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Dear parishioners and friends of Saint Ann,
Our first pastor, Fr. Martin Cavanagh, arrived here in the Norwood section of the Bronx seventy-five years ago. Although only seventeen years a priest, this was the second time he had been assigned to establish a new parish. Abounding in faith and energy he accepted the new challenge from his archbishop, Patrick Cardinal Hayes. The one favor he asked, and it was granted, was that he might be able to name his new parish after the mother of the Blessed Virgin and the grandmother of Jesus. So now in this year 2002 we celebrate the Diamond Anniversary of the Shrine Church of Saint Ann in the Bronx.
When I became the pastor of St. Ann's ten years ago I began at once to study the history of the parish, which I have brought together in a journal to be published this summer. My admiration goes out to so many good priests who have served here, to the Dominican Sisters who started the school and staffed it for sixty years, and to the lay staff which then took over. Moreover there is something very special about the parishioners, past and present, who have been gathering here for 3,900 Sundays to listen to the word of the Lord, to proclaim His praises, to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass and to receive their Savior in Holy Communion.
Each of the five parishes in which I have served has had a special charisma. Here at St. Ann's the charisma is PEACE. St. Paul worried about his parish in Corinth because there were so many factions there. Were he pastor here he would rejoice in the way St. Ann's people have accepted Christ's beautiful offer: "I leave you peace, my peace I give you." Pope John XXIII used to urge that we learn to disagree without becoming disagreeable. He too would have like it here. I myself have always liked it here, but never so much as now during this Jubilee Year. On the Feast of St. Ann, July 26th, may old timers and newcomers, former parishioners and those of us who are lucky enough to still be here will all come together for a 4:00 Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving in "Grandma's house." The celebration of such an awesome Anniversary will continue at the banquet tables of the Villa Barone in the east Bronx.. Everyone who comes will add to the happiness of the rest of us.
Our church opens each morning at 7:00. Don't hesitate to drop in to ask the Lord's blessing on your day at work or school.
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Sincerely.
Msgr. Robert M. Trainor, Pastor.
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