St. Ann’s Catholic Church

The original church (left), St. Ann’s, in 1938 (right)

St. Ann’s Parish was established in 1902 to serve Eastern Spokane south of the river, then a working-class Italian immigrant neighborhood. For two years, the congregation met in a rented hall above Nolan’s grocery store (1802 S Sprague) until the construction of a parish church in 1904, followed by a parochial school and rectory in 1925.

On its 25th anniversary, a fire tore through the original wood frame church building resulting in irreparable damage. A new church designed by W.A. Well’s in the mission style welcomed back parishioners in 1930. Additional challenges occurred in 1956 when the new I-90 interstate highway divided the neighborhood in half, and in 1972 when the parochial school closed as part of a diocese consolidation plan. Successionally, under new Franciscan leadership, a fundamental shift occurred, alienating some long-time parishioners while drawing in new members from outside the neighborhood.

In 1984, a national movement to provide sanctuary to refugees from Central America gained traction in Spokane. On January 27th, 1985, parishioners voted to make St. Ann’s the first sanctuary church in Spokane. Two months later, an 11-member family fleeing violence in El Salvador took sanctuary at St. Ann’s Parish. Some sanctuary church leaders in the US faced charges of “smuggling illegal aliens” by federal authorities, and not everyone in Spokane welcomed the movement. In response, Father Piccolo led a twenty-member prayer/protest at the Spokane Federal courthouse in a public display of their commitment, where he delivered A Sanctuary Covenant to a U.S. Attorney General. The book, full of personal promises to the sanctuary movement, was signed by 158 parishioners.

Salvadoran Matriarch with two children

1985’s movement coincided with increasing visibility, advocacy, and celebration by Spokane’s Latinx community. Concurrently, a group of Mexican American parishioners began calling for Spanish language mass, leading St. Ann’s to launch Spokane’s first monthly Spanish service. However, it was deemed insufficient by the Mexican American parishioners who pushed for more representation. As a result, St Ann’s began a regular Spanish Mass in August of 1986, a Spanish bible study, and the “Los Posadas” Christmas celebration. Other members left to start Spanish masses at Gonzaga University’s Student Chapel and La Comunidad Catolica de Spokane at St. Joseph’s Parish.

Recently, St. Ann’s Parish Council released a racial and equity statement and launched a social justice ministry. While St. Ann’s no longer offers Spanish Mass, the El Salvadoran family provides the music programming, including Spanish songs. Today, St. Ann’s prides itself as a progressive church rooted in social justice where “all are welcome.”

Rev. Piccolo with two children of the El Salvadoran family.

The matriarch of the Salvadoran refugee family holding the Sanctuary Covenant.

References:

Applegate, J. (1972, May). Final graduations set at two catholic schools. The Spokesman-Review, 9.

Big catholic fair comes in October. (1904, September). Spokane Chronicle, 2.

Huessy, F. (1984, July). Sanctuary efforts pushed in Spokane. Spokane Chronicle, 7. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78713431/
sanctuary-in-spokane/

Colford, A. (2002). A short history of St. Ann Catholic Church. Saint Ann Catholic Church – Spokane. https://stanncommunityblog.wordpress.com/about/

King, W. (1985, January). 9 plead not guilty in Tucson to smuggling illegal aliens. The New York Times. A10

Macalister, M. (2009) [Unpublished oral histories and notes at the MAC (Museum of Arts & Culture) archives]. Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Maldonado, C. 1996. Mexicanos in Spokane county: A photographic essay. [Unpublished work] Retrieved from https://dc.ewu.edu/maldonado/54/

New St. Ann’s to cost $45,000. (1930, January). The Spokesman-Review. 1.

Obstacles overcome: St. Ann's parish 75. (1977, October). Spokane Chronicle, 6.

Smith, E. (1985, October). A promise from St. Ann’s. Spokane Chronicle, A10. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79851663/spokane-chronicle/

Smith, E. (1986, May). Sanctuary verdict puzzles refugee. The Spokesman-Review, A1, A11.

St. Ann honors father Pyper's. (1931, September). Spokane Chronicle, 1.

St. Ann’s pastor built up parish. (1927, October). The Spokesman-Review, 20.

St. Ann’s service. (1929, December). Spokane Chronicle, 2.

Mass in Spanish offered. (1986, August). The Spokesman-Review, C7.