The Catholics in Bulger were originally under the spiritual care of St. Alphonsus Parish in McDonald. The first priest to serve in Bulger with some regularity was Fr. Andrew Rudnicki. Originally from Poland, he was part of the Apostolate of St. Mary of the Mount, and was associated with Sts. Peter and Paul Mission in Cherry Valley from 1912-1915. Around this time, a Sunday School in Bulger was founded in a private home. Fr. James Wrobel is listed as the first pastor of St. Ann. He ministered from 1915-1918.

At first, Mass was held only occasionally in Bulger, but eventually, after a theatre (called a nickelodeon) was rented, Mass was celebrated in Bulger three Sundays a month. The Sunday school expanded, and in 1916, the church of St. Ann was officially organized. A Mrs. Anna Hermes donated land, and construction of a church was begun. St. Ann Church was dedicated on August 26, 1917. At first, St. Ann was a Mission of Sts. Peter and Paul in Cherry Valley, but in 1918, these roles were reversed, with Sts. Peter and Paul becoming a Mission under the care of St. Ann. This lasted until 1943, when Sts. Peter and Paul Mission was placed under the care of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

A rectory was constructed near St. Ann Church in 1918. St. Ann Church caught fire twice, and burned down in 1929. Construction of the present St. Ann Church was begun in 1930. Various improvements were made to the church over time, including the renovation of the basement and sanctuary, enlargement of the two sacristies, the purchase of a new organ, and the construction of a rectory.





St. Ann was served by 14 pastors over its 104 year history. Starting in 2012, St. Ann Parish shared a pastor with St. Michael Parish in Avella. On July 1, 2020, after a long process of prayer, discernment, and consultation which you can read about here, St. Ann Parish merged with the parishes of St. Alphonsus, St. Columbkille, St. Michael, Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. Patrick to become St. Isidore the Farmer Parish. Today, the good people of St. Isidorde the Farmer Parish continue the work of building up the Kingdom of God.