July 26, 2021, the annual day honoring St. Anne and St. Joachim in honor FCSLA Life’s patron saint, Saint Anne, was a beautiful warm and sunny day in Cleveland, Ohio.

The celebration of the Feast Day of St. Anne was ushered in with a wreath ceremony in the garden on the grounds of the Home Office in Beachwood first thing in the morning. Staff members gathered around the statue of St. Anne, and National President/CEO Cynthia Maleski had some words of inspiration before placing the wreath before the patron statue. National Chaplain, The Very Rev. Msgr. Peter Polando offered prayers to those gathered. National officers Kim Graham and Stuart Collins were also in attendance. The wreath was dedicated to all members of FCSLA Life, living and deceased.

According to early church tradition, St. Anne lived with her husband, St. Joachim, in Galilee before moving to Jerusalem. After St. Joachim fasted and prayed for forty days in the desert, angels appeared to them promising a child. That child was the Blessed Virgin Mary.

You can find the Novena to St. Anne HERE.