About St. Anthony of Padua · Atlanta, Georgia
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is a historic, predominantly African-American Roman Catholic parish in Atlanta's West End neighborhood, founded in 1903 as the third Catholic community established in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The parish sits at 928 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW, at the intersection with Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard, and its current sanctuary dates to 1924. It is one of seven historically Black Catholic parishes served by the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Black Catholic Ministry, and it also hosts the Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community of Atlanta (NICCA), weaving African-American and African Catholic traditions into a single, welcoming community of roughly 400 families.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Father Desmond Drummer
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Atlanta and a nationally recognized center of Black Catholic life in the West End, where parishioners of African descent have worshipped continuously since 1903. Visitors and members encounter a culturally diverse, predominantly African-American faith family of about 400 households that takes seriously its mission to share its Black Catholic heritage, its strong sacramental life (daily Eucharist, weekly Eucharistic adoration, and regular reconciliation), and concrete outreach—from supporting the Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of St. Joseph who once staffed its school, to publishing the Chronicles of Atlanta Catholicism (1932–1962), to welcoming the Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community of Atlanta for monthly Igbo Masses. For anyone seeking a historic, welcoming parish where African-American and African Catholic traditions meet, St. Anthony offers deep roots, beautiful stained glass, and a vibrant, intergenerational community.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM (during Eucharistic Adoration)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History & Heritage
Founded in 1903 as the third Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, St. Anthony of Padua has been a continuous presence in Atlanta's West End for more than 120 years. The parish was conceived in 1902 by Esther LaRose Harris (wife of Uncle Remus author Joel Chandler Harris) and a circle of Catholic women who organized the Catholic Ladies Aid Society to overcome the lack of Catholic churches and schools in the West End. The first Mass was celebrated on the Feast of St. Anthony, June 13, 1903, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Corley at 742 Laton Street SW, with 55 worshippers from 24 families; Bishop Benjamin Keily formally dedicated the parish on September 20, 1903. Ground was broken for a new church in 1911 and the present sanctuary was dedicated January 15, 1924. The parish school opened in 1912 with the Sisters of Mercy, was later taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and closed in spring 2001. From 1932 to 1962 parishioners published the Chronicles of Atlanta Catholicism: St. Anthony's Catholic News, a citywide Catholic newspaper still cited by historians. Three major renovations—1940, 1994–96, and 2022—have shaped the current building.
- First Mass: June 13, 1903, at 742 Laton Street SW
- Formal parish dedication: September 20, 1903 by Bishop Benjamin Keily
- Present church dedicated: January 15, 1924
- Parish school opened 1912; closed spring 2001
- Chronicles of Atlanta Catholicism published 1932–1962
- Renovations: 1940, 1994–96, and 2022
- 2022 capital campaign: 'Our Church, Our Future,' $2 million goal
Architecture & Stained Glass
The current sanctuary dates to 1924 and is celebrated for its stained-glass windows, which an Atlanta Urban Design Commission assessment identified as both extraordinary and 'at risk' due to age. The 2022 renovation, designed by Smith Boland Architects for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, covered roughly 8,700 square feet across three levels and preserved the traditional architecture of the historic structure while modernizing its systems and accessibility. The work included new finishes, furniture and lighting in the worship space and parish hall, a communicating staircase linking nave and parish hall, code-compliant restrooms, exterior accessibility improvements, a flexible nave seating arrangement, a new reconciliation space, and a reconfigured sanctuary platform that brings the priest closer to the congregation. State-of-the-art lighting and a new sound system with live-streaming capacity were also installed.
- 1924 sanctuary with notable stained-glass windows
- Renovation architect: Smith Boland Architects
- Client: Archdiocese of Atlanta; area ~8,700 sq ft
- Three-level building: nave, parish hall, lower level
- New reconciliation space and flexible nave seating
- Live-streaming audio-visual capability added 2022
Liturgy & Worship
St. Anthony of Padua celebrates Sunday Eucharist at 9:00 AM and offers weekly Eucharistic Adoration with the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Ash Wednesday is observed with a 7:00 AM Liturgy of the Word and Distribution of Ashes and a 7:00 PM Mass with Ashes. The Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community of Atlanta (NICCA) celebrates a monthly Igbo Mass at 2:00 PM on the second Sunday of each month.
- Sunday Eucharist: 9:00 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Reconciliation: Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM (during Adoration)
- Ash Wednesday: 7:00 AM (Liturgy of the Word) and 7:00 PM (Mass)
- Monthly NICCA Igbo Mass: 2:00 PM on the second Sunday
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Anthony of Padua is directed by Angela Linton and serves children from kindergarten through 12th grade, with annual fall registration for the catechetical year. Adult inquiry and formation is offered through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), coordinated by Janise Miller, which includes an Inquiry phase for those exploring Catholicism and a Catechumenate phase for those preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Adult Confirmation is integrated into the RCIA process, and a separate Teen Confirmation program is also offered.
- K–12 Youth Catechesis (Director: Angela Linton)
- RCIA — Inquiry phase and Catechumenate phase
- Adult Confirmation (via RCIA)
- Teen Confirmation program
- RCIA Coordinator: Janise Miller (404) 753-7738
Music Ministry
Music is central to worship at St. Anthony, with choirs and ensembles coordinated by Director of Music Ministry John Beal III. The parish supports an Adult Choir, a Young Adult Choir (YAC) that performs on occasion, and a Children's Choir. The 2022 renovation upgraded the sanctuary's sound system with live-streaming capacity to support the parish's liturgical music program and broader evangelization.
- Adult Choir
- Young Adult Choir (YAC)
- Children's Choir
- Director of Music Ministry: John Beal III
Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community of Atlanta (NICCA)
The Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community of Atlanta (NICCA) worships monthly at St. Anthony of Padua, weaving African and African-American Catholic traditions into a single welcoming community. NICCA is chaplained by Rev. Dr. Paschal Amagba, C.M.F. (pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Church) and maintains its own liturgy, Mass-intentions, Sunday School, youth, music, usher, social, and prayer ministries, along with a Catholic Women's Organization and a Catholic Men's Organization. NICCA also partners with the Pan African Catholic Organization of Atlanta (PACOA) and connects to the wider Igbo Catholic Community USA (ICCUSA).
- Chaplain: Rev. Dr. Paschal Amagba, C.M.F.
- Liturgy Coordinator: Chinwe Ejikeme
- Chairperson: Colet I. Odenigbo
- Monthly Igbo Mass: 2:00 PM on the second Sunday
- Sub-ministries: Membership, Sunday School, Social, Usher, Music, Youth, CPM, CWO, CMO, DOHS
Black Catholic Heritage & Outreach
St. Anthony of Padua is one of seven predominantly African-American parishes served by the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Office of Black Catholic Ministry, which works as pastoral consultants and advocates for African-American and African Catholic communities. The parish celebrates an annual Mass in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with youth celebration and volunteer opportunities, supports the National Black Catholic Congress via sponsoring delegates, and promotes the causes of the 'Saintly Seven' Black American candidates for canonization. The parish also partners with PACOA to support African Catholic communities in the archdiocese.
- Named in Archdiocese of Atlanta's Black Catholic Ministry as one of seven historically Black parishes
- Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass and Youth Celebration
- Promotion of the Saintly Seven (including Venerable Augustus Tolton, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Venerable Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, Venerable Henriette Delille, Servant of God Julia Greeley, Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, and Servant of God Father Martin de Porres Ward)
- PACOA (Pan African Catholic Organization of Atlanta) partnership
Our Church, Our Future — Capital Campaign
In 2022 the parish completed the 'Our Church, Our Future' capital campaign, a $2 million effort to renovate the 1924 sanctuary and parish hall for a new generation. Designed by Smith Boland Architects, the project renovated the sanctuary, nave, vestibule, sacristy, bathrooms, parish hall, and kitchen, built a new stairwell connecting the parish hall to the nave, installed new kitchen equipment, and introduced state-of-the-art lighting and a new sound system with live-streaming capacity. According to the parish, ninety percent of parishioners surveyed ranked renovation of the main level of the church as important, underscoring the community's investment in preserving its historic worship space.
- Campaign goal: $2 million
- Completed: 2022
- Architect: Smith Boland Architects
- Scope: sanctuary, nave, vestibule, sacristy, bathrooms, parish hall, kitchen, stairwell, lighting, sound, live-streaming
- 90% of surveyed parishioners prioritized renovation of the main level
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father O.N. Jackson1903–
St. Anthony's first pastor; concelebrated the formal parish dedication on September 20, 1903 with Bishop Benjamin Keily and Father John Gunn, SM.
- Father Harry Clark
Early pastor listed on the parish's official history page.
- Father James Conlin
Pastor during the early twentieth century.
- Father Joseph Croke
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Joseph Smith
Pastor of the parish.
- Father James King
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Donald Kiernan
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Michael McKeever
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Eusebius Beltran
Pastor of the parish.
- Father John Adamski
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Bruce Wilkinson
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Hugh Marren
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Thomas Meehan
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Craig David
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Anthony Curran
Pastor of the parish.
- Father Timothy A. Gadziala
Pastor of the parish; served immediately before Father Galier.
- Very Reverend Victor A. Galier, V.F.
Listed as pastor (Very Reverend, Vicar Forane) on the September 2021 parish bulletin ([email protected]); led the parish through the 'Our Church, Our Future' capital campaign completed in 2022.
- Father Desmond Drummer2023–present
Current pastor, installed July 1, 2023.