Future vision builds on growing parish

Longtime parishioner Sam Parigi Jr. has watched the progress of the St. Anne Catholic Church over the years with the expansion of new buildings and renovations. As a youngster, he attended school at St. Anne and now is an active member of the nearly 4,000-member congregation. He is also involved in the current capital campaign for three major projects. 

Parigi said he will always recall his time at the St. Anne School – especially his days in the third grade, where the church built a room above the current three-car garage to house one of the school’s third-grade classes. But his time there was temporary. 

“I was in there for a short time, until I got in trouble and got wheeled out and put into another third-grade classroom where the nun was in charge,” he said while reminiscing on the time he and Craig Sherlock were sitting in the back of the classroom “monkeying around” with the Venetian blinds by attaching a flag or something and raising them up and down. “The teacher pulled me out and brought me down to the other third-grade teacher, who was a nun, who was a tough sister.” 

Parigi said he would have stayed there longer if it hadn’t been for a substitute teacher who contacted his mother about the situation. Still, when he learned that the garage where he spent the happy days of his third-grade year was to be torn down later this year, Parigi and his classmate Sherlock knew they needed to get involved in the future vision of a place that was so near and dear to their hearts. 

So, May 9, Parigi attended a groundbreaking ceremony on the first phase of the St. Anne Catholic Church Capital Project, which is a new rectory for the pastor and priest on 13th Street. More than 80 parishioners gathered for the g r o u n d b r e a k i n g with the city’s waterpower in the background. 

The new rectory is the first phase of a major three-part construction project planned for the next two years that includes a new parish office and additional parking at the 88-year-old mission-style historic Catholic church. This is the first capital campaign since 1996, according to the church. 

Bishop David L. Toups of the Diocese of Beaumont blessed the ground where the new rectory is being constructed. 

“So many of you have already participated in making this happen with significant gifts to propel this project forward,” said Toups, adding that the projects are also about expanding the parking capacities and making the office accessible to all who drive onto the campus. “We are grateful for your generosity, your love and support towards St. Anne Catholic Church and School.” 

According to the church, the “Building on Our Past, Preparing for Our Future” Capital Campaign was a vision of Monsignor William “Bill” Manger Jr., the church’s former pastor. Under Manger, who served from 1990 until his death in August 2021, the church’s interior was renewed, the parish hall and Giving Fields were built and construction was cemented for the middle school, school gymnasium and youth building. 

The current campaign is co-chaired by Monsignor Michael A. Jamal and Deacon Joseph and Rita Scheurich. The campaign’s goal is $2.25 million and it has received gifts of more than $1.2 million, with $750,000 coming from three major donors. Participation in the groundbreaking included Toups, Bishop Emeritus Curtis J. Guillory, civic and interfaith leaders, parish pastoral council members, parish finance council members, and parish and diocesan building committee members. 

“Modernizing and bringing the staff together is essential to the smooth running and the future of this great parish. That’s why the theme, ‘Building on Our Past and Preparing for Our Future,’ I think, is a pivotal moment for the future of St. Anne,” Toups stated, adding that the investment is not only good for St. Anne’s, but for the entire community. “What happens in Rome happens for the world. What happens in St. Anne, happens for Beaumont. 

“It’s important that we build up our community and strengthen it for the future of our children and your grandchildren. This is not simply about this moment in time but it is about the future.” 

Bringing the day back to the moment, Father D. Stephen McCrate, pastor of the church since October 2021, said he’s excited to have a new place to lay his head at night. 

“With the greatest of respect, in the future, I will not be sleeping above the store anymore,” said McCrate, noting that the rectory will be separated from the Calder Avenue church office under the construction plan. “It’s going to be a new day at St. Anne.” 

Mike Jenkins, of Jenkins Construction, Inc., said the new 4,000-square-foot rectory is a duplicate of the rectory built at St. Anthony Catholic Basilica on Jefferson Drive in Beaumont. Work on the project, with an estimated cost of construction is about $700,000, has been underway since last fall. 

“It’s going to be real friendly, with one floor and no elevators,” said Jenkins. “It will house four people and will include a chapel.” 

“Hopefully we can have it completed by Dec. 19, which is about seven months,” Jenkins added. "We got the building (a former doctor’s office) torn down and the concrete company is ready to move in.