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The first Mass in the parish was celebrated on
the Feast of Saint Anthony, June 13, 1903, in the home of Mr. and Mrs.
George Corley at 742 Lawton Street, SW. The congregation consisted of a
total of fifty-five men, women, and children, representing 24 families. The
parish was formally dedicated on September 20, 1903 at a solemn Mass
celebrated by Bishop Benjamin Keily. Concelebrating were Father John Gunn,
SM, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, and Father O.N. Jackson, Saint Anthony's
first pastor. The parish soon began to outgrow the house it had purchased on
a lot that straddled Gordon and Ashby Streets. In 1911, ground was broken
and a cornerstone laid for the basement of the new Saint Anthony of Padua
Church. The present church building was dedicated on January 15, 1924 (928
Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., SW, Atlanta, GA). Saint Anthony of Padua was
the third Catholic community to be established in the Archdiocese of
Atlanta.
A long line of dedicated priests, sisters, and
laity including pastors have provided service and leadership for the parish
over the past 100 years. Father Anthony Curran, the current pastor, began
serving the Saint Anthony of Padua church family on June 19, 2003.
The parish includes a wonderful mixture of both
long established parish families and newer members. The community continues
to celebrate and foster the tradition of faith and service demonstrated by
all the people who have gone before and who have made the Church family a
strong witness to Christian fellowship and outreach.
The Faith Family of Saint Anthony of Padua
Parish Values:
- Africentric extended family perspectives
- Spirit-filled worship
- Serving the spiritual, human, and social
needs of the community
- Lifelong learning and formation
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