The beginning of the Catholic Community in Naples may be traced back to 1939 when visiting priests would celebrate Mass in the Solarium of the Naples Beach Hotel, located then on Gulf Shore Boulevard at 12th Avenue South. During those early years it is estimated that there were about nine resident Catholic families in this little sleeping fishing village of Naples. This number would swell during the winter season with visitors from the north.

By 1942, during the war years, the number of the faithful attending Sunday Mass grew so large that the Naples Theatre had to be used to accommodate the increase. Father Charles Curran traveled from Ft. Myers weekly to celebrate the Liturgy.

In that same year a Church Building Fund Committee was established and land was purchased at the corner of 3rd Street South and 9th Avenue South, in the heart of what would later be known as “Olde Naples.” Father O’Reardon was delegated by Archbishop Joseph Hurley of St. Augustine to make this purchase. There were approximately 100 families who worshiped each week.

At this time it should be noted that the town of Naples was the southern boundary for the Diocese of St. Augustine, established in 1870. No other diocese in Florida had yet been established.

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Griesedieck of St. Louis and their daughter Ann were among the early parishioners. Ann was a student at Barry (College) University in Miami Shores. She was killed tragically in an automobile accident. As contributors to the building fund her parents respectfully requested that Saint Ann, the grandmother of Jesus, be considered as the parish name.

In August 1950 permission was granted by Archbishop Hurley to develop plans for a church building. In November of that year plans were completed and permission was given to name the parish in honor of Saint Ann. It was the first Catholic Church in Naples. This building now serves as our Parish Center.

Archbishop Hurley dedicated the building on Palm Sunday 1950 and the parish was established as a mission of Saint Francis Xavier in Ft. Myers. Father Michael Fogarty celebrated the Palm Sunday Liturgy.

Until 1954 Saint Ann remained a mission of Saint Francis Xavier. On January 30, 1955, Saint Ann was officially established and its boundaries set by the Vatican as a parish. It was the first and only parish in Collier County.

Archbishop Hurley appointed Father Timothy Geary as its first pastor. Father Geary came to Naples from Immaculate Conception Parish in Jacksonville.

Everything at Saint Ann grew, including the city of Naples. By 1968 it was apparent that the church building could no longer contain the number of weekly worshipers thus, plans were drawn for a new church building.

The concept of a worship space that placed the altar, the focal point of the building in the center, was not in itself new but was very much in line with the revised liturgical instructions of Vatican II (1962-1964). The complete attention of the worshiping congregation should be an unobstructed view of the altar. The new plans met this objective well.

The cornerstone for the new church building was blessed and ground was broken on March 22, 1968. Father Laurence Conway had been appointed the parish administrator. The completed Saint Ann Church was dedicated by the Archbishop of Miami, Coleman Carroll on March 14, 1970.

By 1990 the church building was in need of repair and expansion. Andrea Clark Brown, architect, is responsible for the renovation and remodeling of the present building. Chris Scala, sculptor, based is Orlando, created the “corpus” and the Stations of the Cross. The present church was dedicated on January 22, 1995 by the Bishop of Venice, Bishop John J. Nevins.


SAINT ANN SCHOOL

In 1956 the Sisters of Saint Joseph from Saint Augustine arrived to teach the children of the parish, first in makeshift classrooms in the church building and in the courtyard under the Banyan Tree.

One year later a modest group of school buildings rose on 8th Avenue South between 4th and 5th streets. All this was constructed for $200,000.

In 1958 the convent building, 475 9th Avenue South was constructed to house the sisters. These dedicated sisters of Saint Joseph continued to further Catholic education at Saint Ann School until 1959.

On August 22, 1959 the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia accepted the administration of Saint Ann School. The Sisters continued their educational mission to Saint Ann school for years to come. They were assisted by many generous and well educated lay persons as well.

In 1975 two new classrooms and a spacious library were added to the school building. The library was dedicated in honor of Grand Knight S.L. “Joe” Belyea; the S.L. Belyea Memorial Library.

In 1976, Saint Ann School achieved full accreditation by the Florida Catholic Conference. This accreditation has been maintained every since and was, once again, given the seal of approval by the F.C.C. in 2003.

1984, the new school gymnasium was erected, housing offices and rooms for religious education, physical education, music and computer science. In 1987 two new classrooms were built in the upper level of the gymnasium for educational enrichment and algebra classes.

In 1995 Sister George Francis Riseling, SNJM was appointed principal. Sister is a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. Sister George served as principal until 2001.

She along with Sister Maureen Carroll, MSC a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, maintain a professed religious presence on campus along with many well educated and competent lay faculty.

A five year plan, 1996-2001, envisioned further upgrading in technology and more modern buildings. With the 1,250 square foot Rehak Science Laboratory teachers are able to challenge students helping them to take their place in our highly technological word.

In 2000 we proudly opened the doors of a new 20 classroom elementary school building.
On November 21, 2000, Bishop Nevins blessed and dedicated the school building, the renovated convent which now serves as the Parish Offices and the Saint Joachim Chapel attached to the offices.

2001 witnessed the opening of a new media center and administration building. In August of 2003 a new Middle School Building welcomed its students.

The final phase of our life-long dedication to our Catholic Faith and Catholic education will be the opening and dedication of the Saint Ann Parish Life Center, now under construction. The Parish Life Center is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2005.

Pastors of Saint Ann Parish

1954 – 1959 Rev. Timothy Geary
1959 – 1961 Rev. Bernard McGrenehan
1961 – 1963 Rev. Gerard J. Manning
1963 – 1965 Rev. Bernard L. Hickey
1965 – 1967 Rev. Rene H. Gracida (Administrator)
1967 – 1971 Rev. Laurence C. Conway (Administrator)
1971 – 1990 Rev. Thomas Goggin
1990 – 1992 Rev. Charles K. Sullivan
1992 – 1993 Rev. Arthur Hannaway (Administrator)
1993 – 1996 Rev. Arthur Hannaway
1996 - 2007 Rev. Robert D. Tabbert
2007 - 2008 Rev. Barry R. Strong, O.S.F.S
2008 - 2009 Rev. John O’Neill, OSFS
2009 -        Rev. Michael Vannicola, OSFS (Administrator)