The history of St. Ann's in Nordheim began in 1921.  The Rev. John Toujas, pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Runge, met with the Bishop Arthur Jerome Drossairts of San Antonio early in the fall of 1921 and discussed the feasibility of building a church in Nordheim.  In those days, distances which today would seem almost negligible were considered great.  High-powered automobiles were unheard of and people often drove for two hours or more before they reached the church.  So, it was decided that a church would be built in this section of St. Anthony's Parish.
Plans for collection of funds from the parishioners were made and a drive got underway.  The H. Runge Co. of Cuero donated a plot of ground 150' x 150' north-east of the Public School Building.  (Local residents will today know this plot as being directly behind the present Monroe Charpentier residence toward the Shooting Club Hall.) Through the kindness of Bishop Drossiarts, a donation of $750.00 was received from the Catholic Extension Society in Chicago, Ill. The donor requested that the church be called St. Ann's. 
Rev. Toujan decided to pass around a collection list for more donors.  Construction of the new church began on Jan. 17, 1922.  Work progressed rapidly and on Sunday, March 12, 1992, the first High Mass was offered at 10:30 a.m. by Rev. Toujas.  The choirs of Runge and Karnes City united to sing a two-voice Mass.  The outside and inside of the church was completed at this time except for the communion railing and the Vestment case in the sanctuary.  
Rev. Toujas served until 1924 when he was replaced by the Rev. Lawrence Fitzsimons became pastor in Dec. 1925 and served until 1929.  The Rev. H. A. Heissen served until 1930.  These pastors all served St. Ann's through the St. Anthony's Parish at Runge with two Masses a month on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. One the Sundays when there was no Mass in Nordheim, the parishioners attended services at Runge or Yorktown.  
On August 1st, 1941, His Excellency Most Rev. Robert B. Lucey, DD, appointed Rev. Charles J. Drees as Pastor of St. Anthony's, Runge and its Mission of St. Ann's at Nordheim.  Early in September, the pastor and members of the parish took up a census. This census revealed may heretofore unknown facts.  For years it was thought that Nordheim and its immediate community had very few Catholic families, perhaps ten at the most.  The census revealed twenty-five English-speaking and forty Spanish-speaking families.  Surely, here was a community that warranted the building of a church and consequent religious services.  There were many children who had not yet received their First Holy Communion.  
  By this time, the church in Nordheim had been neglected for some time and was in a state of detorioration.  Regular services had not been held there for some time.  The pastor, who resided at Runge (Rev. Drees) was celebrating two Masses there each Sunda - one for the English-speaking and the other for the Spanish-speaking people.Surely, there was need of a Mass in Nordheim.  On Oct. 18th, permission to offer this third Mass was received from the Most Rev. Apostolic Delegate.  From that time until August of 1942, Mass was offered in Nordheim on every Sunday.
Sunday, August 30th, 1942, a tropical hurricane swept in from the Gulf of Mexico and almost completely wrecked the church. The future seemed quite hopeless -- no funds with which to rebuild and but a few parishioners from whom we might expect financial help for a reconstruction job.  
It was now September and the beginning of a new school year.  Religious instructions for the children had previously been held in the Church; but now it was destroyed.  The Public School Board was approached on the matter and they readily granted permission to use their school every Saturday.  Thus it was possible to continue instructing the children.  In Octobe, a Religious Discussion Club was organized and not each Thursday in the City Hall.  
On Feb. 6, 1943, the Pastor and Archbishop, Most Reverend Robert B. Lucey, DD., discussed the possibility of rebuilding the Church.  His Excellency realized that since there were but a few parishioners, the burden could not be borne entirely by them and so he promised that he would endeavor to obtain help from the Catholic Extension Society.  
The help came on April 17, 1943.  Permission to purchase and trade for new lots with H. Runge and Co. of Cuero on the corner of Oak and Third street, north of the Ice House (the present location), 150' x 150' at $150.  A drive for the collection of funds from the parishioners was under way and the response was tremendous.  In less than a week, the collections had far exceeded all expectations.  
On June 5th, 1943, His Excellency granted permission to begin rebuilding.  One June 7th, the dismantling of the old building began.  The material was hauled to the new property on June 21 and the laying of the foundation of the new St. Ann's Church was started.  The contractor was Herman Garbe and the Architect was Rev. Drees. 
A donation of $500.00 had been received from the Catholic Extension Society and donations from the parishioners continued to come in.  Many non-Catholics also donated to the fund. 
Work on the church continued at a rapid pace, and on July 31st, 1943, the building was completed.  The parishioners of St. Ann's beheld a Church of which they could be justly proud.  The following day, Sunday, August 1st, Mass was offered in the new Church with eighty persons present.  

To request records for Sacraments received at St. Ann, please send your request in writing to Holy Cross Catholic Church at 1214 Zorn Road, Yorktown Texas 78164 or call the Rectory at 361-564-2893.

Directions to the Church: From Yorktown, head west on Highway 72, turn right on Cabeza Street just as you enter Nordheim. Turn left on Third Street and St. Ann's will be on the left about 3 blocks.

OUR LADY OF GRACE GROTTO
Constructed in Thanksgiving

When peace had come to the world following World War II in the late 1940s, the Wyatt Woods and A.W. Wagner families decided to build "Our Lady of Grace" grotto on the church lawn, erected in thanksgiving to God for his blessings and for the safe return of our boys home from service.

In 1948, Herman Garbe built the grotto under contract and it still remains the only one in DeWitt County.  Miss Annie Hahn donated the rocks from her farm at Falls City for the structure.  Father Anthony Matula was very helpful in arranging the details.  He also blessed the grotto.  Each year, "Our Lady of Grace" grotto is the scene of Memorial Day Services. 

The following written history by Rev. John Toujas,
can be found in The Sacramental Records of Santae Annae, 
Nordheim, Runge

Reverend (jno) JohnToujas, incardinated Priest of the San Antonio Diocese, Pastor of St. Anthony Church Parish in Runge, was successful in getting $750 from the Catholic Extension Society of Chicago, Illinois through the kindness of our beloved Bishop, Rt. Rev. Arthur Jerome Drossaerts, Bishop of San Antonio, Texas. The Donor requested that the church be called "St. Ann".

The Runge Co. of Cuero, having donated a plot of ground, north east of the public school house of Nordheim. Reverend John Toujas decided to pass around a collection list. See list on preceeding page. Work was started on said church on Jaunary 17, 1922.

Mass was said in this building for the first time on March 12, 1922. The outside and the inside of the church, being completed, except the communion railing and the vestment case in the sacristy. On Sunday, March 12, 1922, High Mass was sung in Runge at 9:15 am, and after Mass nearly the whole congregation in a long stream of automobiles proceeded to Nordheim for High Mass.

The Choirs of Runge and Karnes CIty, both congregations
being under the care of Rev. John Toujas, unitied to sing two-voice Mass
and various English hymns.

The first Baptism was on March 31, 1922 of Alfred Jerome Jecker, followed by
Hildegard Frederick, March 31
Paula Perez, April 9
Franz Sturm, April 17
Conception Garcia, April 23
Inacia Muniz, May 7
Erminia Guerra, June 4
Lupe Flores, Aug 27
Ernesto Pena, Sept 22
Lourentio Hernandez, Oct 8
Agustin Hernandez, Oct 8
Joseph Schroeller, Oct 8
Maria Baltazar on October 22
Juanita Barriccutes, October 22
Martin Garza, October 22
Emilio Garza, October 22
Alfredo Ramirez, Nov 5
Severita Reyes, Dec 3

Additional remarks by Reverend C.J. Drees, appointed Aug. 1, 1941
were also found in The Sacramental Records of Santae Annae, Nordheim, Runge as follows

After Father Toujas pastorate, religious services were held more or less intermittantly. Many of the parishioners attended Mass in Runge (7 miles away) and yet many more went to Yorktown (8 miles away). On Friday August 1, 1941 I received my appointment as pastor of St. Anthony's, Runge and St. Ann's, Nordheim. After taking a census of the catholics of the Nordheim area I found that the number would justify having having regular services. At this time I was saying two masses each Sunday at Runge and so I obained faculites to say a third mass at Nordheim, The attendance was fair, but the poor condition of the building etc., kept many away. Then on Sunday August 30, 1942 one of the worst hurricanes {Matagorda Hurricane} ever realized here almost completely wrecked the church. The situation seemed hopeless - no funds to rebuild, few people and a great expense if rebuilding were to be considered.

On February 6, 1943 in reply to an appeal to Archbishop Robert E. Lucey,
I was told to come and discuss the matter with him.
The result - "Plans for a new Church."

April 17, 1943; Permission to purchase new lot (Oak & 3rd, north of Ice House) $150 (150' x 150') - Drive for funds started. June 4; Permission to rebuild.  June 7; Razing of the old building.
June 18; Donation of $500 from Catholic Extension. Monday, June 21; Foundation laid. Contractor Rev.C.J. Drees, Architects; Dresser H. Garbe.
The builing was completed on Saturday, July 31, 1943.
First Mass Sunday, August 1, 1943 at 9:30 a.m. - 72 present, the collection was $9.85.
Altar Server: Rudy Jarzombek, Usher: Aug Wagner, Bell Ringer: Charles Garbe, Flowers, Mrs. Dan Scheffler, Altar Prepared: Mrs. Aug Wagner, Mrs. Frank, Jarzombek, Mrs. H. Garbe, Mrs. Dan Scheffler.

Size of building: 60 x 28 with a seating capacity of 140