St Ann’s 175, going strong

St Ann’s RC is a warm and friendly parish fortunate over its 175 years (1844–2019) to have had many good parish priests.

This is the view of Claudia Shepherd, Eucharistic Minister who has been attending St Ann’s RC for 52 years since she was a “young woman”. Shepherd was just one of the parishioners who shared her love of the church in a video compiled as St Ann’s celebrated its over 100 years as a place of worship and community.

Shepherd has given service to her church as a catechist, ministry to St Ann’s Hospital, Eucharistic Minister, and presently coordinator for the ministry to the sick.

One of her most memorable moments was being called by then Parish Priest Fr Liam Murphy OP to be a lay minister. “He had an induction ceremony in front of the whole church,” she recalled.

Leonora Grannum, 91 years also has memories linked to the St Ann’s RC. Before getting married at the church in 1950 she attended Benediction every Tuesday. When her husband died in 2010, his funeral took place at St Ann’s. “I love the members of the church very much,” she said.

They were among the many guests at the gala luncheon held at the MovieTowne Banquet and Conference Centre November 10.

Snapshots of the church’s yesterday and today were presented in videos with history and personal testimonies from parishioners. Deacon Lennox Toussaint offered up prayers for the luncheon. Host for the evening was Errol Fabien. Entertainment was provided by DJ Rene Ortiz, Gregory Wong Fo Sue on keyboard and singers Natasha Babwah-Timkee and KV Charles. —LPG