By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
WELTON — St. Anne Parish will celebrate its final Mass on July 26 at 4 p.m. Bishop Martin Amos will preside. After Mass, a meal will be served at Buzzy’s in Welton.
Last year, a decline in the number of parishioners and participation in the sacraments, combined with necessary structural repairs to the church, led St. Anne Parish Council to set a closing date for the 114-year-old parish. Current parishioners are invited to join a local parish of their choosing after the closing. Grand Mound, DeWitt, Delmar, Charlotte and Petersville each have a Catholic church within 12 miles of Welton. Parishioners have been mailed cards asking which parish they plan to join. Welton shares Pastor Father Paul Connolly with St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt.
After St. Anne’s is closed, parishioners will be able to purchase non-sacred church items. Items not sold will be available at public auction Aug. 16 at 10 a.m.
Parishioner Tom Gannon said parishioners will be invited to purchase part of the land, with the condition that no building can be built on the property for 25 years. The church will be demolished in September, with construction of an on-site memorial planned for next spring.
