Page 93 - WILMINGTON

Saint anthony of Padua
1924
WILMINGTON
St Anthony of Padua
Parish was established
via a a a a a letter from Bishop Monaghan to Father Tucker TThe Most Reverend Reverend John J J J Monaghan third Bishop of of of of Wilmington Wilmington appointed the the rst American Oblate and member of of of Salesianum’s rst rst graduating class the the the Reverend J Francis Tucker OSFS “Pastor of of of the the Italian people of of Wilmington ” In this way Saint Anthony’s parish parish boundaries were considerably larger than most parishes tasked with being the the the the spiritual home for the the the the area’s Catholics of of of Italian descent many of of of of whom lived in in in the the the the Little Italy neighborhood of of of of the the the the west side of of Wilmington Very soon after the the parish was was established
a a a a a a a a a a wooden building was was erected to serve serve as as as an an an interim church church church until the the the permanent granite & mortar church church church could be built This “temporary church” served the the the the faithful of the the the the the parish until Palm Sunday March 28 1926 when the the the the the rst Masses were celebrated at at the the the the then-new and now-current church The sanctuary sanctuary at at that rst Mass bears little resemblance to to the the sanctuary sanctuary of of of today as as as the the construction of of of St Anthony of of of Padua
Church has been and continues to to to be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a work in in in progress Ensuing decades saw many improvements to to the the the physical structure of of of the the the Church as generation generation after generation generation contributed the the the the beauty and and reverence of of of this House of of of God Their work and and and vision was not limited to the the main church building It It included a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a variety of programming and and and outreach including a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a School Italian Heritage Festival and and the Via Crucis In the the the 1930s decorative columns were erected to to enclose the the the iron beams in the the the church and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bell tower was constructed The Annual Italian Heritage Festival began as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a parish carnival through volunteer efforts In the the the the 1940s the the the the rst stained glass windows were installed decorative arches and and the the the the Baptistery was constructed the the the the medallion portraits of of saints were were completed a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a new marble oor altar steps and and ornate pulpit were were added the the shrine to Our Lady of of of of the the Miraculous Medal was was was completed a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a new new statue of of of Saint Anthony of of of Padua
was was was installed installed a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cast ceiling was was was installed installed large electric lights were hung and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a new new new altar altar and and and new new side altars for the Blessed Virgin Mary and and and Saint Joseph
were added During this time volunteer labor built and and began operating Fournier Hall as a a a a a a a a a a a venue for parish social events and and activities In the the the 1950s the the the fountain in in in front of church was dedicated a a a a a a a a a a a three- million-piece mosaic placed over the the the the main altar and and volunteer labor built and and and opened the the the the new new facility that would become St Anthony’s Grade School and and the the the the the the rst Padua
Academy With the the the the the the 1960s came new new new bronze doors at the the the the the the the main entrances Also in in the the the the the the the 60s 60s the the the the the the the new new rectory built with with volunteer labor under the the the the the the the direction and with with the the the the the the the on-site help of of Father Roberto opened as as well as as Saint Anthony in in the the the the the Hills recreational country facility built with volunteer labor for the the the the use of of children and families from the city In the the 1970s both the the new Padua
Academy at 10th & Broom and and built with volunteer labor and and The Antonian a a a a a a a a a a a a neighborhood senior citizen’s apartment complex at 10th & DuPont opened During this time the the the the the Saint Anthony’s Anthony’s Annual Carnival was reborn as as the the the the the now famous St Anthony’s Anthony’s Italian Festival In the the the the the 1980s the the the the the Father Roberto Community Center opened to to provide activities for for seniors and and a a a a a a a a a a a daycare for for children 12-months old and up from the community In the the 1990s parishioners served as as volunteers in in the the Community Center to provide “Meals on on on Wheels” for eligible seniors in in in in New Castle County This continued in in in in the the the the new millennium as as food pantry outreach began for the the the the extended community Also in in in the the the the 200s the the the the church bells were restored St Anthony’s has adapted to to the the changing demographics in in in in Wilmington and New Castle County particularly within the the the last 40 years Roughly 60% of our membership lives outside the the the city boundaries Parish ministries are infused with with Salesian values which come from the the the parish’s more-than-90-years association with with the the Oblates of St Francis de Sales 91