About St. Anthony De Padua · Danbury, Texas
St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church is a small rural parish serving the farming community of Danbury, Texas, in Brazoria County, about 8 miles north of Angleton and 15 miles south of Alvin. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston and traces its origins to 1911, when the first Mass in Danbury was celebrated at the home of Thomas Walker by Father George Montreuil. The parish's long history includes the destruction of two earlier church buildings (one by hurricane in the early 1930s, the other by fire in October 1944) before the present church was built and dedicated in 1949. Today the congregation is a multi-ethnic mix of Czech, French, German, Mexican-American and other Catholic families who maintain active ministries in faith formation, music, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, pro-life work and outreach to the sick and homebound.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Anthony de Padua
- Rector
- Father Arnel Barrameda
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Why belong here
St. Anthony de Padua is a tight-knit rural parish with a deep, multigenerational Catholic history dating to 1911 — three successive church buildings, the present one dedicated in 1949, all sustained by a multicultural community of Czech, French, German, Mexican-American and other families. It offers daily and weekend Mass, First Friday Adoration (9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Saturday confession, OCIA (RCIA) classes on Monday evenings, CCE religious education, an active Knights of Columbus council, a Legion of Mary praesidium, a pro-life ministry, Music Ministry, Art & Environment, Funeral Dinner Ministry, Disaster Committee, and outreach to the sick and homebound. Visitors are welcomed by a long-tenured permanent deacon (a son of the parish ordained in 1978) and a pastor appointed in 2024 who is connected to the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston's chaplaincy corps.
Mass times at St. Anthony De Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment (call 979-922-1240)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass)
History of St. Anthony de Padua Parish
The parish was born in 1911 when Fr. George Montreuil celebrated the first Mass in Danbury at the home of Thomas Walker. Originally a mission of Bay City and (from 1926) of St. Mary's Freeport, the community of about seventy Catholic families resolved in the late 1920s to build a church in honor of St. Anthony de Padua. The first (1930) and second churches were destroyed — by hurricane in 1932 and by fire in October 1944 — and the present church was completed and dedicated in 1949. Early parish milestones include the establishment of St. Anthony's Cemetery, the Parish Hall (1964, renovated 2006), the rectory (1968, now the Parish Offices), the Education Building (1978), the 1982 purchase of the Peltier home as a convent for the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Victoria, Texas (converted to the present rectory in 1997), and a storage building added in 2007.
- First Mass in Danbury: 1911 (Fr. George Montreuil, at the home of Thomas Walker)
- Mission of Bay City (pre-1926); mission of St. Mary's, Freeport (1926–c.1945)
- First church: 1930 (renovated school building) — destroyed by hurricane, 1932
- Second church: built 1932 — destroyed by fire, October 1944
- Interim worship at the Danbury Rice Warehouse
- Third (present) church: completed and dedicated, 1949
- St. Anthony's Cemetery: established early in parish history
- Parish Hall: 1964 (renovated 2006)
- Rectory: 1968 (now Parish Offices)
- Education Building: 1978
- Convent (Peltier home, purchased 1982; became present rectory 1997)
- Storage building: 2007
Pastoral Succession
Father Frank Dobias became the first resident pastor in 1945 and was succeeded by a long line of pastors, with Deacon Gerald Peltier (ordained 1978, a son of the parish) providing continuous diaconal ministry for nearly five decades. The current pastor, Father Arnel B. Barrameda, was appointed by the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston effective July 1, 2024.
- Fr. Frank Dobias (1945–1956) — first resident pastor
- Fr. Henry Schroeder (1956–1963)
- Fr. Jack Jones (1963–1964)
- Fr. Francis Klass (1964–1970)
- Msgr. John Cummings (1970–1974)
- Fr. Anthony Orlando (1974–1987)
- Fr. John Connelly (1987)
- Fr. Joseph Kalladan (1987–1989)
- Fr. William Oliver (1989–1997)
- Msgr. Boleslaus Zientek (1997–2001)
- Fr. William T. Kelly (2001–2008)
- Fr. Phi Nguyen (2008–2009)
- Fr. David Harris (2009–2010)
- Fr. Joseph Phiet-The-Nguyen (May 2010 – mid-2024)
- Fr. Arnel B. Barrameda (2024–present)
- Deacon Gerald Peltier (1978–present)
Parish Staff & Lay Leaders
Beyond the pastor and permanent deacon, the parish is staffed by a secretary, bookkeeper, Coordinator of Religious Education (C.R.E.), Music Minister, Liturgy Committee chair, and Art & Environment coordinator. Pastoral and Finance Councils provide lay governance, and many ministries are led by named parishioners.
- Pastor: Fr. Arnel B. Barrameda
- Deacon: Gerald Peltier
- Secretary: Imelda Jez
- Bookkeeper: Jan Peltier (979-922-1211)
- C.R.E.: Monica Sebesta (979-922-1211)
- Music Ministry: Evelyn Boeker
- Liturgy Committee: Carol Peltier
- Art & Environment: Anne Starr
- RCIA / OCIA: Laura Davenport
- Pastoral Council: Cecilia Bernshausen & Charles LeCompte
- Finance Council: Emil Prihoda (Chair) & Peggy Keillor
- Pro-Life Coordinator (parish)
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (call ahead)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Anthony's runs a CCE (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program for parish children, a Confirmation program (a 2025 Confirmation class is referenced on the website), and an OCIA (formerly RCIA) program for adults. OCIA classes meet on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM starting in September.
- CCE Classes (2024–2025 listed on website)
- Confirmation 2025
- OCIA / RCIA — Mondays 6:00–8:00 PM, beginning in September
- Coordinator: Laura Davenport (OCIA)
- C.R.E.: Monica Sebesta
Parish Ministries & Organizations
The parish supports a wide array of lay-led ministries, from prayer and liturgical service to fellowship, youth, and outreach. Knights of Columbus Council and Legion of Mary praesidium anchor men's and devotional service; Women of Worship, Funeral Dinner Ministry, Disaster Committee, Bazaar, and Sick/Homebound Ministry address parish fellowship and outreach; Music Ministry, Liturgy Committee, and Art & Environment shape the liturgy.
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Robert Fief; Deputy Grand Knight Albert Priselac
- Legion of Mary
- Pro-Life
- Music Ministry
- Liturgy Committee
- Art & Environment
- Women of Worship
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Funeral Dinner Ministry (coordinator: Sue Powell)
- Sick / Homebound Ministry
- Disaster Committee
- Parish Bazaar
- St. Anthony's Cemetery Committee
- Online Giving via OSV (Our Sunday Visitor)
Sacraments
Information on how to receive each sacrament is published in parish bulletins. Couples are asked to contact the Pastor or Deacon six months before marriage, and families are asked to contact the parish office for baptism. Anointing of the Sick is arranged by calling ahead of a hospital visit; annulments are handled through the pastor or deacon.
- Baptism — contact the Parish Office (979-922-1240)
- Marriage — Pastor or Deacon six months prior (Deacon Gerald: 979-248-7398)
- Anointing of the Sick — call to request before hospital entry
- Annulments — Pastor or Deacon
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM, and by appointment
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of the parish. The Funeral Dinner Ministry feeds grieving families after burials in St. Anthony's Cemetery, the Sick/Homebound Ministry brings the Eucharist and companionship to those unable to attend Mass, and the Disaster Committee coordinates the parish response to local emergencies. The parish bazaar is a major fundraiser that brings the community together.
- Funeral Dinner Ministry — coordinator Sue Powell
- Sick / Homebound visits
- Disaster Committee — Deacon Gerald & Bobbye Peltier
- Parish Bazaar — Chairs Gene & Shay Roberts
- Pro-Life apostolate
Buildings & Facilities
The parish campus centers on the 1949 church and includes several buildings added over the decades to serve worship, education, administration, and parish life. A planned annex to the Education Building is intended to add a youth room.
- Church (completed/dedicated 1949)
- Parish Hall (1964; renovated 2006)
- Rectory (1968) — now Parish Offices
- Education Building (1978) — annex with youth room planned
- Present Rectory (former Peltier home, purchased 1982; converted 1997)
- Storage building (2007)
- St. Anthony's Cemetery
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Montreuil1911
Celebrated the first Mass in Danbury at the home of Thomas Walker; parish was then a mission of Bay City.
- Mission of St. Mary's, Freeport1926 onward
After 1926 Danbury was served as a mission of St. Mary's Freeport; no individual resident pastor named in parish records.
- Fr. Frank Dobias1945–1956
First resident pastor of St. Anthony de Padua.
- Fr. Henry Schroeder1956–1963
Subsequent resident pastor.
- Fr. Jack Jones1963–1964
Short-term pastor.
- Fr. Francis Klass1964–1970
Pastor.
- Msgr. John Cummings1970–1974
Monsignor; pastor.
- Fr. Anthony Orlando1974–1987
Long-serving pastor during the 13-year tenure.
- Fr. John Connelly1987
Brief tenure.
- Fr. Joseph Kalladan1987–1989
Pastor.
- Fr. William Oliver1989–1997
Pastor.
- Msgr. Boleslaus Zientek1997–2001
Monsignor; pastor.
- Fr. William T. Kelly2001–2008
Pastor.
- Fr. Phi Nguyen2008–2009
Pastor.
- Fr. David Harris2009–2010
Pastor.
- Fr. Joseph Phiet-The-NguyenMay 2010 – mid-2024
Pastor; celebrated a jubilee anniversary in 2023 with the Archdiocese.
- Fr. Arnel B. Barrameda2024–present
Appointed Pastor effective July 1, 2024 by the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston; previously Catholic Chaplain Corps, Texas Medical Center, Houston.
- Deacon Gerald Peltier1978–present
Permanent deacon ordained in 1978; son of the parish; retired from active ministry but continues to serve.