Located on a residential block on South 15th Street in Sebring, Ohio, St. Ann Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish that takes pride in its size. Members describe it as the "Catholic Community of Eastern Stark County," and the parish has built a quietly distinct identity around two homemade traditions, Lenten pierogies and Donut Sundays, along with the kind of personal welcome that keeps a small congregation humming. A 2017 letter to the editor in the Salem News called it "the best-kept secret in the area" and praised the parish for being one of the friendliest and most welcoming Catholic communities in the region.
Weekend Mass and a Place for Confession
St. Ann gathers twice each weekend for the Eucharist. Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 4:00 p.m., and Sunday Mass follows at 9:00 a.m. Confessions are heard on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Alliance, a sister parish within the same Catholic community. The parish holds Eucharistic Adoration on the first Friday of each month from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Holiday and Holy Day schedules are listed in the weekly bulletin, which is published online through Discover Mass.
The Catholic Community of Alliance, Maximo and Sebring
St. Ann does not stand alone. It shares its pastoral life with neighboring parishes and is part of "The Catholic Community of Alliance, Maximo and Sebring." Together with St. Joseph in Alliance and the parish in Maximo, the cluster shares clergy and ministries. Canonical Pastor Fr. Matt Humerickhouse and Parochial Vicar Fr. Bob England serve across the community, with Deacon Gregory Wood and Diocesan Pastoral Associate Amy Benedetti-Dike supporting parish life at St. Ann. Deacon Ralph Chase also assists at the parish.
Pierogies: The Lenten Tradition That Defines the Parish
If there is one activity that defines St. Ann, it is the annual pierogi sales during Lent. The parish produces handmade pierogies and sells them to the wider community, and the work behind that effort is something the parish openly talks about. Pierogi making takes many hands, and the parish serves lunch to volunteers during Tuesday production days. From filling and pinching to cooking and selling, the pierogi team is one of the largest volunteer operations in the parish. Frozen pierogies are also available for sale. A former parishioner's letter to the Salem News singled out the pierogi season as a reminder of how a small church can have a far-reaching presence in the area.
Donut Sunday and Other Monthly Treats
On the first Sunday of each month from October through May, the church fills with the smell of fresh homemade donuts. Donut Sunday has become its own tradition, with a small crew turning out the day's batch after Mass. Like the pierogi sales, the donuts often sell out quickly, and parishioners are known to call ahead and place orders. The donut crew is one of several recurring volunteer teams that keep the parish going.
Religious Education and Youth Ministry
St. Ann's CCD program serves the religious formation of the area's Catholic children, with classes held at Regina Coeli. The Director of Religious Education, Becca Szekely, oversees the program, and Vicki Capretta leads the Youth Ministry. Parents fill out a CCD registration form, a media permission form, and a custody information form each catechetical year. A family handbook is provided at the start of the year, and a separate handbook for First Reconciliation and First Communion is given to families of second-grade students, with guidance on dates, practices, and how to dress for First Communion. The parish frames its religious education efforts around Jesus's words in Matthew 19:14: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Altar Servers, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers
Liturgical roles at St. Ann are open to adults and to young people who have received their First Eucharist. Children and adults may serve as altar servers, and confirmed parishioners may be trained as lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Eucharist. Ally Oyster serves as the parish organist, supporting the sung parts of the Mass. The parish encourages anyone interested in these ministries to contact the office.
A Parish That Works Outside the Building
St. Ann may be small, but it relies on a deep bench of volunteers. Volunteer opportunities at the parish include the pierogi team, altar servers, lectors and Eucharistic ministers, the mowing and grounds crew (active in summer), the donut crew, and a small group of bus drivers who help parishioners without transportation get to Sunday Mass. The parish publicly thanks each of these crews, and the grateful tone makes clear that every part of parish life depends on people willing to give a few hours.
Funerals with Care
St. Ann walks with parishioners through the loss of a loved one. The parish offers a wide selection of approved readings and music for a Catholic Funeral Mass, with First Readings, Second Readings, and Gospel passages all listed and downloadable. Families may fill out a funeral planning form or call the office to walk through their choices together, and the parish staff assists in selecting readings and songs for the liturgy.
Becoming a Parishioner
New parishioners are warmly welcomed. Registration is available in two ways: download and print the Parish Registration Form and return it to the office or drop it in the collection basket at any weekend Mass, or call the office and request that a paper copy be mailed. Once registered, newcomers are invited to take part in the parish's many activities, from pierogi season to altar serving to the mowing crew.
Visiting St. Ann
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is closed on Fridays. The office can be reached at 330-938-2033 (fax 330-938-6544) or by email at stannchurchsebring@gmail.com. Online giving is available through the parish's E-Offering link, and weekly bulletins are posted to Discover Mass. The Diocese of Youngstown, of which St. Ann is a part, was established in 1943 and encompasses six counties in northeastern Ohio; St. Ann sits in Mahoning County, on the western edge of the diocese.