Tradition of Saint Anne

Saint Anne is the wife of Saint Joachim and the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
She is the grandmother of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We depend on apocryphal literature, chiefly the Protoevangelium of James, for the history of Saint Anne. In this document we are told that Anne was advanced in years and that her prayers for a child had not been answered. Once as she prayed beneath a laurel tree near her home in Galilee, an angel appeared and said to her, “Anne, the Lord hath heard thy prayer and thou shalt conceive and bring forth, and thy seed shall be spoken of in all the world.” Anne replied, “As the Lord my God liveth, if I beget either male or female, I will bring it as a gift to the Lord my God; and it shall minister to Him in holy things all the days of its life" And so Joachim and Anne became the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

When Mary was three years old Joachim and Anne led their daughter to the Temple in Jersalem to consecrate her to God. The holiest parents on earth could not, in the plan of God, raise this Child as was needed. Mary remained in the temple until she was twelve years old at which time she was betrothed to Joseph. The event is know as the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is observed by Catholics as a Feast Day on the 21st of November each year.

“Good Saint Anne” is the loving way that many Catholics use to refer to the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Fifty years after Saint Anne’s death, her body was brought to France by Saint Mary Magdalene and her companions. Countless churches have been dedicated to Saint Anne all over the world. Canada in particular is devoted to her and has a beautiful shrine called Saint Anne de Beaupre .

The feast day of Ss. Joachim and Anne is celebrated on the 26th of July each year.

Prayer to Saint Anne

With love, I come to you St. Anne.
By your virtues and holiness,you merited from God the favour of giving life
to her who is the Treasure of all graces, the Most Holy Virgin.
Receive me, good St. Anne, into the number of your true clients,
for so I profess myself and wish to remain throughout my entire life.
Obtain for me, from God, the power to imitate those virtues with which
you are so plentifully endowed. Help me to know and regret my sins bitterly.
Obtain for me the grace of active love for Jesus and Mary,
and resolution to fulfill the duties of my state of life with faithfulness.
ave me from every danger that confronts me in life,
and help me at the hour of my death. Amen.

Parish History

1886	St. Monica’s Parish was founded, Fr. Patrick Hawe appointed as its first Pastor.
1908	Fr. Patrick Hawe announces the founding of Saint Anne Chapel and School on the 2nd day of February. Two weeks later, when volunteers complete its construction, the Chapel is dedicated to Saint Anne.
1912	Fr. Henry Weber gives the first recorded Novena to Saint Anne
1913	A relic of Saint. Anne is obtained from the Cathedral of Saint Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, Canada
1916	The outdoor statue in the Shrine is dedicated on 16th day of December
1922	Fr. Hawe celebrates his Golden Jubilee on the 22nd day of June
1923	Requiem Mass for Fr. Hawe is celebrated at the Shrine on 30th August
1923	The new school is dedicated in September and moved out of the original church
1935	The outdoor altar and ornamental walls around the Shrine are completed
1951	Saint Anne Church & Shrine is established as a new parish and Rev. Cyril J. Wood is appointed as its first Pastor.
1954	Groundbreaking for the new church takes place.
1955	Dedication ceremonies are held for the new church building, with His Eminence Cardinal James Francis McIntyre presiding.
1955	The statue of St. Anne is relocated and the Shrine and altar are built
1956	Convent is completed and dedicated to the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, they serve as teachers for St. Anne School until the early ‘90s.
1960	Property at the corner of 20th Street and Colorado is purchased . The existing structure is remodeled for use by the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO).
1964	The pavilion is completed and the first Novena is held under the pavilion. Prior to the pavilion, volunteers erected a tent each year for the Annual Novena.
1971	The original chapel and school building had been converted into a parish hall. In 1971 it was partially destroyed by a fire which left the structure increasingly unstable. Plans for a new parish hall were put into motion.
1974	The new Catholic Community Center is built on the site of the original chapel and school building.
1975	The Catholic Community Center which provides a central location for community and parish activities was dedicated on September 28. The facility is designed to accommodate many types of groups and activities.
1976	The CYO building is converted into a rectory for the parish priests.
1978	Cardinal Timothy Manning ordains Fr. Cyril J. Wood as a Monsignor.
1987	Fr. Adalberto Blanco arrives at St. Anne Parish as an Associate Priest. In September, following the death of Msgr. Cyril J. Wood, Fr. Adalberto Blanco is appointed Pastor.
1987	Fr. Blanco serves as pastor of St. Anne Church & Shrine for 12 years.
1999	Fr. Michael D. Gutierrez arrives to St. Anne on July 1st. At age 33, he is the youngest Pastor in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He is our 3rd pastor and serves our community for a total of 10 years.
2003	During the Annual Novena to St. Anne, the Catholic Community Center is dedicated to its founding pastor, Msgr. Cyril J. Wood, and its name is officially changed to the Msgr. Wood Community Center. Bishop Joseph Sartoris presided over the Novena and the Dedication Ceremony.
2004	The patio and garden area outside the church is created and named “Jimmy’s Garden” in honor of James Teutimez, a long-time parishioner and dedicated Parish Administrator.
2009	Fr. Arturo Corral is appointed Administrator Pro Tempore on July 1st.
2011	Fr. Rafael Venegas is appointed Administrator Pro Tempore on July 1st.
2012	Fr. Anthony Gonzalez is appointed Administrator Pro Tempore on July 1st
2014	Deacon Raul Molina is appointed Administrator and Fr. Pedro Cobenas begins his residence as Associate at St. Anne Church on July 1st.