About St. Anthony · Fairmont, West Virginia
St. Anthony Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Fairmont, West Virginia community as part of a two-parish grouping with neighboring Holy Spirit Church in Monongah. Established in 1964 and entrusted to the pastoral care of a priest of the Society of the Divine Word (S.V.D.), the parish shares the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston and offers weekday and weekend Masses along with religious education, a Pastoral Council, and a small but active slate of liturgical ministries. The parish is rooted in the same Marion County immigrant, coal-country Catholic heritage that produced nearby parishes like St. Peter the Fisherman and the Italian St. Joseph community.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Anthony (of Padua, as customary for parishes under this title)
- Rector
- Rev. Romeo Bacalso, S.V.D.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston (West Virginia)
Why belong here
St. Anthony offers a close-knit Catholic faith community in Fairmont with welcoming weekend Masses (Saturday evening and Sunday morning), mid-week daily Masses, and a complete sacramental and formation program for children and adults. Parishioners are served by a dedicated S.V.D. priest alongside an on-site Director of Religious Education, an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) coordinator, music director, and a Parish Pastoral Council that plans liturgy, education, evangelization, finance, maintenance, pastoral care and outreach. Joining or visiting St. Anthony means becoming part of a parish that explicitly seeks to 'deepen personal union with Jesus Christ' and to be 'instruments of God's Love and healing' to neighbors in need across Marion County.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
St. Anthony Catholic Church — Parish Overview
St. Anthony is a Roman Catholic parish in Fairmont, West Virginia, founded in 1964 and entrusted today to the pastoral care of a priest of the Society of the Divine Word (S.V.D.). The parish shares its ministry and staff with neighboring Holy Spirit Church in Monongah, forming a two-parish collaborative under the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston. Its published mission is to deepen personal union with Jesus Christ and to be 'instruments of God's Love and healing to those around us.' Mass is offered on Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:00 PM.
- Address: 1660 Mary Lou Retton Dr., Fairmont, WV 26554
- Phone: (304) 363-1328
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Fri 9:00 AM – Noon
- Parish grouping: St. Anthony & Holy Spirit
History
St. Anthony Parish in Fairmont was canonically established in 1964, with Rev. Joseph Dene appointed by the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston as its first pastor. The foundation came during one of the most prolific periods of parish-founding in the diocese's history. Marion County's broader Catholic identity had been forged a century earlier by Irish railroad workers arriving with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1852 and later by Italian families drawn to the coal mines, who built parish communities such as St. Joseph, St. Peter the Fisherman, and the original St. Anthony neighborhoods around local schools and cemeteries. Today St. Anthony continues that heritage, sharing clergy and Catholic Charities outreach with the wider Fairmont area.
- Established 1964
- Founding pastor: Rev. Joseph Dene
- Diocese: Wheeling–Charleston
- Pastoral care: Society of the Divine Word (S.V.D.)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Romeo Bacalso, S.V.D., who serves the St. Anthony / Holy Spirit grouping. Supporting parish staff and volunteers handle religious education, finances, music, facilities, and adult faith formation.
- Pastor: Rev. Romeo Bacalso, S.V.D. — (304) 363-1328 ext. 4 — [email protected]
- Parish Secretary: Alana Pazdric — (304) 363-1328 ext. 3
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Mandy James — (304) 612-7167 — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Mercedes Vasquez — (304) 363-1328 ext. 5 — [email protected]
- Facility Manager: John Baransky — (304) 694-2369
- OCIA Coordinator: Mike Nunan — [email protected]
- Music Director: Mary Ann Starkey
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Anthony publishes a small but consistent weekly Mass schedule; weekday Masses are offered at 5:00 PM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with the Sunday obligation fulfilled by a Saturday evening vigil and a Sunday morning Mass.
- Saturday: 6:00 PM (vigil)
- Sunday: 11:00 AM
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM
Parish Pastoral Council
The St. Anthony Parish Council functions as an advisory body to the pastor. It fosters parish unity, assesses parish needs, develops programs, coordinates activities, encourages participation in the spiritual and apostolic life of the parish, and provides a forum for dialogue. The Council works collaboratively with the pastor across education, evangelization, finance, liturgy, maintenance, pastoral care, and outreach planning.
- Ray Carpenter
- Sam Tossone
- Tom Antulov
- Brandon Dinger
- Tina Mascaro
- Frank Priolette
- Mary Gregware (Mission Activities)
- Mandy James (DRE)
- Alana Pazdric (St. Elizabeth Guild)
- Ex Officio: Rev. Romeo Bacalso
Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful serve the parish through a rotating schedule of liturgical ministries, with assignments published on the parish website for each month.
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Money Counters
- Music Ministry (Music Director: Mary Ann Starkey)
Faith Formation & OCIA
Religious education for children and youth is coordinated by the DRE, Mandy James, with contact through the parish office. Adults preparing for full reception into the Catholic Church are served through the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, coordinated by Mike Nunan.
- DRE: Mandy James — [email protected] — (304) 612-7167
- OCIA Coordinator: Mike Nunan — [email protected]
Contact, Office & Online Giving
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office three mornings a week. The parish supports online giving through its website and provides regular updates on parish fundraising goals such as the diocesan Sharing Appeal.
- Parish Office: 1660 Mary Lou Retton Dr., Fairmont, WV 26554
- Phone: (304) 363-1328
- Fax: (304) 363-1317
- Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday — 9:00 AM to Noon
- Website: http://www.sahswv.org
- Online giving available through the parish website
Two-Parish Grouping with Holy Spirit, Monongah
St. Anthony shares pastoral leadership and staff with Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 687 Maple Terrace, Monongah, WV 26554. Holy Spirit's office is open Wednesday and Thursday mornings and can be reached at (304) 534-3020. Its Mass schedule includes a Saturday 4:00 PM vigil, Sunday 9:00 AM, and weekday Masses at 8:30 AM on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Holy Spirit address: 687 Maple Terrace, Monongah, WV 26554
- Holy Spirit phone: (304) 534-3020
- Holy Spirit office: Wed & Thu 9:00 AM – Noon
- Holy Spirit Masses: Sat 4:00 PM, Sun 9:00 AM, Tue/Wed 8:30 AM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Dene1964 (founding pastor)
Listed in the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston history as the first pastor when St. Anthony Parish in Fairmont was established in 1964.