As Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared during his homily Aug. 5 in St. Ann Church,  Lawrenceville, 1937 was the year of the Hindenburg disaster, the year Disney released “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the year Bill Cosby was born and for parishioner Virginia Belviso, the year her father began work on the parish of St. Ann, on a tract of land that was purchased by the diocese for $4000, at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Lawrence Road.

Father Michael McCorristin was appointed pastor of the new parish July 30, 1937 by Bishop Moses Kiley.   A year later there were more than 400 families in Lawrenceville, and by the 1960s the population of Catholics in the area grew to nearly 1,000. Father Joseph Keenan began a campaign to construct a school. Staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, St. Ann School opened its doors in 1964.

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In 1982, a fire ravaged the church building, causing irreparable damage to the house of worship. As Masses were being celebrated in the school, it was decided by the pastor, Msgr. Thomas J. Frain, to rebuild.  In 1986, Bishop John C. Reiss, laid the cornerstone for the new church which was fashioned for the Celebration of the Liturgy as directed by the Second Vacation Council.

Following the retirement of Msgr. Frain in 1995, Father R. Vincent Gartland was named pastor. Under his leadership, the Faith Development Center was erected in 2006 and St. Ann merged with St. Michael Parish and Korean Martyrs Parish. 

Now, Belviso joined her fellow parishioners in celebrating the 75th anniversary of St. Ann Parish.

“There’s something about this church.  When you walk in here, it’s not only a building, it’s not only a church, it’s a place you feel that you’re in touch with God,” Bishop O’Connell said in his homily.

He said, “The 75th birthday of a parish is a celebration of family and community — families and communities, really — who have been generations of faith, living out the promises of their Baptism together, seeking and finding Christ together in his Church and in our neighborhoods.”

The bishop continued, “Seventy-five years of sacraments: bringing to life and confirming life; feeding with the bread of life; mending and reconciling lives; marrying into new lives; handing lives over to God.  Seventy-five years of hearing God’s Word.  Seventy-five years of generosity, of sharing, of charity, of living the Christian life.  That’s what parish anniversaries celebrate and the Church of St. Ann does that today as a living, vibrant and growing community of faith”

Recognizing the great faith of their predecessors, Bishop O’Connell stated, “A parish begins and a parish grows when and because there is a hunger among the Catholic people of an area:  a hunger for the Word of Life; a hunger for the Bread of Life.  Well over 75 years ago, that hunger was felt keenly by Catholics here in Lawrenceville.”

He also offered the parishioners a challenge to evangelize and spread the faith as the early parishioners did.

“The time is now.  The place is here.  What we lift up today is a living, believing, loving community of faith that is the Church of Ann.  How blessed we are!”

The theme for the year-long celebration, “Share the Spirit, Secure the Future,” pays homage to the parish’s history and looks forward to the future.  A 75th anniversary committee, co-chaired by Bob Kusek and Mary Malley, was created to plan parish events throughout the year.  In addition to the anniversary Mass, a 10-week faith development course, entitled “The Catholicism Project,” an international dinner, a golf tournament and formal parish dinner in September are among the events the committee has planned.

“On behalf of the parish community I offer a sincere thank you to Msgr. Vince Gartland. He has been such a wonderful and revered pastor.  Through his leadership the Church of St. Ann has flourished and through his encouragement, there are 60 active ministries in the church,“ Kusek acknowledged as he addressed the congregation who gave their beloved priest two standing ovations.

Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop O’Connell, were Msgr. Gartland and a number of priests who had served in the parish over the years as parochial vicars, as well as visiting priests from neighboring parishes.

St. Ann Parish history:
St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, traces its roots to 1891 when a small group gathered in the Burke residence on Titus Avenue for the first Mass ever celebrated in Lawrence Township. Father John M. McCloskey, a native of Princeton, was the celebrant. When the parish membership increased, services were moved to the home of the Michael Fleming family who lived nearby. In 1898, a new trolley line made it possible for travel to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral or to St. Joseph Church, both in Trenton. As many Catholics could not afford the fare, parents made the great sacrifice of walking their children to services in Trenton.

In 1905, Morris Hall Home for the Aged, Lawrenceville, was opened and the congregation began worshiping there with Father John Gammell, Morris Hall’s first chaplain, officiating. For 33 years, the Lawrence Catholics worshiped in Morris Hall’s Holy Rosary Chapel, although many continued to travel miles to Trenton for Sunday services and holy days of obligation.

Father Michael P. McCorristin was assigned as chaplain during the Great Depression and became the catalyst for the construction of Lawrence Township’s first Catholic Church. At this time, there were about 100 Catholic families who resided in the area. To accommodate the growing population, celebrations like first Holy Communion and Confirmations were held in the nearby Lawrence Road Firehouse and, for a time, even a nearby barber shop.

There was considerable discussion about where the new church was to be built, but it was Father McCorristin who stated, “You build where most of your parishioners are located.” On July 22, 1936, a tract of land was purchased on Lawrence Road at Lawrence Ave., for $4,000, donated by the Diocese of Trenton.

Lawrenceville’s new church, named in honor of St. Ann, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and grandmother of Jesus, was issued a Certificate of Incorporation Aug. 9, 1937, the recorded foundation date of St. Ann Parish. The cornerstone was laid and the church dedicated on June 26, 1938.

During 1955 to 1967, the Catholic population of Lawrence Township increased from 400 to nearly 1,000 families, necessitating an expansion of the facilities, including the building of a school. Ground was broken for the school on Nov. 27, 1962, and the school opened in September, 1964, with the first and second grades. One grade was added each year until all eight grades were accommodated. A short time later, a two-story convent was erected adjoining the school on Rossa Ave., which was dedicated Feb. 7, 1965.

A telling blow struck the parish on Jan. 2, 1982, when fire caused irreparable damaged to the 44-year-old church. The parish community grieved as they saw their beloved parish home demolished, but soon rejoiced when they learned a new building would be erected. Three months after the fire, a campaign was launched to raise $800,000, for the new building. Two months later, the pastor, Msgr. Thomas Frain, announced the goal had been exceeded.

Ground was broken for the new church building May 13, 1984,and construction took about two years to complete. Several elements from the old building were salvaged and brought into the new edifice including the Stations of the Cross, stained glass windows and organ. The new church was built with a seating capacity of 750 unlike the original church which accommodated 190. The first Mass as celebrated in the new structure Dec. 21, 1985.

Msgr. Frain retired on May 23, 1994 after 27 years of service to St. Ann parish. He was succeeded by Father R. Vincent Gartland, the parish’s current pastor.

To respond to the growing needs of the parish, St. Ann Parish built a new Faith Development Center as an attachment to the church. The 30,000 square-foot facility houses the parish/school library, art and music center for the parish and school as well as meeting rooms and offices. The Gallery of Light is used for art exhibits and processions.