CRANSTON — The parishioners of St. Ann Church have a wonderful reason to celebrate. In an era that has witnessed many church closings and consolidations, the historic church is celebrating its 150th anniversary and remains as vibrant and welcoming as when its doors first opened.
“In the 150 years since the church was established by Bishop Francis P. McFarland of Hartford, CT, eight parishes have been created out of this parish,”?noted Father Farrell E. McLaughlin, pastor of St. Ann’s since 2001. Those parishes are Holy Apostles, Immaculate Conception, St. Mark, St. Mary, St. Matthew and St. Paul, all in Cranston; and St. Rocco and St. Brigid in Johnston.
According to Father McLaughlin, St. Ann’s was founded to serve the families of Irish, English and French millworkers who were employed by the nearby Sprague Company, one of the leading cloth producers in the region at that time.
In his book entitled “Catholicism in Rhode Island and the Diocese of Providence,”?Father Robert Hayman, pastor of St. Sebastian Church, Providence, wrote “in view of the increasing number of Catholics near the print works and in the nearby Johnston village of Thornton, Father Quinn (the pastor of St. Mary Church in Olneyville), began construction of a small wooden church on a hill to the west of the Sprague print works on what would become Church Street. Bishop Francis P. McFarland of Hartford dedicated the mission church under the title of St. Ann’s on July 18, 1858. Shortly thereafter, Bishop McFarland recorded Father Quinn’s estimate that the mission’s population was approximately 500 Catholics.”
Father McLaughlin noted that before St. Ann’s opened as a mission church, worshippers walked several miles to St. Mary’s in all types of weather. Sunday was their only day of rest. He credits Amasa Sprague, one of the mill’s operators, for encouraging Bishop McFarland to establish the mission church.
“Surprisingly, a Yankee mill owner pushed for a Catholic presence,” Father McLaughlin added, noting that the mission church once stood on land behind the present rectory.
The priest said that the present church, constructed in 1907, was built with funds earned from the sale of the parish cemetery to the diocese. The cornerstone of the new building was laid on November 17, 1907 and the church was completed by April 1909. Mass was celebrated in the basement chapel for many years because of a lack of funds necessary to finish the upper church.
One former pastor of St. Ann’s, Father William Stang, a native of Germany, was elevated to become the first Bishop of Fall River when that diocese was established in 1907.
Among the many highlights in St. Ann’s long history was the establishment of a parish school and convent by Father John L. Drury in 1954. The school was staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur until it closed in the early 1970s and joined with St. Mark School to form Cranston-Johnston Regional Catholic School.
In recognition of Father Drury’s long and valuable service as a priest and pastor, Pope John XXIII named him a Domestic Prelate in 1959 with the title of Reverend Monsignor. He was further honored in December 1964 when Bishop Russell J. McVinney appointed him one of two vicar generals of the diocese. He died on June 15, 1967.
Father McLaughlin described the current ethnic composition of the historic parish as being “Heinz 57.”
“It’s a diverse community,” he said, noting that worshippers from a multitude of nations contribute their time and talent to keep the parish alive and vibrant.
“It’s a very welcoming and stewardship parish,” the pastor added.
Father McLaughlin said that when he first arrived at St. Ann’s, he was greatly inspired — and still is — by one of the church’s magnificent stained glass windows depicting Martha and Mary.
“Martha symbolizes hospitality and Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet trying to catch every word,” he noted, adding that these two holy women continue to influence his ministry to make St. Ann’s a welcoming community and to bring the word of God to its members. Father McLaughlin said the parish is comprised of 1,250 families, representing 3,700 individuals.
“I can see a lot of positive things happening here,” said Father McLaughlin, noting that a group of parish men recently constructed a new sign for the church, and that the exterior of the church has been refinished. Air conditioning has been installed and the church’s 70 year-old organ was replaced.
“One of the things I am proudest of as pastor are the gorgeous, priceless windows of my church,” Father McLaughlin emphasized, noting that the windows, created by F. Zettler in Munich, Germany during the Great Depression, portray colorful, detailed scenes taken from Scripture.
To commemorate the parish’s 150th anniversary, 228 families contributed to a beautiful parish quilt which hangs in the back of the church. Loved ones are remembered by pictures sewn onto squares, and Pope Benedict XVI, several diocesan bishops and former pastors are represented in the project that presents a pictorial history. The pastors include Fathers John G. Greaves and Jude P. McGeough, both of whom are celebrating their 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood this year.
“It’s my intention to stay here until I retire,” Father McLaughlin concluded, smiling.
