Dear Father Wurth,

As your long and dedicated term of being St. Anne’s Church's Pastor is drawing to a close in a few short days, there is no denying we all carry with us a bit of sadness. However, as I looked back at all the precious times you have spent with us and the tremendous efforts you have put into St. Anne’s I, on behalf of the Parish Council, have the pleasure to express to you our gratitude from the bottom of our hearts.  It is so fitting during this Thanksgiving week for us to thank God The Almighty for His sharing you, surely one of His favorite sons, with us.

One more session and The Alpha Course will be completed!  Our last session, Thursday November 24 will be "What About the Church". Thank you to all the guests who joined the course!  Your insight and wisdom on the Alpha Course topics has been truly amazing!

For questions, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

In 50 years of continuous service to the greater Stanley community, St. Anne's has grown into a true Mission Church.

In addition to serving three communities in Stanley — Chinese, Filipino and Expat — St. Anne's sends forth its parishioners to all parts of the world, taking their strengthened faith and close sense of community to their future parishes.

This book summarizes the history of St. Anne's and highlights the ways our parish reaches out to the community. We dedicate this book to the people that have allowed St. Anne's to grow into the parish of today and to all of you — our clergy, staff and parishioners — who are laying the foundation for our parish to develop and mature even more fully in God's ever present Graces.

Download your copy: 50th Anniversary Book!

 The following appreared in the April 25th Bulletin of St. Michael Catholic Church in Kalida, Ohio. You can visit the St, Michael website at : www.kalidastmichaels.org

Fr. Elmer Wurth was born and raised in Kalida and has been a Maryknoll priest for 54 years. Of those 54 years, he has spent 37 in Taiwan and Hong Kong. He is currently the pastor of St. Anne’s Parish (Hong Kong), which is an international parish, comprised of parishioners from 52 countries. Fr. Elmer said that he has a problem that every priest should have: his parishioners in Hong Kong are really good to him and his hometown friends are equally as good to him. He hasn’t retired because the people in Hong Kong don’t want him to, and he still greatly enjoys coming home to see his family and friends.  (...Continued)

This article by parishioner Peter O’Malley was first published online at www.catholicexchange.com.

In many respects the Faith in Asia is alive, vibrant and deep. As a banker who travels entirely too much, I am blessed to go to daily Mass in many different cities.

I notice that in the large Asian cities, Mass is often in the poorer part of town and attended by those less well off –at least from a material perspective. It is here, in the back streets of Asia, that one truly feels the Catholicity — the universality — of our beloved faith.

For instance, when I have the blessing to participate at the 7AM Mass at St Joseph’s in Beijing, joining a congregation with many humble, poor people, I truly sense the Spirit and feel Christ among them. Since my Mandarin is minimal, our communication is limited to reverent nods of "hello" and scores of smiles. Many mornings I am moved to pray the unity prayer "that we all be one."  (...continued)