good Health Shrine is open seven days a week, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, with daily Mass in the chapel Monday through Friday at 8:00 am. Special devotions include Benediction on every First Friday (after the 8:00 am Mass) and Consecration to Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Tuesdays after the 8:00 am Mass.
- Open 7 days a week, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Daily Mass Mon–Fri at 8:00 am
- Benediction every 1st Friday after Mass
- Consecration to Our Lady of Perpetual Help — Tuesdays after Mass
St. Joseph Chapel, Pearlington
St. Joseph Chapel sits at 5383 MS-604, Pearlington, MS 39572 — the surviving remnant of St. Joseph Catholic Church (established 1939) which was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After the merger with St. Ann, the Church Hall was converted into a chapel with the appropriate ornamentation for Catholic liturgy and re-opened for services on April 7, 2024. Sunday Mass is celebrated there at 10:30 am.
- Address: 5383 MS-604, Pearlington, MS 39572
- Re-opened for services April 7, 2024
- Sunday Mass at 10:30 am
- Serves Louisiana weekend-home Catholics along the Pearl River
Sacraments & Religious Education
The parish's website notes that CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) provides religious education to Catholic children attending secular schools, educating them in the faith and preparing them to receive the sacraments of Penance, the Eucharist (First Communion), and Confirmation. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact Fr. Trinh 6–9 months before their wedding date.
- CCD religious education for parish children
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation — contact Fr. Trinh 6–9 months ahead
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Fr. Truong Trinh, Parochial Administrator. Lay leadership includes Mr. Greg Federico as President of the Parish Council, Ms. Andre' Sires as Secretary, Mrs. Camille Lichtenstein and Mrs. Denise Wilkinson coordinating St. Joseph's Chapel in Pearlington, and Mrs. Yvonne Garcia coordinating the Holy Infant of Good Health Shrine. The parish held a 'Fr. Trinh Celebration' on June 22, 2024.
- Fr. Truong Trinh — Parochial Administrator
- Mr. Greg Federico — Parish Council President
- Ms. Andre' Sires — Secretary
- Mrs. Camille Lichtenstein & Mrs. Denise Wilkinson — St. Joseph's Chapel, Pearlington
- Mrs. Yvonne Garcia — Holy Infant of Good Health Shrine
Parish Life & Fundraisers
St. Ann hosts community events that have become parish traditions, including the annual Lenten Fish Fry held every Friday from February 20 through March 27 (4:30–7:00 pm, dine-in or take-out, $15/plate, weekly shrimp jambalaya special $10). The parish also actively supports the Diocese of Biloxi Catholic Sharing Appeal; the 2026 parish CSA goal was $6,354.00, themed 'Missionary Discipleship.'
- Lenten Fish Fry every Friday Feb 20 – Mar 27, 4:30–7:00 pm
- $15 plate / $10 child's plate / $10 shrimp jambalaya weekly special
- Catholic Sharing Appeal 2026 parish goal: $6,354
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Kelly
Past pastor who in 1996 spoke with Bishop Lawson Howze about building the Holy Infant of Good Health chapel; received the bishop's blessing to proceed.
- Fr. George Manchapilly
Served as pastor; widely cited in 2014 Gulf Pine Catholic coverage as pastor of St. Ann and a strong promoter of the Holy Infant of Good Health devotion across the Diocese of Biloxi.
- Fr. Truong Trinh
Current Parochial Administrator; the parish held a 'Fr. Trinh Celebration' in his honor on June 22, 2024.