St. Ann Parish in Parsippany, N.J., celebrated the feast of St. Ann (or St. Anne) and the 40th anniversary of the church’s dedication during a Mass presided over by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on July 26.
Concelebrating with Bishop Sweeney were Father Nico Quintos, pastor of St. Ann; Msgr. Martin McDonnell, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and first pastor of the parish; Father Edgar Rivera, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J., and St. Ann’s fourth pastor; Father David Pickens, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany; and Father Fred Walters, a retired diocesan priest. Deacon Len Deo assisted with the liturgy.
The Feast of St. Anne (or St. Ann) is celebrated on July 26 to honor St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus Christ.
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“St. Ann reminds us of the beauty of faith handed on from one generation to the next. Though we know very little about her from Scripture, her legacy lives on in the family she helped form — a family through whom God brought salvation to the world,” Father Quintos wrote in St. Ann’s bulletin that week.
St. Ann’s Church was officially dedicated on July 26, 1986, following the faith community’s establishment in 1982.
“We give thanks to all who came before us, whose sacrifices, vision, and generosity built this parish community. Now it is our turn to continue that legacy for those who will come after us,” Father Quintos wrote in the bulletin.
During his visit, Bishop Sweeney also blessed churchgoers who were celebrating birthdays.
