We, the parish family of St. Anne Catholic Church, exist to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This leads us to live, as Jesus did, with a life of prayer, service, and charity, to be a welcoming parish, and to journey with one another on our pilgrimage to Heaven.
St. Anne Catholic Church depends on the generosity of our parishioners, friends, and benefactors. There are various options for contributing to our parish needs. You may request parish envelopes or use our online payment system called WeShare. Please click here for more information and to sign up for online payments.
Giving (WeShare link, Pastoral Services Appeal PSA link, Holy Spirit of God Endowment Fund link)
The Parish of St. Anne traces its roots back to 1921 when the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles founded a humble mission church in Seal Beach. Initially, worshippers gathered in a makeshift structure—a repurposed grain storehouse situated at the crossroads of Main St. and Electric Ave.
In 1922, amidst the expanding religious landscape of the region, Bishop John J. Cantwell established the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego. Reverend Austin Fleming took on the mantle of St. Anne's first pastor during this period. Despite facing limited resources, Fr. Fleming's dedication was boundless—he not only tended to the spiritual needs of his budding congregation but also lent his hands to physically constructing the church. A generous benefactor from Chicago, whose $1,000 contribution laid the cornerstone for the church's construction, played a pivotal role. With this support, the foundation of St. Anne began to take shape at 317-319 10th Street, emerging as a beacon of faith in the community.
Over the ensuing decades, St. Anne saw a succession of pastors guide the congregation through significant milestones. Each leader, from Fr. Louis Schaffer to Fr. Thomas O'Sullivan, left an indelible mark on the parish's journey, their contributions cherished to this day. Noteworthy developments highlighted the parish's growth, including the church's expansion in 1937 and acquiring additional land for a parking lot under Fr. O'Sullivan's leadership.
As time progressed, subsequent pastors like Fr. William Diamond and Fr. Robert Vidal continued to foster St. Anne's spiritual and physical development. Through their stewardship, the church underwent renovations, expansions, and adaptations, ensuring it remained a vibrant hub of worship and community engagement.
Today, the parish thrives under the leadership and dedication of Fr. John Shimotsu, supported by a devoted team of clergy, staff, and ministry volunteers. St. Anne's rich history is a testament to the enduring spirit of faith and fellowship that has characterized it for over a century.
Since 1921, St. Anne’s Catholic Church has been the place to encounter Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament in Old Town Seal Beach. With gratitude to Almighty God and many generations of priests, staff, and parishioners, we are building on the foundations of our past in implementing our Pastoral Plan 2023 with a vision for the next hundred years.
Fr. John Shimotsu is the pastor of our parish at St. Anne. He began priestly formation after graduating from Virginia Military Institute and serving as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer. After a year of studying philosophy at Gonzaga University, he went to Mount Angel Seminary, where he completed his graduate studies in theology. He was ordained into the priesthood on June 11, 1994.
After completing an assignment as a parochial vicar in the Diocese of Orange, he served as a Navy Chaplain for 22 years in the Archdiocese for the Military Services. As a Navy Chaplain, he served with a Marine Tank Battalion, a Marine Infantry Battalion, the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ, and earned a master’s degree in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Subsequent assignments included the Office of the Navy Chief of Chaplains in Washington, D.C., the amphibious assault ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD, an Individual Augmentee in the Middle East, Deputy Fleet Chaplain at Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, VA, Seventh Fleet Chaplain embarked on USS BLUE RIDGE forward deployed in Yokosuka, Japan, US Pacific Fleet Chaplain in Pearl Harbor, HI, and US Indo-Pacific Command Chaplain at Camp H.M. Smith, HI.
Following military retirement, Fr. Shimotsu returned to the Diocese of Orange, served as the interim parochial administrator at Christ our Savior Catholic Parish, and was appointed pastor of St. Anne's effective January 1, 2022. In July of 2024, while retaining his responsibilities as pastor, he was also appointed Vicar for Priests.
Ordained June 8th, 2024, the first Filipino-American priest ordained in the Diocese of Orange and from Brea, California where his parents and younger sister live. He attended school in Brea and West Coast University in Anaheim where he received an undergraduate and master's degree in healthcare administration in Dental Hygiene.
The Very Rev. Father Al Baca, Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenism and Inter-religion, is a priest in residence at St. Anne’s.
Father Al Baca is a native of Orange County. He grew up in Garden Grove and attended with his family, St Columban Catholic Church. Father attended St Columban school, Garden Grove High School, and Cal State Fullerton. He entered St John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Los Angeles and was ordained for the Diocese of Orange in 1989. After a number of parish assignments, Father was sent to study at the University of St Thomas in Rome. He received his licentiate in Spirituality with an emphasis in Ecumenism and Inter-religion from the Angelicum. Returning home from Rome, he served in the Diocese of Orange as pastor of St. Cecilia’s Church in Tustin for 10 years and St. Columban Church in Garden Grove for 2 years. During this time, he also served as Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenism and Inter-religion. In 2017, Father Baca was appointed Executive Director of the Secretariat on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, in Washington DC for the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB). Upon returning to the Diocese of Orange, in 2019, Father was appointed Director for Evangelization and Faith Formation. In 2023, Father was reappointed the Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenism and Inter-religion for the Diocese of Orange.
July 1, 2022, Father Baca was assigned as priest in residence at the parish of St Anne in Seal Beach. Father assists and supports the ongoing strategic plan of the parish under pastor, Fr Shimotsu. He celebrates Mass during the week and on weekends as assigned, hosts the Know Your Catholic Faith adult series, and assists other ministries as needed. In 2024, he was appointed Secretary for the Pastoral Provision, assisting Bishop Kevin Vann, the Ecclesiastical Delegate for the Pastoral Provision for the United States.
Msgr. Mike Heher is a pastor emeritus of our parish of St. Anne. He began priestly formation as early as high school at Our Lady Queen of Angels High School Seminary in San Fernando, CA. He continued to complete his undergraduate and graduate studies at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, CA. He also obtained a doctorate in fundamental theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Msgr. Mike Heher was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1978, and has served as a parochial vicar in various parishes, pastor of St. Irenaeus in Cypress, CA, diocesan director of Family Life and Vicar General for the Diocese of Orange. He is also the author of The Lost Art of Walking on Water: Reimagining the Priesthood. Msgr Mike retired on December 31, 2021.
The Holy Spirit of God Endowment Fund will support evangelization and faith formation at St. Anne's, all in the hope, through the grace of God, of helping people develop a deeper, personal relationship with Jesus Christ at our parish.
