By Jamie Strickland
For many believers, religion doesn’t come down to just theology or doctrine — it’s a deep connection to a community and a culture that feels like home. That’s the case for many parishioners of Saint Ann Catholic Church, a congregation that celebrates 90 years of history in Johnston County this year.
The Catholic Church, deeply rooted in more than 2,000 years of tradition, offers a sense of familiarity to newcomers who may be far from everything else they’ve known. With the growth and influx of newcomers to Johnston County, finding that sense of community is an important part of relocating for many people.
“The Mass, no matter where you are in the world, it sounds the same,” said longtime Saint Ann parishioner Pat Goldsmith.”
The word catholic itself literally means “universal” or “all inclusive,” she said.
Jeff Plate, the Development and Stewardship manager for the church, said that sense of commonality unites people from diverse backgrounds in a way that few other things can.
“You can go to Swaziland or you can be in Montgomery, Ala., or you can be in Anchorage, Alaska, and the Mass is the Mass. Whether you’re sitting in sub zero temperatures in a chapel in Prague or on the beach in Hawaii, the Mass is the Mass, it’s all about Jesus,” he said.
The community of Saint Ann’s reflects that diversity and services are offered in a variety of languages — English, Spanish, Filipino, French and occasionally various African dialects. The current pastor, Father Andrew Okeyo Ogacho, is from Kenya.
“People move here all over the world, we have folks from Cameroon, Nigeria and Guinea…they move here to become educated, raise a family and bring their faith and their culture with them,” Goldsmith said.
The growth and evolution of Saint Ann
The first documented catholic service in Johnston County was at the home of retired Marine Corps officer Henry Bulls Watson, his wife Mary Ann Higdon and their four children in 1854. During the time, visiting priests would visit the homes of Catholics in the rural South. Due to the Civil War and the hardship and poverty that followed, visits from priests were interrupted for many years.
The next documented interaction with the Catholic Church came in 1894 when Father Thomas Frederick Price visited the area, making contact with Mary Sanders, a granddaughter of Watson, and Joseph Abdalla, a Lebanese immigrant whose home served as a gathering place for early Catholics of the time.
According to church history, “In those early days the priests coming to Smithfield were given invaluable help by Mary Sanders…Mrs. Sanders each week would collect the Catholic Children of Smithfield and bring them to the home of Joseph Abdalla in Selma and give them their catechism classes.” She also “took care of the altar linens and in general devoted her time to keeping alive the faith in Johnston County.”
In 1915, Father George Watkins was tasked with constructing a small chapel on North 7th St. in Smithfield, costing $845 at the time. It was originally called Saint Peter’s and for the first time, local Catholics had a place to gather together outside of their homes.
The community became an official parish In 1935 when Mary Doyle of Boston made a $5,000 donation to establish a Catholic Church in North Carolina with the stipulation that it be named in honor of Saint Ann. It was constructed in 1941 and Father John McGuirk was named the first pastor.
Over the years, as Johnston County grew, so did the church. Recognizing the need for a larger space, they purchased 14 acres along Highway 70 Business, between Smithfield and Clayton to serve both areas, and in August 2021, the first Mass was celebrated in the new building.
When building the new church, parish leaders sought to preserve elements of the old one. The roof echoes the original wooden rafters, and a bell near the entrance honors the bell tower of the former building.
Over the years, many priests have served Saint Ann, each guiding the parish’s growth and evolution through initiatives ranging from farm worker outreach and medical clinics to building expansion projects.
What began with a visiting priest and just two devoted families has grown into a parish that now serves around 4,000 families.
Beyond worship, the church has long been a hub of community and service. Outreach programs at Saint Ann remain central to the parish’s mission, from a food pantry and medical clinic to active service groups like the Knights of Columbus and the Lady’s Guild.
The Knights are known for their fundraising for charitable work and the Lady’s Guild brings members together through fellowship and volunteer efforts that strengthen both the church and the wider community.
Saint Ann has become renowned locally for its annual International Food Festival held each September, where parishioners prepare dishes representing the many countries and cultures that make up the church’s diverse community.
“It began as a way to organize people together as we grew culturally,” Goldsmith said. “It was a way to all come to the table together.”
For 90 years and counting, Saint Ann continues to bring people together through faith, tradition and a shared purpose.
