A feast for the soul

The 18th annual three day St. Anne’s Festival in Jersey City will kick off starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 24.
Started in 1997, the festival has become a popular attraction in Jersey City Heights, featuring song, dance, carnival games, and an assortment of ethnic food.
Although this festival is not nearly as famous as the St. Ann Festival in Hoboken, Jersey City’s St. Anne Church traces its history back to the turn of the century when there became a need for a church and school to service the Western Slope area.
In June of 1904, the mission became the incorporated parish of St. Anne’s. The Reverend John J. Maher was appointed the first pastor of the parish.

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“It’s a very diverse community.” – Freeholder Anthony Romano
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A large farmhouse situated on the corner of Congress Street and JFK Boulevard served as the first rectory. In 1906, 246 Congress St. was purchased to be developed into the site for a new rectory. Later, this property was converted for use as a convent and a new rectory was constructed in 1918. Additional changes took place over the next half century, including the construction of a school annex.
Perhaps the most significant achievement over the last few decades was the church’s campaign to preserve its 100 year old Gothic style church.

An ethnically-diverse parish

The annual festival allows residents from the community to join together in celebration of the saint’s birthday. St. Anne was the mother of Christ’s mother, Mary, and one of the most significant saints in Christian mythology.
Celebrated worldwide, St. Anne’s Festival in Jersey City, however, differs in several key ways from the festival in Hoboken.
The St. Anne’s Parish in Jersey City is a multi-ethnic community so the festival reflects this, offering American, Filipino and Spanish cuisine.
“It’s a very diverse community,” said Freeholder Anthony Romano, who sponsors some of the events.
Over the last few years, the event has attracted a number of key city officials, including Mayor Steven Fulop, Council President Rolando Lavarro, Councilman Richard Boggiano, Councilman Michael Yun, and former Assemblyman Sean Connors.
Local musicians will be featured as well. These include “The Tercels” on Friday night, “The Jersey Four,” on Saturday, and “Blue Meadow” and “Tiny G. Band” on Sunday.
Games inside and outside the church give attendees an opportunity to win prizes.
Congress Street between Kennedy Boulevard and Nelson Avenue will be blocked off to vehicular traffic for the three days of the feast.
Some of the games include a money wheel, sand art, ball roll, shuffle board, scatter ball and darts inside the church’s basement.
In past years, the festival also included a clown performing a variety of tricks.
Along the street, vendors will serve pizza, a variety of Spanish food, zeppoles, Filipino BBQ, and sausage & peppers.
The drawing for the 50/50 raffle will be at 10 p.m. on Sunday
The festival hours on July 24 are from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday, July 25 from 4 to 11 p.m., and Sunday, July 26, from 2 to 11 p.m.
The religious aspect of the festival, the novena, runs from July 18 to 26, in which prayers are said in celebration of St. Anne.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.