About Saint Anthony of Padua · Bronx, New York
St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in the Morrisania section of the South Bronx, New York, belonging to the Archdiocese of New York. Founded in 1903 by German immigrants and now a bilingual (English/Spanish) community, the parish serves as home to the Missionaries of Charity contemplative sisters, the Siervas de Cristo Resucitado (founded here in 1998), and the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Center, known as the Centro, which has hosted life-changing weekend retreats since 1978. Saints have walked these halls: St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta herself lived at the parish convent in the early days of her Missionaries of Charity community, and Maryknoll Sister Maura Clarke taught at St. Anthony of Padua School from 1954 to 1959 before her 1980 martyrdom in El Salvador.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat II
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is a vibrant, bilingual Catholic community in the heart of the South Bronx with deep immigrant roots and a remarkable history of holiness — St. Mother Teresa herself lived at the parish convent, and the parish is the birthplace of the Siervas de Cristo Resucitado religious sisters. Members are welcomed into daily and Sunday Mass celebrated in English and Spanish, weekday Eucharistic adoration, a parish school of faith formation for children, RCIA for adults, quinceañeras and weddings, and the world-renowned weekend retreats of the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Center (Centro). It is a parish that has welcomed every wave of newcomers to New York for more than 120 years and continues to do so today.
Mass times at Saint Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM (in the lobby of the main church; doors open shortly before 4:00 PM)
- By appointment during the week (contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM, ending with Benediction at 6:15 PM
- Wednesday 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM, ending with Benediction at 6:15 PM
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM, ending with Benediction at 6:15 PM
- Friday 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM, ending with Benediction at 6:15 PM
- Adoration takes place in the chapel at 826 E. 166th St.; ring the doorbell for entry
History of St. Anthony of Padua
Founded in 1903 by German immigrants under Fr. Otto F. Strack with the first Masses in a storefront at Home Street and Union Avenue, the parish of St. Anthony of Padua has grown over more than 120 years through every wave of immigration in the South Bronx. The present church, built 1927–1928 with funds raised by Fr. Joseph F. Rummel, was dedicated on June 10, 1928 — Fr. Rummel himself returning for the dedication after being named Bishop of Omaha. Under pastors Msgr. Bernard Russell, Msgr. John Steltz, Fr. Peter Ensenat, Bishop Josu Iriondo and now Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat II, the parish welcomed Black Catholics during the Great Migration, Puerto Rican families beginning in the 1950s, and a growing Spanish-speaking community today.
- Founded 1903 as a German national parish in Morrisania
- 1905: Cardinal Farley dedicates the combination church–school–convent building (today the Centro)
- 1928: Present church dedicated on June 10
- 1977: St. Anthony of Padua School closes amid the South Bronx collapse
- 2015–present: Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat II serves as pastor
Religious Sisters at St. Anthony's
Religious sisters have shaped St. Anthony's from the start. The Sisters of Christian Charity (founded in Germany, 1849) staffed the parish from 1906 to 1944, followed by the Maryknoll Sisters (1944–1971) and the Sisters of Charity of New York and Dominican Sisters of Sparkill (1971–1973). Since 1976 a contemplative community of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity has lived at the parish, and in 1998 the Siervas de Cristo Resucitado was founded here with a Mass in the Centro chapel on June 8.
- Sisters of Christian Charity 1906–1944
- Maryknoll Sisters 1944–1971
- Sisters of Charity of New York & Dominican Sisters of Sparkill 1971–1973
- Missionaries of Charity 1976–present (St. Mother Teresa lived here)
- Siervas de Cristo Resucitado 1998–present (founded here)
Faith Formation and Sacraments
St. Anthony of Padua prepares children and adults for the sacraments through its Religious Education program and RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Parents wanting to have a child baptized are invited to stop by the parish office during normal hours to begin the process. Weddings are typically scheduled at least six months in advance, and quinceañeras can also be arranged through the office.
- Baptism: begin by visiting the parish office
- First Communion and Confirmation: through Religious Education
- RCIA for adults
- Marriage: book at least 6 months ahead
- Quinceañeras: inquire at the office
The Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Center ('the Centro')
Since 1978 the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Center — known simply as 'the Centro' — has been a vital ministry of St. Anthony of Padua, offering weekend retreats where thousands upon thousands of lives have been changed by what the parish describes as 'an encounter with the living God.' It moved into St. Anthony's former school building in 1985 under Bishop Francisco Garmendia, the first Spanish-speaking bishop of New York, and today hosts retreats, prayer services and formation events.
- Founded 1978
- Moved to the former school building at 826 E. 166th St. in 1985
- Address: 826 E. 166th St., Bronx, NY 10459
- Phone: (718) 378-1734
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: www.centrobronx.com
Saints and Martyrs Connected to the Parish
Few parishes of comparable size can claim the company of saints that St. Anthony's has known. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta herself lived at the parish convent in 1976 when the Missionaries of Charity contemplative community began, returning several times for short visits and leaving personal effects now preserved at the convent. Maryknoll Sister Maura Clarke lived here and taught at St. Anthony of Padua School from 1954 to 1959 before her 1980 martyrdom in El Salvador with three other U.S. missionaries.
- St. Mother Teresa lived at the convent (Missionaries of Charity house) beginning 1976
- Maryknoll Sister Maura Clarke lived and taught here 1954–1959; martyred El Salvador 1980
- Siervas de Cristo Resucitado sisters founded in the Centro chapel on June 8, 1998
Parish Staff and Office
The parish staff is led by Pastor Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat II and includes Parochial Vicar Rev. Sixto Quezada, Administrator Rev. Fredy Patiño, and Deacon Luis Feliz. Religious sisters of the Siervas de Cristo Resucitado (S.C.R.) coordinate Religious Education (Sr. Jesusmaikelyn De la Cruz) and Liturgy (Sr. Jesusangelica Santos), while Juliemarie Hernández serves as Youth Minister and Isabel Mejía as Office Manager. Parish office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
- Pastor: Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat II
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Sixto Quezada
- Administrator: Rev. Fredy Patiño
- Deacon: Luis Feliz
- Director of Religious Education: Sr. Jesusmaikelyn De la Cruz, S.C.R.
- Liturgy: Sr. Jesusangelica Santos, S.C.R.
- Youth Minister: Juliemarie Hernández
- Office Manager: Isabel Mejía
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–1 PM and 2 PM–7 PM
Location and How to Get Here
St. Anthony of Padua sits on the corner of East 166th Street and Prospect Avenue in the Morrisania neighborhood of the South Bronx. The parish is easily reached by the 2 or 5 trains to Prospect Avenue, by the Bx17 bus which stops right in front, and by car — a church parking lot is on Prospect Avenue and free street parking is almost always available nearby.
- Address: 832 E. 166th Street, Bronx, NY 10459
- Subway: 2 or 5 trains to Prospect Ave.
- Bus: Bx17 stops in front of the church
- Parking: church lot on Prospect Ave. + free street parking
- Rectory: 832 E. 166th Street
Becoming a Member or Visiting
The parish welcomes everyone, regardless of background. 'Our church doors should always be open, so that if someone, moved by the Spirit, comes here looking for God, he or she will not find a closed door,' the parish quotes Pope Francis. Two simple paths to joining the parish family are outlined on the website, and visitors are encouraged to stop by the office or drop into the back of church on Saturdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM to speak with a priest about Reconciliation or any other question of faith.
- Stop by the parish office Mon–Fri during office hours
- Confession available in the back of church Saturdays 4:00–5:00 PM
- Non-Catholics explicitly welcomed
- Bilingual reception in English and Spanish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Otto F. Strack1903–1915
Founding pastor; celebrated first Masses in a storefront at Home St. and Union Ave.
- Joseph F. Rummel1915–1924
Raised funds for the present church; later Bishop of Omaha (1928) and Archbishop of New Orleans (1935); returned to dedicate the church on June 10, 1928.
- Msgr. Anthony J. Rothlauf1924–1943
Oversaw construction of the present church; refused to record racial distinctions, considering the parish 'color-blind'.
- Rev. William B. Duggan1943–1945
- Msgr. Bernard F. Russell1945–1966
Worked with associate Msgr. Gerald Ryan and the Maryknoll Sisters; many Black families came into the Catholic faith under his pastorate.
- Msgr. John A. Steltz1967–1987
Guided the parish through the devastating 1970s collapse of the South Bronx.
- Rev. Peter M. Ensenat1987–1990
First Puerto Rican priest of the Archdiocese of New York; died December 12, 1990.
- Bishop Josu Iriondo1991–2015
Later ordained auxiliary bishop of New York (2001); now Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus.
- Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat II2015–present
Auxiliary Bishop of New York; consecrated bishop in 2022.