Rapid growth in the Channahon Community made it necessary for a mission church to be established under St. Mary’s of Minooka. In the fall of 1974, the Harper building was purchased from Joliet Junior College, dismantled & moved to the Channahon location on Rt. 6. On the first Sunday in February, 1975, Msgr. Peter Seidl offered the first Mass in St. Ann’s Mission. In1976, Msgr. Joseph Wagner was appointed Vicar of St. Ann’s to assist Msgr. Seidl. Because of poor health, Msgr. Wagner resigned as Vicar which led to the appointment of Fr.Gerold Schubert, OFM as resident priest in June of 1982. Fr Schubert requested that St. Ann’s Mission be raised to the status of a parish. This became a reality on April 8, 1990. In 1994, Fr. Schubert retired and Rev. Richard Smith was appointed pastor. The need for a larger facility had been apparent for some time, and the Parish Council began to explore the possibility of building a new church. Preliminary working and planning of many parishioners of St. Ann’s has led to the culmination of making a dream a reality. With God’s love and assistance, the new building was dedicated on November 4, 2000. St Ann Parish has been blessed with the guidance and service of many associates, lay staff, and parish volunteers for its spiritual needs and opportunities to serve God. In February of 2002, Fr. Jeff Stoneberg was named pastor and continues to minister to the people of St. Ann Parish. |
