We, the parish family of St. Anne Catholic Church, exist to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which leads us:
- to live, as Jesus did, a life of prayer, service, and charity
- to be a welcoming parish for all
- to journey with one another on our pilgrimage to Heaven.
We see a supportive community of disciples of the Lord, celebrating the Eucharist together, sharing the Gospel that transforms our daily lives, and through our prayers and action, saving our souls - and the souls of others - for the Kingdom of God.
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 FlockNote. Please click here for more information and to sign up for online payments.
Giving (FlockNote link, Campus Plan Construction 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 2026 with a vision for the next hundred years.
Fr. John Shimotsu began priestly formation after graduating from Virginia Military Institute and serving as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer. At Mount Angel Seminary, he received an MA in Theology and a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orange on June 11, 1994 and assigned to St. Polycarp Church as a parochial vicar.
From 1997, Fr. Shimotsu served in the Archdiocese for the Military Services as a Navy Chaplain. Assignments included a Marine Tank Battalion, a Marine Infantry Battalion, the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ, and the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a master’s degree in National Security Affairs. 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 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.
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.
