Saint Ann's
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Sunday, March 7, 2009
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The Parish
of St. Ann
St Ann's Roman Catholic Church was established in 1955 to minister to the growing numbers of Catholic vacationers in the area. The parish began as a mission to St. Edmonds's parish in Rehoboth Beach but later had its mission status transferred to the charge of St. Michael's Church in Georgetown. It became a parish in its own right in 1972 with the appointment of Rev. Richard F. Gardiner as the first full-time resident priest. During his tenure, Fr. Gardiner directed the construction of the present church, seating 1000 worshippers and at which seven masses are conducted each weekend during the summer months. The original church was then converted to a social hall, now called Delaney Hall in honor of one of St. Ann's most beloved visiting priests, Fr. James Delaney. In May 1975, Rev. Phillip P. Sheeky was appointed Pastor and he served until December 1982. Rev. Roy F. Pollard, Jr. served as Pastor from that point until July 1984 when our longest serving Pastor Rev. John J. Masterson was appointed.
In 1989, our Religious Educational Building was constructed to house the religious educational classes.
Due much to Fr. Masterson's efforts, the attendance at St. Ann's has grown to some 1650 families (both full and part-time). One of Fr. Masterson's final accomplishments was the acquisition of land adjacent to St. Ann's and the building thereon of our new Rectory in 2000. Shortly after that project was in process Fr. Masterson passed away on June 19,2000. In his memory, the Religious Educational Center was renamed the Fr. John J Masterson Center.
Rev James Nash was assigned as temporary administrator until September 2000 when our present Pastor, Rev David F. Kelley, was appointed. Under Fr. Kelley's guidance, St. Ann's has continued its growth and activities, principal of which is the present funding and planning of the new Mission Church, shortly to be constructed near Roxana on Route 17. This Mission Church will provide badly needed additional worship facilities for not only our vacationers but also the rapidly growing residential population west of St. Ann's. Fr. Kelley is also active in the starting of the Most Blessed Sacrament Regional Elementary School in Ocean Pines, Maryland. This school will provide a full-time catholic education for children in this part of the Eastern Shore.