History
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history of st. anne parish
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St. Anne Parish originally comprised twenty square miles, from 12 Mile to 16 Mile Roads, and from Dequindre to Schoenherr. Due to the enormous growth of the City of Warren, other Parishes were established.
What St. Anne lost in territory was gained in population. In 1945, 210 families were registered in the Parish.
THE FIRST CHURCH . . . .
The first church was the Warren Village Barn, which was purchased for $14,000. The first Mass was said in the remodeled barn Easter Sunday, April, 1946. At that time there were 225 families. Furnishings of the chapel came from many quarters: Main Altar Candlesticks from Annunciation Church, Detroit; Side Altar from Augustine, Richmond; Floor Coverings from Fisher Building, Detroit; Vestments from Sacred Heart, Imlay City; Statue from St. Patrick’s, Wyandotte; pews from St. Juliana, Detroit. Original Monstrance, Missal and chairs from Fr. John Ryan of the Confraternity Office.
Exterior of St. Anne Chapel...
THE SECOND CHURCH . . . .
The construction of the second church began in April, 1953, and was completed around September for an estimated cost of $150,000. The building was an Auditorium/Gymnasium type to be used as a temporary church (today this serves as the St. Anne Catholic Grade School gym).
St. Anne Auditorium Church.
PERMANENT HOME…
Groundbreaking for our permanent homeIn 1962, the thinking turned towards a new permanent Church. After permission was granted by the Archbishop of Detroit, the firm of Charles M. Valentine and Associates of Marysville, Michigan was engaged to design the new Church.
When plans and specifications were finally approved, bids were sent to ten qualified contractors. The time-honored firm of Clarence Gleeson Incorporated was the successful bidder as General Contractor.
Ground for the new Church was broken on April 5th, 1964, and the twenty-year dream became a reality.
DEDICATION A JOYOUS SUCCESS . . . .
The ceremony on Saturday, August 21st, was a spectacular combination of sights, sounds and people. Many visitors added to the joy of the occasion. We were honored by the presence of Archbishop John F. Dearden, and his Secretary, Father Joseph Imesch. Fathers Bernard Crowley and Raymond Clancy served as Chaplains to the Archbishop. Father Frederick Delaney, in his inspiring sermon, pointed out to us the meaning of the occasion. Many priests and sisters, old friends of the Parish, shared in the celebration. It was a thrill to see members from our neighboring churches join in the spirit of the day. The visiting Ministers were Reverends Ken Brand, Wallace Zink, John Baumgartner, John Salles, Ray Cover, and John Bergman.
THE FUTURE . . . .
As with every large parish, St. Anne has seen a lot of growth and activity through the years. Every summer the parish has had a considerable amount of repair work done. With building and facilities getting older, upkeep and maintenance is no small and inexpensive task. The entire sewer system of our parish was replaced. The elementary school has been repainted. Grounds around the school were restored to their original setting. Even more work will be planned for the future.
St. Anne Catholic Community is still expanding.
Well into the new millennium, St. Anne is actively continuing its ecclesial mission. The serious involvement of so many in the educational, athletic, social and service groups of the parish community attest to our busy successful past, productive present, and bright future in God’s provident care.
The most important part regarding our parish history is that it is a living history. Our parish is a living people who owe much to the past while holding a firm and positive view of the years to come. With God’s help we can continue the work that has been handed down to us — continuing to be a sign of his presence in our world.
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Timeline of pastors
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Fr. Frank J. Walsh
FOUNDING PASTOR
Fr. Frank J. Walsh
Ordained 1930
1945-1970
In March, 1945 the Chancery announced that a parish was to be established in the area of Mound and 13 Mile Roads. The assignment was given to Fr. Frank Walsh, and the new parish was named in honor of St. Anne, the Mother of our Blessed Lady.
Born in Detroit on September 18, 1902, Fr. Walsh attended St. Vincent de Paul Grade School and High School, Detroit. He was ordained June 8, 1930 after attending the University of Detroit and St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. After ordination he served as Associate Pastor at SS Peter and Paul Church, formerly known as Old Cathedral, St. Matthew, Epiphany, and Assumption Grotto, all in Detroit.
Golf was Fr. Walsh’s favorite sport, although he played on Class “A” baseball and Class “A” sandlot teams. He was a member of Seniors Golf.
Fr. Walsh retired in 1970 and died September 19, 1978, on day after his birthday, at the age of 76.
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Fr. Fabian Slominski
SECOND PASTOR
Fr. Fabian Slominski
Ordained May 22, 1948.
1970-1981
Fr. Fabian Slominski was appointed second Pastor of St. Anne in June, 1970. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota on May 12, 1924. He grew up in Holy Name Parish in Detroit where he attended Holy Name Grade School. He graduated from Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College. Fr. Slominski studied theology at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, and was ordained by Cardinal Mooney on May 22, 1948.After ordination, Fr. Slominski served as Associate Pastor at Mt. Carmel Parish in Wyondotte, St. Florian Parish in Hamtramck, and SS. Peter and Paul and St. Bartholomew, both in Detroit. He also served for three years as Pastor at at Corpus Christi Parish, Detroit.
For reasons of health, Fr. Slominski left St. Anne in June, 1983 for a year of recuperation. Fr. Slominski passed away in 2017.
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Third Pastor - Present
THIRD PASTOR
Fr. Stanley A. Wyczawski
Ordained February 2, 1973
1981-1991Fr. Stanley A. Wyczawski was appointed the third Pastor of St. Anne Catholic Community effective June 27, 1983.
Born on October 3, 1946, the son of Stanley J. and Johanna E. (Jeziak), he attended St. Sebastian and St. Martha Grade Schools, Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College; and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth. He was ordained to the priesthood on February 2, 1973 by Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton.
Fr. Stan served his internship at St. Brigid Parish in Detroit. Since then, he has been assigned to St. Veronica Parish in East Detroit; St. Rene Goupil Parish in Sterling Heights; St. Lawrence Parish in Utica. In June of 1981 he was assigned by Cardinal Dearden to be the Pastor of St. Anne Parish in Ortonville, where he was until being assigned by Archbishop Szoka to be the Pastor here at St. Anne in Warren.
Fr. Stan passed away in 2008.
FOURTH PASTOR
Fr. David Koss
1991-1992Fr. David Koss accepted the responsibility of St. Anne Parish in July 1991. He remained until April of the following year.
FIFTH PASTOR
Fr. Michael Kazer
1992-2005Father Michael Kazer assumed the pastorate for the next thirteen years. He devoted considerable attention to the grounds, particularly the garden area next to the church. The old convent was razed during his tenure.
SIXTH PASTOR
Fr. Alberto Bondy
2005-2018In July, 2005, Rev. Alberto Bondy, an alumnus of the elementary school, became the sixth pastor of St. Anne. Active committees for both the finance and pastoral councils were reinstituted. The school library and computer rooms were updated and Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten were opened.
SEVENTH PASTOR
NINTH PASTOR
Fr. Paul Coutinha
2018-2020
EIGHTH PASTOR
Fr. John Kopson
2020- 2024
Fr. Adam Nowak
2024 - Present
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Architecture
St. Anne Church is designed in a timely style, the Early Renaissance of Italy – the style of the revival of the classics, invention, music, the arts. This is the style that was the transition from the glorious days of the Gothic to the inspired golden age of the revival.
The plan of the Church was being worked out at the start of the Ecumencial Council where the format for the new rules on the liturgy was being debated and promulgated. Fortunately, we were able to design according to these new ideas, and thus the reason for the three naves converging on the sanctuary and the altar visible to all.
The style of this building was dedicated to the time-honored and respected Saint of the family, St. Anne.
The main or formal entrance, with a statue of each member of the Holy Family over each of the three doors and framed in blue mosaic bands, faces on Mound Road. The side entrances and rear entrances are less formal and are for easy access from the parking areas.
An entrance on the east side also serves as an entrance to the rectory. Over the side and rear entrances are carved plaques of symbols of the Church. The sculptures work throughout was done from models made by Corrado Parducci of Detroit whose other works grace buildings throughout Detroit and the United States.
The dominant feature of the Church is the campanile or bell tower with the carved stone mural ascending the west face, depicting the family of St. Anne and her husband St. Joachim; the Mother of Mary, the Blessed Virgin who was betrothed to St. Joseph and was the mother of Jesus, who is the second person of the Trinity. The dove carved in the buttress above Jesus represents the Holy Spirit, and the crown of the buttress represents God the Father.
The tower, built above the Baptistry, the entrance of the person to the Faith, is sixty-five feet high and is topped out with stone tracery openings and red ceramic tile panels with a red mission tiled roof.
The nave of the Church with its vaulted ceiling sprinkled with pin lights will sparkle at night, and the contemporary design of the stained glass windows add a delightful tone of color to the interior. Cove lighting at the side walls will make a lighted setting for the vaulted ceiling.
The carpeted sanctuary sets out, so that all may see the sacrifice of the Mass, on a black granite altar silhouetted against a light tone of blue ceramic tile in the reredos. The reredos forms a screen across the work sacristy and it also has a featured panel and table for the tabernacle containing the Holy Eucharist.
The stone arches, panels, and carved capped columns form and overall background for the sanctuary. The left arched panel opens through a cloister to the Chapel and the right arched panel contains mosaic panels of the Saints.
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