Your First Sunday at St. Ann’s
Everything you need to know before you come — when to arrive, where to go, and what happens at Mass.
A welcome from the Pastor
Video coming soonSt. Ann’s Masses
We offer the New Mass in English and the Traditional Latin Mass. Plan to come to one of them, and read through our short guide before you come.
Mass in English
Vigil Mass
Sunday Mass
With sacred music and incense
Traditional Latin Mass
Low Mass
Quiet, prayerful, and contemplative
Missa Cantata
Gregorian chant and incense
What to expect when you arrive
Arrive 10–15 minutes early
It gives you time to park and settle in. Confessions are heard 30 minutes before every Mass (except Fridays) if you’d like to go.
Come in and sit anywhere
There are no reserved seats.
Bringing children
We want children here. The Mass is where the faith is handed on to them, and St. Ann’s has many young families, so the sound of little ones is a normal part of our Sunday. Sit wherever you like. If a child needs a moment, the vestibule at the back is close by, and you are welcome to step out and come back in.
Follow along at your own pace
Stand, sit, and kneel with everyone else, or simply stay seated and pray. At the English Mass, hymnals are in the pews, and the hymn board is at the front on the right. At the Traditional Latin Mass, guide missals with Latin and English side by side are available at the entrance. The prayers are beautiful to follow along with.
At Holy Communion
Catholics who are in the state of grace (having gone to Confession for any serious sin) may come forward to receive. If you’re not Catholic, it’s normal to remain in your pew and pray during this time.
Say hello after Mass
The Pastor greets people on the front steps after Mass. He would be glad to meet you.
Getting here
St. Ann’s Catholic Church
120 Sherman Ave. N., Hamilton, ON L8L 6M6
Entrance: Come in through the centre doors at the front of the church.
Parking: Park in the main lot we share with St. Ann’s School, or in the school yard off Sherman Ave.
Accessibility: A ramp leads to the entrance off Sherman Ave.
Your next steps
Your first visit is just the beginning. Here are a few simple ways to stay close to St. Ann’s.
Get parish news by email
St. Ann’s uses Flocknote, a free and secure messaging service made for Catholic parishes, to send parish news straight to your inbox or phone.
Choose what you’d like to receive
- The weekly bulletin and parish news
- Changes to Mass and Confession times
- Upcoming events, feasts and retreats
- Reminders for groups you join
How to sign up
- Tap Sign Up for Parish Emails below.
- Enter your name and email. Add your mobile number if you’d also like texts.
- Tap Sign Me Up. That’s it!
Is God calling you home?
Christ calls every soul to Himself and to His Church. If you have never been baptized, were raised in another Christian tradition, or are seeking the truth, the Pastor would be glad to meet with you.
How to Become CatholicMeet with the PastorCatholic and been away a while? Welcome home. Confession is a beautiful place to start →
Get involved
From young adults and families to street ministry and the schola, come to pray, serve and grow in holiness alongside others.
Groups and OutreachNew to the Traditional Latin Mass? Read our beginner’s guide →
Things people often ask
I’m not Catholic. Can I come?
Yes, you are welcome at every Mass. Holy Communion is received only by Catholics in a state of grace, because it is the sign of our full unity in the faith. Others are invited to remain in the pew and pray. If you are drawn to the Eucharist, the Pastor would be glad to talk with you about becoming Catholic.
What is the Traditional Latin Mass?
The Traditional Latin Mass is the ancient form of the Roman Rite, celebrated in the Church for many centuries and offered today according to the 1962 Missal. It is prayed in Latin, with Gregorian chant, and the priest faces the altar together with the people. Much of it is prayed quietly by the priest, and a missal with Latin and English side by side helps you follow. Read our beginner’s guide.
What should I wear?
Dress as you would to come into God’s house. Business casual is a good guide: for men, a collared shirt and long pants; for women, a modest dress, skirt, or blouse with slacks. Please avoid shorts, athletic wear and revealing clothing. Some women wear a chapel veil, which we love to see, but it is never required. St. Ann’s is in a neighbourhood where not everyone has many clothes to choose from, so take this as a guide: we each simply do our best to honour the Lord. There’s no need to buy new clothes; the main thing is to come and pray the Mass.
Are children welcome?
Yes. We want children here. The Mass is where the faith is handed on to them, and St. Ann’s has many young families, so the sound of little ones is a normal part of our Sunday. Sit wherever you like. If a child needs a moment, the vestibule at the back is close by, and you are welcome to step out and come back in.
How long is Mass?
Saturday 5 PM: just under an hour
Sunday 8 AM: about 1 hour 10 minutes
Sunday 10 AM: about an hour
Sunday 12 PM: about 1 hour 25 minutes
I’ve been away from the Church for years.
Welcome home. Christ is waiting for you, and so are we. Begin by striving to grow in prayer: read Sacred Scripture and pray the Rosary each day, and come to Mass to pray and to seek Christ. Before receiving Holy Communion, make a good Confession. The Pastor would be glad to meet with you and help you take the next step.
We’d love to hear from you.
Send us a note and someone from the parish will get back to you — or simply come on Sunday.
Let us know you’re coming
It takes 30 seconds and it’s completely optional. Let us know, and the Pastor will look out for you and greet you on the front steps after Mass, so you won’t feel like a stranger.