About St. Anthony of Padua (Allston) · Boston, Massachusetts
St. Anthony of Padua Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston. Founded in 1885 and built in the 1890s as an overflow from nearby St. Columbkille's in Brighton, the parish today worships in both English and Brazilian Portuguese, serving longtime Allston residents, students from neighboring Harvard Business School and Boston University, and a large Brazilian Catholic community. The parish describes itself as a 'Diverse Yet United Catholic Community,' offering daily and Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, religious education for children, and a daily radio ministry called The Voice of St. Anthony Parish Allston.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Robert J. Carr
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is a bilingual Catholic home in the heart of Allston where English-speakers and the Brazilian community worship side by side. The parish keeps a rich sacramental life — daily Mass, three Sunday Portuguese Masses plus an English Mass with coffee and donuts after, Wednesday evening Eucharistic Adoration with the priest available for confession, and Saturday confessions. It offers religious education in both English and Portuguese, broadcasts a daily radio program (The Voice of St. Anthony Parish Allston), and welcomes Harvard and BU students, longtime residents, and new families equally into one community.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua (Allston)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM (during Adoration, priest available)
- Saturday 3:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (priest available for Confession)
About St. Anthony of Padua Parish
St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Allston, MA was founded in 1885 and is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston. The parish describes itself as a 'Diverse Yet United Catholic Community,' welcoming longtime Allston residents, students from neighboring Harvard Business School and Boston University, and a sizable Brazilian Catholic community. The parish mission statement centers on the Liturgy and the Sacraments as sources of spiritual strength and commits the community to extending its faith through education, stewardship, and outreach.
- Founded 1885
- Bilingual: English and Brazilian Portuguese
- Located in Allston, near Harvard Business School and Boston University
- Part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston
- Motto referenced by member Mary Codair: 'Times have changed we all know, things will never be the same, but we all point with pride to St. Anthony's name.'
History of the Parish
St. Anthony of Padua began in 1885 to serve Allston Catholics who had outgrown nearby St. Columbkille's in Brighton. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1894, and construction was still underway in 1895. Archdiocese records — baptisms, marriages, confirmations — survive from 1896 onward. Over more than 130 years the parish has weathered depression, setbacks, and strife, sustained by the faith of its members and the inspiration of its clergy.
- 1885: Parish founded
- 1894: Cornerstone laid for the present church
- 1895: Church still under construction per James S. Sullivan's One Hundred Years of Progress
- Late 19th c.: Rectory, school, and convent added to the complex
- 20th–21st c.: Welcomed a large Brazilian Catholic community; began offering Portuguese Masses
Architecture of the Church
The church was designed in 1894 by Franz Joseph Untersee (1858–1927), a Swiss architect trained at the University of Stuttgart in Germany. He was a leading American advocate of the German Romanesque Revival (Rundbogenstil) for Catholic churches, and his Allston design — particularly its triple-arched facade — directly influenced Boston Catholic architects Patrick W. Ford and Charles D. Maginnis. Maginnis reused the same facade motif for his nearby St. John's Seminary chapel (1899–1901). The full St. Anthony's complex of church, rectory, school, and convent still anchors the surrounding residential neighborhood that grew up to serve the blue-collar Catholic families of late-nineteenth-century Allston.
- Architect: Franz Joseph Untersee (1858–1927)
- Year designed: 1894
- Style: German Romanesque Revival (Rundbogenstil)
- Distinguishing feature: triple-arched facade
- Influenced Charles D. Maginnis's St. John's Seminary chapel (1899–1901)
Religious Education
The parish runs a Sunday-school-style religious education program for children in two languages. English-language classes meet Sunday mornings from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM, and Brazilian Portuguese classes meet Saturday evenings from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
- English Classes: Sundays 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
- Brazilian Classes: Saturdays 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
The Voice of St. Anthony Parish Allston — Daily Radio Ministry
Beyond the church walls, the parish operates a daily radio program called 'The Voice of St. Anthony Parish Allston,' dedicated to Christian education and outreach. The broadcast is meant to keep parishioners and listeners connected to each other and to the Lord, and the parish welcomes testimonials from those who tune in.
- Daily radio broadcast: The Voice of St. Anthony Parish Allston
- Purpose: Christian education and outreach beyond the parish building
- Parish invites testimonials from listeners
Reflections and Homilies
The parish website curates two reflection resources: 'Writings from the Catholic Abbey to the Secular World,' a collection of articles, short stories, and reflections from parishioners applying Christ's teachings to daily life; and a homilies archive that walks readers through the Sunday Scripture readings to deepen understanding of the Good News.
- Writings from the Catholic Abbey to the Secular World
- Homilies archive
Giving and Stewardship
The parish accepts donations both online and in person. Online giving is available through PayPal, and the parish publishes a Finance Report (most recently FY 2022–2023) on its website. A weekly bulletin keeps parishioners informed of parish news and upcoming events.
- Online giving via PayPal
- Finance Report FY 2022–2023 available on the website
- Weekly parish bulletin
Staff and Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Robert J. Carr, who was appointed Pastor by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., effective June 1, 2023. The Archdiocese of Boston directory also lists Rev. Francisco C. Martins Silva as Administrator. Supporting the clergy are Ms. Anne Marie Cleary (Liturgy and Music) and Mr. William Healy (Operations).
- Rev. Robert J. Carr — Pastor (since 2023)
- Rev. Francisco C. Martins Silva — Administrator
- Ms. Anne Marie Cleary — Liturgy and Music
- Mr. William Healy — Operations
Visit and Contact
St. Anthony of Padua Parish is located at 43 Holton Street, Allston, MA 02134, in the heart of Allston near Harvard Business School and Boston University. The parish office can be reached at 617-782-0775 or [email protected], and visitors of every race, gender, and age are warmly welcomed into the community.
- Address: 43 Holton Street, Allston, MA 02134
- Phone: 617-782-0775
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stanthonyallston.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis M. Glynnthrough Sept. 24, 2018
Resigned as Pastor; Cardinal O'Malley granted him Senior Priest/Retirement Status.
- Rev. Robert J. Carr2023–present
Appointed by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley effective June 1, 2023 as pastor (second-or-third appointment).