From a Donated House to a 1958 Church Building
The story of the Church of Saint Anne begins on what is today Thirteenth Avenue in Elmwood Park, where in 1909 Angelina and Juan Ramirez donated their house so that Catholics in the Warren Point section of what would become Fair Lawn and Elmwood Park would have a place to pray. Father Peter Kramer, a Carmelite, celebrated the first Mass in the Chapel of Saint Anne. A year later Bishop John O'Connor appointed Father Hyacinth Reuberg, O.F.M., as the first pastor of the Mission of Saint Anne, beginning a Franciscan identity that would shape the parish for nearly a century.
Through the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s a succession of Franciscan friars built up the parish. Father Justin Walsh, O.F.M., had the first church built on the present Saint Anne Street site in 1926. Father Camillus Lillis, O.F.M., oversaw the parish's elevation from mission to parish and acquired a rectory and friary. Father Anthony O'Driscoll, O.F.M., built the parish school, and Father Capistran Petrie, O.F.M., expanded the school with a gym that doubled as a worship space and built a convent for the sisters teaching there. In 1957 Father Petrie launched the campaign for the present church; it was completed in 1958 under his successor Father Harold Blake, O.F.M., and Father Paul Sinnema, O.F.M., celebrated its first Mass.
The Franciscan era ended in 2005, when the Holy Name Province formally ended its staffing of the parish and the Archdiocese of Newark assumed responsibility, assigning Father Joseph Doyle, Father Fernando Costa and Father Colin Kay to minister to the people. Since then the parish has continued to invest in its buildings - an elevator was installed in the church in 2007, the school parking lot and playground were repaired, and a memorial garden with paver stones dedicated by parishioners was planted on the grounds in 2009. The parish school itself, which had served the community for seventy years, was closed by the Archdiocese in 2020; the building was leased in 2021 to the Noble Leadership Academy, a pre-kindergarten through high school Muslim religious school.
Mass Schedule, Livestreamed in English and Spanish
Weekend and daily Masses are the heart of parish life at Saint Anne. Saturday worship begins with Mass at 8:45 a.m., followed by the Vigil Mass at 5:15 p.m. On Sunday four Masses are offered: 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is the parish's Family Mass, during which Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.
All weekend and daily Masses are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, with captions provided, so that parishioners who are homebound, traveling or unable to attend in person can follow along. Spanish-speaking members of the community are supported through bilingual liturgical resources, including the Sunday readings posted in Spanish online, and Spanish-language versions of the Archdiocese's Policies on Professional and Ministerial Conduct and Volunteer Application forms.
Worship is liturgically traditional and centered on the Eucharist. The parish's mission statement names the Eucharist as the center of its life and the Franciscan tradition as its root, calling the community to encounter Jesus Christ, engage the community that welcomes them, and serve the world that needs them. Father Joseph Doyle serves as pastor and Father Samuel Monaco Jr. as parochial vicar, joined by Monsignor Anthony Ziccardi and deacons Rich McGarry, Junelito Fuertes and Brian Brockway.
Three Choirs Across Three Weekend Masses
Music ministry is one of the most distinctive features of Saint Anne. The parish is home to three choirs, each with its own character, that lead the congregation at different Masses.
The Contemporary Choir, directed by Jeannine Vena, is open to all parishioners from high school age up. It leads worship at the Saturday 5:15 p.m. Vigil Mass and rehearses on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the church.
The Family Choir, formerly the Children's Choir, is directed by Christine Knitel and is open to children in grades two through eight along with members of their families. It sings at the 9:30 a.m. Family Mass from September through June, with rehearsals on Thursday afternoons at 4:15 p.m. in the church.
The Adult Choir sings every Sunday at the 11:30 a.m. Mass from September through June. It is directed by Alan Quinn, the parish Director of Music Ministry, together with Eric Knitel, and rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. At Christmas all three choirs join together for a seasonal concert. New singers are always welcome; those interested are invited to speak with a director after Mass.
Faith Formation and the BOLD Youth Ministry
Children and teens are at the center of parish life. Faith Formation, directed by Sandra Keraghel, is offered to all registered parishioners in kindergarten through eighth grade who do not attend Catholic school, with preparation for the sacraments woven into the program. Registration is open each fall and families can reach the Faith Formation office at the rectory.
For the youngest members, Children's Liturgy of the Word meets every Sunday during the 9:30 a.m. Family Mass. Children in grades K-4 are called forward before the Liturgy of the Word and process to the Church Hall for their own celebration of the Gospel, then return to their families after the General Intercessions. Older children can serve as Altar Servers from third grade through high school, helping the priest and congregation worship with reverence and joy.
Middle school and high school students have their own gathering place in BOLD: Becoming Our Lord's Disciples, the parish's youth ministry. BOLD is open to all students in grades 9-12 whether or not they are parishioners, and BOLD Middle serves grades 6-8. The program combines faith, friends and fun through monthly Teen Night Live (TNL) gatherings, service projects and trips. Communication runs through dedicated mailing lists for high schoolers and middle schoolers, and youth ministry is staffed by Alex Cortez and Jason Chaudhry.
Beyond the classroom, parish children play together on the Saint Anne Basketball team, which has competed in Bergen County CYO championships, bowl together in St. Anne's Bowling, and serve together in Cub Scouts through Scouting America.
Feeding Fair Lawn: The Food Pantry and Wider Outreach
Social outreach is one of the clearest expressions of the parish's Franciscan roots. The Saint Anne Food Pantry, led by Joe Velardi, is a centerpiece of that work. Donations are welcomed through an Amazon Wishlist that allows community members to contribute directly, and the parish regularly shares bulletins and prayer intentions with donors to keep them connected to the pantry's work.
Saint Anne partners with several regional agencies to extend its reach. The parish supports Family Promise, a national nonprofit that helps families experiencing homelessness; Harrison House, a transitional residence for women and children in need; and Eva's Village in Paterson, which serves people struggling with poverty, addiction and homelessness. Together these partnerships reflect a sustained commitment to feeding, housing and accompanying the most vulnerable neighbors in northern New Jersey.
Parishioners who are unemployed or under-employed find support through the Saint Cajetan Ministry Network. Saint Cajetan is the patron saint of the unemployed, and this ministry meets every two weeks on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the Faith Center in the lower level of the rectory, and on alternating Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Saint Catharine Church in Glen Rock. Each gathering begins with prayer and an inspirational reflection, then turns to practical help on transferable skills, cover letters, networking, resumes, interviewing, budgeting and personal finance.
Spiritual Growth: Cornerstone, Bible Study, and the Secular Franciscans
Adult faith formation is a major part of parish life. The parish hosts ongoing Bible Study in the Church Hall, including a six-session walk through the Acts of the Apostles led by Father Joe on Tuesday evenings. Morning Reflection for Women brings women together on Saturday mornings in the Church Hall for shared prayer and reflection.
Two parallel small-group ministries anchor spiritual growth for men and women. Men's Cornerstone and Women's Cornerstone draw on the Franciscan tradition and offer a regular rhythm of fellowship, prayer and formation. The parish also sponsors a Men's Early Morning Group, a Rosary Society, a Holy Name Society, and a vibrant Secular Franciscan fraternity that carries the parish's founding charism into the present.
The Faith Center, housed in the lower level of the rectory, hosts many of these gatherings and is home to a parish library. Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary are regular practices that complement the daily Mass schedule.
Parish Life, the Knights of Columbus, and the Filipino American Community
Community life at Saint Anne is rich and varied. The Filipino American Association of Fair Lawn gathers parishioners around faith, food and cultural traditions. Saint Anne Stages is the parish's performing arts group, the Senior Club offers friendship and activities for older parishioners, and Saint Anne's Bowling brings together bowlers of all ages. The annual Carnival is one of the highlights of the parish year.
The parish is home to Knights of Columbus Council 2853 and its auxiliary, the Columbiettes. The Knights remain true to their founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity, sponsoring programs that support the parish, local youth and the wider Church, while the Columbiettes focus on the spiritual, social and charitable welfare of their members, drawing on the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Saint Joan of Arc.
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed. The parish offers handicap accessibility in the atrium on the right side of the church, and the rectory is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Anyone wishing to register as a parishioner can complete a Parish Registration form and return it to the rectory. Those interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, or Catholics who have not yet received all of their sacraments, are invited to take part in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), formerly known as RCIA.