Saint Ann Catholic Church 

This email is our monthly Faith Formation update to let you know about programs happening at Saint Ann and across the Diocese in adult faith formation, OCIA, religious education, sacrament preparation, and more. 

These emails do not replace regular communication channels for our OCIA participants, youth ministry, and Sunday School - if you'd like to receive more regular emails about any of these programs, please contact mandi@stannnash.org. 

We will once again have daily Lenten reflections emailed to the parish, as well as Lenten study groups. Lenten study groups will meet in Breen Hall every Monday in Lent at 6:00 PM for fellowship and small group table discussions. You can also arrange to use our parish study book in your own small group meeting on a different day. Visit saintannparish.com/faith-formation to sign up to write and/or read Lenten reflections, and to sign up for a Lenten study group.

Join us all Fridays in Lent for Stations of the Cross at 5:45, followed by fellowship at our Meatless Meals every Friday in March. 

Join us this Saturday, March 8th, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in Breen Hall for an introductory event on Natural Family Planning using the Creighton method. This is a faith-affirming and science-backed approach to family planning and women's health. By the end of the session, attendees will be able to register for continued instruction, receive materials, and begin charting immediately! Pizza provided. Learn more and register by clicking here. 

On March 15th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Father Fye and the Saint Ann Evangelical Catholic team will host Into the Deep: An Evangelical Catholic Mission Huddle in Breen Hall. Participants in this event will spend time reflecting on Jesus’s invitation to the disciples to radically step out in faith. This huddle is an opportunity to identify with the disciples, hear Jesus’s call, and pray for whatever is needed to walk in faith in one’s personal apostolate. RSVP to mandi@stannnash.org.

Regnum Christi is hosting a silent Women's Retreat March 13th through 16th at Bethany Retreat House. $430 for three nights, including meals; $475 for a room with private bathroom. Learn more and register at https://rcnashvilletn.org/event-flyers-registration. 

Saint Ann Faith Formation and Regnum Christi are working together to host the Lenten 40 Hours of Adoration April 4th through 6th for the special intentions of our Diocesan priests. Learn more and sign up to adore by clicking here. 

Family Bible Study hosted by Zane and Maria Laughlin continues monthly on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 3:30 PM in Breen Hall. Families of all ages and sizes are welcome! Join the GroupMe to learn more! 

Cursillo, a Catholic retreat since the 1940s, is a source of spiritual awakening within Central Tennessee. Contact Saint Ann parishioners Ben Pietrzyk at ben.pietrzyk@gmail.com or Tony Frankie at tonyfrankie@gmail.com to attend an upcoming retreat.

Men's Weekends - Sept 25-28, 2025

Women's Weekends - Oct 2-5, 2025

More information available at nashvillecursillo.com

Our next Parent and Godparent Baptism class is Monday, March 10th, at 6:30 PM. Contact mandi@stannnash.org to learn more.

Mondays, 6:00 PM Young Adult Vespers and Social - Church

Mondays, 6:00 PM Catholics in Recovery - St. Joachim House

Mondays, 7:30 PM Men's Prayer and Basketball - Gym

Tuesdays, 6:30 PM OCIA Meeting and Social - Breen Hall

2nd Tuesdays, 6:30 PM Lighthouse Young Adult Adoration, Praise, & Worship - Church

Thursdays, 10:00 AM Bible Study - Church Office

Thursdays, 6:30 PM every other week The Chosen Group Study - Church Office

Fridays, 6:00 AM Men's Bible Study - Church Office

1st and 3rd Saturdays, 3:30 PM Family Bible Study - Breen Hall

Sundays, 9:40 AM Children's Religious Education PK3-Confirmation Prep - School

1st and 3rd Sundays, 12:15 PM Middle School Youth Group - Gym

Sundays, 3:30 PM Children's Religious Education K-10th Grade, Spanish - School

Sundays, 3:30 PM OCIA Meeting, Spanish - Breen Hall

2nd and 4th Sundays, 6:00 PM High School Youth Group - Gym

Sundays, 7:30 PM Gianna's Group Bible Study for Moms of Young Children - St. Joachim House

Young Adult Bible Studies Join the Young Adult GroupMe to request information

Tuesday - Friday, 4:30 to 5:30 Daily Adoration 

Dr. Philip Brisson, music director and organist at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville, will perform “The Way of the Cross (Le Chemin de la Croix) by Marcel Dupré” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. These 14 organ meditations on the traditional Stations of the Cross were first performed in 1931 as improvisations by the composer. Fr. John Hammond, rector of the Cathedral, will provide a brief reflection to introduce each organ movement. Admission is free. For more information, visit cathedralnashville.org/cathedralconcerts.  

All are invited to join the Nashville Catholic Business Women’s League at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, at Aquinas Center to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Mass begins at 4:30 p.m. with an archive review and reception to follow. Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. with guest speaker, Katie Seigenthaler starting at 6:30 p.m. As the niece of Father Charles Strobel, she will talk about his book, “The Kingdom of the Poor.” Copies of the book will be available for purchase as well as Father Strobel magnets. To register, visit ncbwl.org/upcoming-events-registration.

All are invited to “Mother of God,” a Bible study written by Dr. Brant Pitre of the Augustine Institute, March 23 through May 25 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. The eight-week study will be at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays in Room 207. For more information or to sign up, email Audrey Amort at twlgaudreya@gmail.com.  

Christ the King will host a three-night retreat at 6 p.m. March 24-26 in the church. Father Joe McMahon, pastor of Holy Family Church in Brentwood, will lead each night, which will focus on exploring Ignatian spirituality, a path to finding God in all things and deepening your prayer and discernment. The final night will include Mass. All are welcome.

All are invited to Pro-Life Day on the Hill from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, 401 Gay Street, in Nashville. The biggest pro-life lobbying day in Nashville, its a day to be a voice for Tennessee’s most vulnerable. Tickets are $40 per person. For more information and to register, visit www.tnrtl.org/prolifeday2025.   

St. Henry Church will host “Who is the Man of the Shroud,” an exhibit about the Shroud of Turin, March 28-30 at the church. Cost is free and it is open to the public. There will also be information sessions led by shroud educators. For more information, visit sthenry.org/shroud.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Germantown will have a solemn reopening March 29-30. Celebrations will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, with a sacred concert in the church Charpentier's Te Deum in Cmaj, followed by a sermon and benediction. This will be followed by a formal black tie reception at 8 p.m. for H.E. Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke at the Hermitage Hotel. To purchase tickets, email conner.dunlap@gmail.com. Bishop J. Mark Spalding will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 30. A public potluck lunch will follow at noon, and guided tours of the church will be available every half hour from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tours will meet at the main church doors on 7th Avenue. For more information, email assumption1859@gmail.com.  

St. Joseph Church in Madison will host Father Leo Patalinghug, known as the “Cooking Priest” April 4-7. First, he will host the final St. Joseph fish fry of the season from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 4, in the Parish Life Center. Then, he will lead a parish mission beginning with the 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, April 5, followed by adoration, and conclude his time with Lenten talks from 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 6-7 in the church.

University Catholic’s annual Gala is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, in Ascension Auditorium at the Catholic Pastoral Center. Tickets are $150 per person and include a gourmet meal and the opportunity to meet students and learn firsthand how UCat has impacted their college experience. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit universitycatholic.org/gala.  

Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light, with whom St. Henry Church and St. Stephen Church in Old Hickory are participating houses of worship, will sponsor “Liberating people, Planet, and Religion: An Eco-Justice Teach-In” from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville. A light breakfast and lunch will be served during the events. While the event is free, a donation of $20 is suggested. To register, click here.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville’s annual Festival of Hope, presented by First Horizon Foundation, is 7-9 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, in Ascension Hall at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Nashville. While the event is free, registration is required. To register or donate, visit bit.ly/festivalofhope2025.

Father Mike Schmitz will be in Nashville at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center on May 22nd at 7:00 PM for his Parables Tour. Purchase your tickets here. 

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital is seeking volunteers to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Communion for patient visitation at both the West and Midtown campuses. Eucharistic Ministers must be practicing Catholics and apply first to become hospital volunteers. A letter of good standing from the pastor must also be provided. Those interested should contact Susan Fussell at 615-222-6602 for additional information.

Listen to Nashville Catholic Radio on 100.5 FM and Streaming 24/7 on NashvilleCR.com...just tell your smart device to play Nashville Catholic Radio for the following local shows:"

Mondays: Around the Diocese 11 a.m., Laudato Si 11:30 a.m.

Tuesdays: Classic We Believe 11 a.m., Parenting Matters 11:30 a.m.

Wednesdays: NashVocations Podcast: Adapted for Nashville Catholic Radio 11 a.m., Faith in Business 11:30 a.m.

Thursdays: Belonging for Young Catholic Adults 11 a.m., Parenting Matters (repeat from Tuesday) 11:30 a.m.

Help is needed on air, in production, promotion, financial, and many new areas to come. Email Jim Crowe (jim.crowe@dioceseofnashville.com) or Ron Fleitz (rfleitz31@gmail.com) for more information.

Visit volunteer.cctenn.org/need to see how you can help Catholic Charities help those in need.  

Retrouvaille is a marriage recovery program for struggling couples who are considering separation or divorce. It is Catholic in origin and orientation but is open to all married couples regardless of religious background. For confidential information about the program: 800-470-2230 or 615-523-0631 or nrv3043@gmail.com or www.HelpOurMarriage.org.

There are so many great opportunities for Family Faith Formation for Lent! Holy Heroes has a free Lenten Adventure with tons of activities to do as a family, as well as recommendations for praying the Stations of the Cross together. Teaching Catholic Kids has 25+ ideas for kids and teens to do as a family during Lent. Catholic Sprouts has a free Lenten map download for kids, as well as ongoing family-friendly podcasts on Lenten topics. Families with older kids can download the Daily Lent Calendar from the USCCB to help mark the days. 

As your parish, we want to be a resource for your family 's domestic church! Click reply to this email with any questions you have about resources, devotions, prayer, etc.

We continue our effort to improve our Mass experience for families with small children and children with sensory needs. Learn more about this effort and find out how you can help here. 

Pray the family rosary every night with fellow Catholics around the country at 7pm on Nashville Catholic Radio. 100.5FM, streaming at NashvilleCR.com, or ask your smart speaker to "Play Nashville Catholic Radio".

We continue to have copies of Magnifikid available on Sundays and major feasts and holy days. They are placed near the bulletins for children to grab as they come into Mass. Each copy of Magnifikid includes all the readings and prayers of the Sunday Mass with explanations of the difficult words and the meaning of the rituals; a suggested prayer for Morning and Evening; many suggestions on how to live the entire week with the Lord; various games, a comic, and activities to help children learn about Christian life and culture; and a page intended for the parents with suggestions for family prayers. MagnifiKid is for children between the ages of 6 and 12. 

FORMED has How to Lent, a guide on making the best out of your Lenten practices, a bible study on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, and a beautifully-produced series that walks you through the location of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary in the Holy Land. 

Saint Ann has a parish subscription to FORMED, the premier Catholic video streaming platform! Follow these steps to create your FREE account:

• Go to signup.formed.org
• Select your parish
• Register with your name and email address
• Check that email account for a link to begin using FORMED

Sunday School for K-Confirmation prep will be out Sundays March 9th and 16th for Spring Break. March 23rd we present our Circle of Grace Safe Environment program, and March 30th we continue preparing for the Sacraments, and for Easter! Pre-K CGS families should check with their CGS catechist for Spring Break scheduling. 

Our Pre-K Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program has a variety of needs for our Spring semester. Email atrium@stanncgs.org to be included on our mailing list to get regular updates! 

This Sunday at the 11:00 Mass, we celebrate the Rite of Sending for our catechumens in preparation for the Rite of Election with the Bishop that afternoon at the CPC, and the Call to Continuing Conversion for Candidates. Pray for our catechumens and candidates as they begin the Period of Purification and Enlightenment during Lent in preparation for Easter. They will be delving more deeply into the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God's mercy, and the consequences of sin this month, culminating in our retreat on March 22nd and the beginning of the three Scrutinies for the Elect prior to Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. 

Find and request more information here. If you know someone who is seeking God, please prayerfully consider forwarding this email to them.