ST. ANNE
PATRONESS OF OUR CONGREGATION
St. Anne is the Patroness of our Congregation. The name ‘Anne” means ‘GRACE’. Tradition refers to St. Anne as being the Mother of Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus.
Anne was born in Bethlehem and was married to Joachim from Nazareth in Galilee. Even after twenty years of marriage the couple had no children. So Joachim went into a desert to plead with God to bless them with a child. He spent a long time in fasting and prayer in the desert. Finally, God heard the prayers of Joachim and Anne and blessed them with a girl child. God asked them to name her ‘Mary’ and dedicate her to His service.
After the child was born, Joachim and Anne named her ‘Mary’ and dedicated her to God. The child Mary spent much of her childhood at the temple of Jerusalem. When Mary was fourteen years old, she was betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth. And so Mary’s story continues with the birth of her son Jesus and His life on earth.
The life of St. Anne and her connection as Holy Mother of Mary and Grandmother of Jesus has been very popular among all the Christians in the world.
The Feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim is celebrated every year on the 26th of July. St. Anne is honoured as the Patron Saint for Education. She is also honoured as the Patron Saint of Mothers, Women and Girl Children. There are numerous educational institutions in her name run by various societies and organizations which includes our own St. Anne’s Congregation.