Parish Information

Church of St Ann Parish is nestled in the cradle of the South Mountain range in Southern Lehigh Valley in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Our Parish encompasses Emmaus, parts of Allentown, Lower Macungie, Upper Milford Township, and Salisbury Township. Our Church is located at 415 South 6th St., Emmaus, PA.

Church of Saint Ann – A Brief History

The history of Saint Ann Parish began in 1763 when Father Schneider, a Jesuit Missionary, celebrated a marriage in Macunshi [Macungie], which is now part of Saint Ann Parish. Throughout the Nineteenth Century, the spiritual needs of the local catholic population were met by traveling missionaries. As the immigrant population began to rise at the turn of the Twentieth Century, a priest from Saint John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church in Allentown visited Emmaus and celebrated Mass the 3^rd Sunday of every month in a private home.

By 1921 Mass was being celebrated in the second floor hall of a general store on Minor Street and 13 acres of farmland were purchased as the site for the future Saint Ann Catholic Church. The cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day 1923; construction began in 1928 and was completed in May 1929. Rev. Paul M. Pekarik was appointed the first pastor of Saint Ann in 1930. The rectory was constructed in 1938.

The school began in 1949 with 132 students in classrooms constructed in the church basement. In 1954 Saint Ann School’s first building was opened with an enrollment of 273 students. In 1957 a gym and extra classrooms were added.

The congregation outgrew the old church and the present church was constructed in 1982 during the administration of the second Pastor, the Rev. James E. Sweeney. In 1997 during the pastorate of the Rev. Msgr. Thomas E. Hoban an addition to the school with offices, science lab, library, computer lab, and kindergarten and pre-school classrooms was dedicated. In 2004 another addition with art and music rooms and more classrooms was added. Msgr. Hoban retired in 2008 and the Rev. Msgr. John S. Mraz was named the 4^th pastor of Saint Ann’s.

Here is a brief history of St Ann Parish history as stated in our 75th anniversary directory.

The original church was completed in May of 1929. The church was a mission of St John the Baptist Church.
1931 - June 8th, Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia, established St. Ann's Parish.
1934 - Stained glass windows were installed in the church.
1938 - Construction of the Rectory began.
1942 - Reverend Father Stephen Bednarik was appointed as the first assistant pastor.
1945 - The School Sisters of St Francis began daily and Saturday morning religion instruction.
1949 - St. Ann's Parochial School, consisting 0f classrooms that had been built in the basement of the church, opened its doors with 132 students.
1951 - St. Ann's Convent was constructed to house eleven sisters who taught in the school.
1954 - Most Reverend John F. O'Hara dedicated the new school building for 273 students.
1957 - Most Reverend Joseph McShea dedicated the addition to the school.
1975 - Reverend Father James E. Sweeney was appointed Pastor upon the retirement of Father Pekarik.
1982 - A new church was constructed with a seating capacity of 700 people. A feature of the new church was that all entrances are handicapped accessible and there is a "cry room" for young parents with small children.
1985 - After forty-five years of service and support the School Sisters of St. Francis departed.
1986 - Reverend Monsignor Thomas E. Hoban is appointed Pastor upon the retirement of Reverend Father Sweeney.
1987 - The former convent is transformed into a division of the Holy Family Manor to house 14 elderly residents.
1987 - 3 Benedictine Sisters arrived to serve at St. Ann's Parish.
1988 - A new convent is constructed to house the Benedictine Sisters. In February of this year, the Sisters take up residence in the new convent.
1990 - The school is air-conditioned.
1994 - Stained glass doors are installed in the new church. The 12 doors are of the 12 apostles.
1998 - St. Ann's Convent becomes Transfiguration Monastery for the Benedictine Sisters.
2000 - Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen dedicated the new school building which contains 7 classrooms, computer room, library, science lab, pre-school and offices.
2000 - St. Ann's Women's club donated a stained glass window of St. Ann for the new school.
2001 - Renovation of the outside of the church and a handicapped restroom are completed.
2005 - An addition to the school including two classrooms, an art room, and a music room are completed.
2005 - The Women's club donated a stained glass window of the Holy Family for the new addition.
2005 - An addition to the convent is constructed to enlarge the chapel and give the Sisters room for expansion.
2006 - A new 4 car garage is constructed and the old garages are removed.
2008 - Reverend Monsignor John S. Mraz is appointed Pastor upon the retirement of Reverend Monsignor Thomas E. Hoban.
2008 - The Tabernacle from the old church is refurbished.
2009 - The Baptismal Font is rebuilt and moved to the back of the church
2009 - New statues of Mary and Joseph are placed in the the back of church.
2009 - New etched glass Confessional doors and Stations of the Cross are installed in the Church