St. Ann’s Parish was established on August 15, 1955, with the purchase of the corner property on Park Road and Hillside Avenue. New parishioners joined in the celebration of weekend Masses in the Park Road School auditorium that first year. Two houses existed. One became the rectory and a duplex became the convent. Construction on the original school building was completed and dedicated in September, 1956. The celebration of parish Masses moved upstairs over the school's original auditorium-cafeteria space. A final move came with the “completion” of our church structure in 1960. Under the direction of nine pastors, our facilities have been renovated and expanded, our property has been enlarged, and our parish programs and organizations have been renewed.

Although the church structure has not grown beyond our “basement” sanctuary, it has been changed. For a time, the altar was located on the left wall. Rugs and walls have been other colors, pews and statues have been moved around, and the choir now sits up front. Our front doors - not in use - conceal a passageway with stairs on each side leading down to the side doors of our “real” church!

St. Ann’s Parish Offices, until moved to our Parish Activity Center, had been located on the first floor of the rectory. The rectory had initially been expanded by enclosing a porch and adding office space at the front entrance. Later a two-room addition was created off the kitchen. An adjacent property on Park Road was purchased in the ’70’s as a possible new church site. The house on the property (demolished for our present parking lot) had been utilized in the ’80’s for group and committee meetings, and Religious Education Offices.

In 1981, St. Ann’s Parish acquired the house and property that face Willow Oak Road. It too has seen change over the years. The school facility has been renovated and updated to keep pace with a growing parish population. Today, St. Ann School operates as part of MACS - Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools. Our Parish Activity Center became a reality in 1993, the result of the rapid growth in our parish, school and community. The center was most recently rededicated as the Monsignor Allen Center, in honor of St. Ann’s former pastor.

In this year, St. Ann’s Parish celebrates 47 years of sharing Christ’s mission through our growing Community of Faith. Some of our first parishioners in 1955 are among us today and have been instrumental in St. Ann’s growth and development. Other parishioners, coming and going over the years, have enriched our Christian fellowship through their stewardship.  Today, St. Ann’s parishioners, a wonderful mix of ages, cultures, and economic backgrounds, continue to meet the challenges and needs of our growth as a Catholic Faith Community.