About Saint Anthony of Padua · New Bedford, Massachusetts
Saint Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in the North End of New Bedford, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Fall River. Founded in 1895 to serve the French-Canadian Catholic community, it is best known for its striking red-sandstone Romanesque church whose 256-foot spire dominates the North End skyline. Today the parish is bilingual (English and Spanish), staffed by priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), and continues to serve a largely immigrant community through Mass, devotions, faith formation, a parish food pantry, and an historic 1912 Casavant pipe organ.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- Saint Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Fr. Mariano Varela, IVE
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fall River (Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River)
Why belong here
Saint Anthony of Padua is a welcoming, bilingual parish that has served the North End of New Bedford for 130 years. It offers a full schedule of English and Spanish Masses, weekly Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA for adults, CCD religious education for children, and a thriving sacred music program built around its 1912 Casavant organ. Parishioners also support one another through a weekly food pantry, the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary, and the Salt Ladies — and gather beneath one of the most beautiful church interiors in New England.
Mass times at Saint Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:30–7:15 PM (Chapel)
- Thursday 6:30–7:15 PM (Church)
- Friday 4:15–5:00 PM (Chapel)
- Saturday 11:00–11:45 AM (Church)
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (Church)
- By appointment — call the rectory at 508-993-1691
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:30–7:30 PM (Chapel)
- Thursday 6:30–7:30 PM (Church)
- Friday 4:15–5:15 PM (Chapel)
Welcome and Mission
The parish describes itself as a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people. Its stated mission is 'to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' The parish motto inscribed in Latin over the front entrance reads: 'The hardworking people of St. Anthony have built this Temple to the Lord.'
- Welcoming Catholic community
- Parish mission: proclaiming the Gospel in word, deed, and truth
- Bilingual English/Spanish parish
- Parish motto inscribed in Latin above the front entrance
History of the Parish
Saint Anthony of Padua was founded in 1895 for the French-Canadian Catholics of New Bedford's North End, with the first Mass celebrated on October 6, 1895 at North Union Hall on Bullard Street. A wood-frame church was dedicated March 8, 1896. Construction of the present Romanesque-style church began in 1902 from plans by Canadian architect Joseph Venne of Montreal; the cornerstone was laid in June 1904. The exterior of red East Longmeadow sandstone was finished in 1905 and the building was formally dedicated November 28, 1912. The parish school, opened in 1896, served the community until 2007.
- Founded 1895 for French-Canadian Catholics of the North End
- First Mass: October 6, 1895 at North Union Hall
- Founder and first pastor: Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers (1861–1916)
- Present church: Romanesque style, dedicated November 28, 1912
Building and Architecture
The present Romanesque-style church was designed by Joseph Venne of Montreal, with Louis G. Destremps of Fall River brought in as supervising architect after a fatal wall collapse at the construction site in September 1904. The exterior is red sandstone from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The church is 241 feet long and 80 feet wide (135 feet at the transept) and seats 2,000 worshippers. Its 256-foot spire is a defining feature of the North New Bedford skyline.
- Architects: Joseph Venne (principal) and Louis G. Destremps (supervising)
- 256-foot spire — for many years the second-tallest in New England
- Red sandstone exterior from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts
- Seats 2,000 worshippers
The Casavant Pipe Organ
The church houses a large 4-manual Casavant Frères pipe organ, Opus 489, built in 1912 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. It is installed in the unusual second balcony some 70 feet above the floor and was dedicated on September 12, 1912 with a recital by the famous Belgian organist Gaston Dethier. The instrument remains essentially intact and was partially restored in 2005 by Daniel Lemieux & Associates. The church has hosted a series of organ recitals on the instrument and it has been used for the commercial recording 'Pipes and Angels.'
- Casavant Frères Opus 489 (1912)
- Installed in the unusual second balcony, ~70 feet above the floor
- Dedicated September 12, 1912; recital by Gaston Dethier
- Restored in 2005 by Daniel Lemieux & Associates
Restoration Under Fr. Edmond Levesque
By 1990 the once-grand church had fallen into serious decline. In 1991 Bishop Daniel A. Cronin appointed Fr. Edmond R. Levesque pastor, warning him that unless he could reverse the pattern of decline the church would have to be closed. Fr. Levesque and his housekeeper Patricia DeAndrade restored the church and revitalized the parish community; in recognition of his work he was made a Monsignor on September 1, 1999.
- Bishop Cronin appointed Fr. Levesque in 1991
- Fr. Levesque and housekeeper Patricia DeAndrade led the restoration
- Fr. Levesque made a Monsignor on September 1, 1999
Parish School
The parish school opened in September 1896 as a K-8 school and grew quickly, with a new school building opening in September 1924. Enrollment climbed from 1,060 in 1924 to a peak of 1,406 in 1931, then declined steadily over the decades. The school closed after the 2006–2007 school year, and the building was leased to the New Bedford Global Learning Charter School starting in 2008.
- Parish school opened September 1896 (K-8)
- Final school building opened September 1924
- Peak enrollment: 1,406 students in 1931
- School closed 2007 after 111 years
- Building leased to New Bedford Global Learning Charter School in 2008
Clergy and Staff
The parish is staffed by priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), a religious congregation that serves in missions around the world. Pastoral care is shared with neighboring Immaculate Conception Parish.
- Fr. Mariano Varela, IVE — Pastor (Argentine, ordained December 6, 1997)
- Fr. Mario Rojas, IVE — Parochial Vicar (Chilean, ordained December 12, 2012)
- Fr. Jayapaul Polisetti, IVE — Parochial Vicar (Indian, ordained July 25, 2020)
- Fr. Jeff Obniski, IVE — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Eduardo Borges
- Deacon Jeremias Carranzas
- Deacon Leo Racine (retired)
- Mother Mary Aeiparthenos, SSVM — Director of Religious Education
- Daniel Marshall — Director of Sacred Music & Organist
- Reina McCarty — Office Secretary
- Luis Sicajau — Maintenance
- Sr. Annette Brassard — Sacristan
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is published in the parish bulletin and website.
- Baptism — Saturdays at 12:00 PM; every third Saturday in English, every fourth in Spanish
- Marriage — registered parishioners should contact the Pastor at least 8 months in advance; classes required
- Anointing of the Sick — for the sick, elderly, or those facing surgery
- OCIA / RCIA — for those entering the Catholic Church or completing Sacraments
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education for children and youth is offered through the CCD program, run jointly with Immaculate Conception Parish. Classes meet Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:15 PM at Immaculate Conception School, 136 Earle Street, New Bedford.
- CCD (Religious Education) for children and youth
- Meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6:00–7:15 PM
- Location: Immaculate Conception School, 136 Earle Street, New Bedford
- Director: Mother Mary Aeiparthenos, SSVM
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Each year at the Easter Vigil, adults are received into the Catholic Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The parish welcomes those new to the Catholic faith as well as Catholics in need of receiving the Sacraments.
- OCIA / RCIA program for adults
- Meets Sundays after the 9:30 AM Mass
- Spanish OCIA on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM at Immaculate Conception School
- Facilitator: Mother Aeiparthenos, SSVM
Sacred Music Ministry
The parish's music ministry is led by Daniel B. Marshall, Director of Sacred Music and Organist. Mr. Marshall also serves as organist for the 11:00 AM Portuguese Mass at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish. He is a composer, arranger, music engraver, and hymn-text author whose work has been published on Corpus Christi Watershed, and he continues studies in composition and improvisation with Dr. Peter Latona of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
- Director of Sacred Music & Organist: Daniel Marshall
- Music engraved for English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin works
- Studies composition/improvisation with Dr. Peter Latona (Basilica of the National Shrine)
- Contact: [email protected]
Knights of Columbus
The parish hosts the Venerable Michael McGivney Council of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service order of practicing Catholic men guided by the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism.
- Council name: Venerable Michael McGivney Council
- Meets 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM
- Location: Meeting Room of St. Anthony's Church
- Grand Knight: Patrick Robitaille
Legion of Mary
The parish praesidium of the Legion of Mary, 'Our Lady of Good Counsel,' meets weekly. Founded in Dublin in 1921 by Frank Duff, the Legion of Mary is today the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with active and auxiliary members serving in parishes worldwide.
- Praesidium name: 'Our Lady of Good Counsel'
- Meets Fridays 6:00–7:00 PM
- President: Edwin Aldarondo (508-525-6797)
- Active and Auxiliary membership available
Saint Anthony of Padua Food Pantry
The parish food pantry provides groceries — including meat and special items for Thanksgiving — to neighbors in need every Thursday, thanks to the donations of parishioners and local businesses.
- Open Thursdays 10:00–11:30 AM
- Location: by the Nye Street side of the church
- Bring an ID and your own market bag
- Coordinator: Stacy Hallal
- Checks payable to St. Anthony Church, memo: Food Pantry
Other Groups and Giving
Beyond the established ministries, the parish also hosts the Salt Ladies (a women's fellowship group) and a 'Steward & Service' program with fundraising events benefiting the parish renovation fund. A parish bulletin is published regularly and is available on the website.
- Salt Ladies — women's fellowship
- Steward & Service fundraising for church restoration
- Parish bulletin published weekly
- Online giving available through the website
Contact and Office
Parish office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM). The office secretary is Reina McCarty.
- Address: 1359 Acushnet Ave, New Bedford, MA 02746
- Phone: 508-993-1691
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers (1861–1916)1895–1916
First pastor and founder of the parish, an energetic leader who guided the young French-Canadian community from the first Mass in 1895 to the construction of the present church.
- Fr. Edmond R. Levesque (later Msgr.)1991–
Appointed by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin in 1991 to reverse decades of decline; restored the church and parish community and was made a Monsignor on September 1, 1999.
- Fr. Roger J. Landrythrough 2007
Pastor at the time the parish school closed in 2007 and the building was leased to the New Bedford Global Learning Charter School.
- Fr. Mariano Varela, IVEpresent
Current pastor, a priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word.