St. Ann Catholic School

History

For more than a century, Saint Ann Catholic School has been enriching lives in the Pilsen community by providing high-quality Catholic education, cultural and community programs. Since the beginning, Saint Ann has truly been blessed with a supportive community of parents, teachers, family members, parishioners and most importantly, the strong presence of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

2005 marked the end of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth’s direct ministry with Saint Ann. Although their departure is unfortunate and their presence certainly missed, the Sisters will continue to support our mission through their prayers and act as a bridge connecting our traditions.

We recently welcomed a new pastor to Saint Ann Parish and a new principal to Saint Ann Catholic School. Father Felipe Vaglienty, who joined the parish in April, 2005, is one of the few Latino pastors in the area and an invaluable resource within the community. Benny Morten, a former assistant principal at Saint Anthony Catholic School in Harlingen, Texas, is the new principal of Saint Ann School. Born and raised in Berwyn, Mr. Morten graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Finance and a master’s degree in Education. His involvement in the University’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Program will provide valuable educational resources for the school.

Recruiting highly qualified teachers was Mr. Morten’s first significant demonstration of providing excellent educational resources to Saint Ann. In addition to two returning teachers who will complete their master’s degrees in Education during this academic year, we have seven new teachers who bring knowledge and energy to our classrooms. Of the seven new teachers, three have masters’ degrees in Education, two are working towards their masters’ degrees in Education, and two hold masters’ degrees in Business Administration.

The future of Saint Ann Catholic School is indeed promising. The passion and energy created when the school opened its doors in 1903 is still present today. With this strong foundation and a fresh approach, there is ample opportunity to provide a quality, Catholic education to the children of Pilsen, one of the most culturally rich areas in Chicago.

As we embark on this new journey of faith, education and community, we invite new and long-standing friends of Saint Ann to support our mission through prayer, goodwill, and action. Through these charitable ways, Saint Ann will continue to celebrate our past and educate our future.