St. Anne’s History
In the Beginning…
The Borough of Garwood was established in 1903 with a few area residents. The early Catholics, also few in number, fulfilled their religious obligations by attending either St. Michael’s Church in Cranford or Holy Trinity in Westfield. A small group of Catholics met together and formed the Catholic Club of Garwood. The members raised funds and purchased the first parcel of parish property on which St. Anne’s Church was built. The Catholic Club members received encouragement from Rev. James F. McDonald, Pastor of St. Michael’s Parish, who advised and assisted the members in their long-range plans. Father McDonald’s interest and intercession with the permission of Bishop John J. O’Connor, the Bishop of the Diocese, the Church was incorporated on October 24, 1925, the first of the Holy Year dates in the history of the Parish. Father McDonald was appointed administrator of St. Anne’s Mission. Under his supervision plans were made for the construction of the Parish Church.
Dennis Zeigler, originally from New York, was one of the members of the Garwood Catholic Club. He mortgaged his new home on to help raise money for the construction of a Church.
July 26, 1926 – St. Anne’s Day – the cornerstone was laid for the new Church. Mrs. Zeigler attended the ceremony and then gave birth to her daughter Anne Marie, Past Parish Trustee, that same day.
Mr. Zeigler, Sr. was the mason on the Church project.
Gladys Colwell (Steffen) who was born in Garwood was elected, at age 18, secretary to the Garwood Catholic Club, forerunner to the Church of St. Anne, after graduating from Drake Business School.
Throughout her life, Gladys devoted time to Church activities, serving on many major committees and volunteering as Msgr. John M. Walsh’s secretary. She was elected President of the Rosary Altar Society and was awarded Life Membership.
Now there is a Church…
The transfer of property from the Catholic Club took place on April 28, 1926.
On September 9, 1930, St. Anne’s became the Canonical Parish for the Borough of Garwood and was no longer a mission Parish of St. Michael’s. In October 1931, a house on the property adjoining the Church was purchased, which was then used as the rectory. The spiritual welfare of the Parish youth was a major concern to Father Walsh. He received permission to use the lower Church as a social hall and purchased two alleys for bowling. This was the beginning of the Catholic Youth Organization at St. Anne’s. In December 1941 mindful of the fact that music provides for the dignity of liturgical devotion, Father received permission and the necessary funds to purchase an organ. The first Mass was celebrated on May 1, 1927. The pioneer parishioners tried to help in the construction of their Church by the old custom of pledging ten cents per brick. These pledges were supplemented by a bank loan. Additional property was purchased in anticipation of building a convent and school. On September 13, 1930, Rev. John M. Walsh was appointed as the first Pastor of St. Anne’s Church. Father Walsh had to reside in a rented home on Cedar Street to conduct pastoral duties.
A Shrine for Our Lady…
In September of 1944, during World War II, Father Walsh purchased another house and lot next to the Church and it was the residence of the Parish custodian. In 1951, the lot then became the site of one of the most beautiful shrines to Our Lady of Lourdes. The shrine, donated by the Fontenelli family, consisted of stones from the mountain streams of Pennsylvania, once known as Penn’s Woods. A relic, seen in one of the rocks directly below the statue of the Blessed Mother, was given to Father McHale at the shrine in Lourdes, France, by a convert who was cured from throat cancer. As a tribute to the Holy Family, the shrine would become a Bethlehem scene during the Christmas season, with life-sized statues of the Holy Family, along with the Shepherds, Wise Men and animals that gathered that blessed night.
A New Pastor – A New Era…
On December 29, 1949, Father Walsh was named Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Reverent Monsignor. On March 15, 1950, Msgr. Walsh arranged for the purchase of property that would be the future site of St. Anne’s school. The Vicar General provided a loan of $11,000.00 of diocesan funds. A mortgage was obtained from a New York bank for the construction of the school and ground was broken on October 15, 1950. The school was completed and on September 10, 1951, the first classes were held with 180 students registered for kindergarten through grade 4. On July 10, 1951 approval of the Bishop was obtained for the building of a convent. The cornerstone of both the school and the convent were laid and blessed on October 20, 1951. In the fall of 1958, Msgr. Walsh began to show a rapid decline in health and passed on to his eternal reward on December 12, 1958.
Reverend John A. McHale was appointed to St. Anne’s Parish on January 9, 1959. Like Msgr. Walsh, St. Anne’s was Father McHale’s first and only Pastorate. The parishioners celebrated their new pastor’s silver jubilee in the priesthood only four months after he began his duties as their spiritual leader. In January 1963, he purchased the hose immediately behind the rectory, and in January 1941, a second house was purchased. Smaller lots adjoining the entrance and exit of the school parking for were purchased and paved in December 1964.
With the financial stabilization of the parish, and at the request of Archbishop Boland, the five mortgages granted by the Archdiocese of Newark, amounting to $141,000.00 was dissolved. Money was used in the construction of the convent under Father McHale’s guidance between 1959 and 1968, the total indebtedness owed was more than a half-million dollars and was eliminated. The last two parcels of property at the rear of the Church were purchased in March and August of 1968. As the parish grew, it became a necessity to build a new rectory. In March 1969, a rectory-administration building was erected, providing residence for the clergy, offices and meeting rooms. The groundbreaking for the new building was on December 8, 1969 and the new rectory was formally opened on November 1, 1970. Refurbishing of the upper and lower Church began in July 1970 and also included new landscaping of the Parish grounds.
Our Parish School…
On September 6, 1951 the first group of six Bernadine Sisters arrived to staff the school. Msgr. Walsh purchased a station wagon and personally chauffeured smaller children from the South side of town to school until a safer underpass was built. At the same time, a group of school mothers volunteered their services to provide cafeteria service for the children’s lunches. As with all parochial schools, St. Anne’s provided the Borough with enormous savings in taxes. Registration at St. Anne’s school grew from 180 to 600 children in the mid 60’s. St. Anne’s had annual school plays and operettas. It not only provided scholastic and artistic education, but the most important religion for the children’s continuing education with their relationship to God.
Mid-Seventies to the Present…
During the bicentennial anniversary year, William P. Lesak was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on May 31, 1975. Father Lesak was the first graduate of St. Anne’s School to be ordained, a proud reminder of the fine spiritual and educational benefits received from our school.
Over the years, Parish life presented many activities and celebrations. There were first-Mass celebrations of newly ordained, ordination anniversaries, a home-coming dinner for the Bernardine nuns who staffed the school, ecumenical Thanksgiving services shared with Garwood’s Churches, many township celebrations, Christmas Carols programs, living stations presented by the youth. Also Parish picnics, flea markets, card parties, luncheons, dinners, Chinese auctions, fashion shows, bake sales, and the many years of bingo games.
Young people of the Parish extended themselves by helping the poor in Appalachia during Easter vacations. They hosted “Senior Proms” which were held in the school auditorium and enjoyed by the seniors of the Parish. Spiritual gems in the Parish crown include the on-going Novena of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, annual May Crowning of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Church Grotto, Feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne spiritual and social gatherings, hand made Rosaries for children preparing for the sacraments and for Missions, the Prayer Network, hand-made Prayer Shawls and the traveling statue of Our Lady.
The enormous generosity of St. Anne’s people is legend. “Giving Trees” at Christmas time provides new clothing and small supplies for the needy who look to Sister Jacinta at St. Joseph’s Social Services Center in Elizabeth for assistance. The on-going “sandwiches” project provides sandwiches and some clothing to the Center on Fridays throughout the year, and at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter – hams and turkeys are donated. National disaster collections were always responded to with warm generosity as are missionaries who appeal for our help that they may spread God’s word around the world.
At home, when the bells in the Church bell tower needed restoration in the early 1990’s, the Parish family donated the full cost and then some. The Memorial Garden, established in the late 1990’s, which commemorates deceased loved ones of the Parish, borders the
North Avenue side of the Church property. A plague which lists the names is surrounded by seasonal flowers and evergreens.
In 1986, due to low enrollment, it became necessary to close St. Anne’s school. For thirty-five years, the students received academic and spiritual education and they grew and developed under watchful eyes of the Bernadine nuns and lay teaches. Students eventually became Priests, doctors, nurses, teachers, business professionals, lab technicians, joined the military, librarians and parents. Also, we can count account for a Catholic High School Principal and a woman Police Captain.
During the time after closing the school building was rented for five years to a special education school. It is now unoccupied, as is the convent building. Both were sold recently to a housing developer. The convent building was used for some activities after the school closing. the Chapel furniture is now being used in the lower Church Chapel, including the Tabernacle, Alter, candle stands and pews.
Reverend Richard A. Villanova, current Pastor of St. Anne’s, receives support from the Financial Council and Pastoral Council.
The Church of St. Anne, Garwood, N.J. A small Parish whose spirituality and charity over the years has brought us to this happy moment. We thank almighty God for our greatest blessings as we acknowledge those who answered the call to religious life.
Rev. Chester Zega, ordained 1950
Rev. William P. Lesak, St. Anne’s School graduate, ordained 1975
Rev. James F. Spera, St. Anne’s School graduate, ordained 1977
Rev. Marc A. Vicari, ordained 1997
Rev. James M. Sheehan, St. Anne’s School graduate, ordained 1998
Rev. Desi Rossi, ordained & assigned in the State of New York
And finally, in grateful appreciation, Pastors who served:
Rt. Rev. Msgr, John M. Walsh, 1930-1958
Rev. John A. McHale, 1959-1982
Rev. Albert A. Mark, 1983-1987
Rev. Edward M. Swierzbinski, 1987-1996
Rev. Msgr. John Philip O’Connor, 1996-2006
Rev. Richard A. Villanova, 2006 to Present
As we express gratitude to the Pastors and the many Priests who attended to our spiritual needs over the years, let us also remember the people who helped build all that stands that we might hear God’s word.