St. Anthony of Padua

About St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lansing, located at 11 North Broad Street in downtown Hillsdale, Michigan. Organized in 1853 and serving as the only Catholic parish in Hillsdale County, it ministers to families, college students at nearby Hillsdale College, and rural Catholics across the county. Its mission statement, prominently displayed on the parish website, reads: 'In the fullness of time, God came into the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth to rescue us from sin and give us abundant life. As a family of missionary disciples, we respond to His grace by worshipping Him through the sacraments with reverence and joy, proclaiming the truth, and serving the people of Hillsdale County with love.'

Parish History

Catholicism came to Hillsdale County in the 1840s with Irish railroad workers who settled on local farms. In 1853 the missionary priest Rev. Joseph Kindekens of Adrian gathered eighty-five of them to formally organize St. Anthony's parish. A former Presbyterian church on the present site served as the first house of worship. In 1858 Rev. Charles Ryckaert became the first resident pastor and built the rectory; in 1878 the twenty-three-year-old Rev. Peter Slane arrived and soon set in motion the construction of a far larger church. The old church was razed, the cornerstone was laid on August 30, 1883, contractors W. H. Myers and Son pushed the work forward, and Bishop Casper Borgess of Detroit dedicated the completed Gothic Revival building on June 15, 1884. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 20, 1989 and marked by the Michigan Historical Commission in 1991.

• 1840s — Irish railroad workers settle in Hillsdale County
• 1853 — Rev. Joseph Kindekens organizes St. Anthony's parish (85 members)
• 1858 — Rev. Charles Ryckaert becomes first resident pastor; builds rectory
• 1878 — Rev. Peter Slane arrives at age 23; plans the present church
• August 30, 1883 — Cornerstone laid
• June 15, 1884 — Dedicated by Bishop Casper Borgess
• 1955 — Parochial school opens
• 1985 — Parochial school closes
• April 20, 1989 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• 1991 — Michigan Historical Marker (L1645) erected
• 2012 — Fr. David Reamsnyder appointed pastor
• 2025 — Voted most beautiful church in Hillsdale County

Architecture & Historic Building

The 1884 building is a spired Gothic Revival brick church built by the local contracting firm W. H. Myers and Son (also builders of the Hillsdale County Jail and the Keefer House hotel). The original architect is unknown. The interior features a high vaulted ceiling, warm-toned lighting reminiscent of candlelight, stained-glass windows — including a 1925 lancet of antique/cathedral glass depicting the anchor of Hope and crossed keys of the Pope — and a large gilded crucifix set against a red backdrop above the altar. At its dedication it was the second-largest church in Hillsdale County.

• Style: Gothic Revival / Neo-Gothic
• Materials: brick façade with stone (most stone donated by parishioner P. Riley)
• Builders: W. H. Myers & Son of Hillsdale
• Cornerstone: August 30, 1883
• Spire topped by a cross
• 1925 stained-glass lancet (anchor & keys)
• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, April 20, 1989
• Michigan Historical Marker L1645 (1991)

Clergy, Staff & Parish Council

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. David Reamsnyder, assisted by Associate Priest Rev. Paul Xavier and Deacons Aaron Petersen and John Crowley. Day-to-day parish operations are handled by Director of Parish Life Erin Karlovich, Music Director Ryan Servold, Office Manager John Biscaro, Office Assistant Katy Caspar, Youth Faith Formation Director Mary Ann Powers, Youth Group Coordinator Anne Schmitt, Custodian Diana McCosh, and Maintenance lead Jacob Coonradt. The St. Anthony Family Center is coordinated by Lawrence Peter. Parish Council meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Conference Room and serves as an advisory board to the pastor; any active adult parishioner may request to be considered for a seat.

• Rev. David Reamsnyder — Pastor
• Rev. Paul Xavier — Associate Priest
• Deacon Aaron Petersen
• Deacon John Crowley
• Erin Karlovich — Director of Parish Life
• Ryan Servold — Music Director
• John Biscaro — Office Manager
• Katy Caspar — Office Assistant
• Mary Ann Powers — Youth Faith Formation Director
• Anne Schmitt — Youth Group Coordinator
• Diana McCosh — Custodian
• Jacob Coonradt — Maintenance
• Lawrence Peter — St. Anthony Family Center
• Parish Council — meets 3rd Thursday, 7:00 PM

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

Faith formation at St. Anthony's spans age 3 through high school. The parish runs age-appropriate catechetical classes, a Youth Group coordinated by Anne Schmitt, and a Children's Choir with two tracks (grades 1–4 and grades 5–8) alongside an Adult Choir open to anyone of high-school age and older. Adult initiation (OCIA — formerly RCIA) Inquiry sessions meet regularly. The parish also supports engaged and married couples through Natural Family Planning classes, currently coordinated by Maria Ansett.

• Faith Formation ages 3 through high school
• Children's Choir (grades 1–4 and 5–8)
• Adult Choir
• Youth Group
• OCIA Inquiry
• Natural Family Planning classes

Parish Ministries & Groups

The parish supports a wide range of lay-led ministries for prayer, fellowship, formation, and service. Long-standing organizations include the Council of Catholic Women (CCW) and the Knights of Columbus; newer offerings include Life in the Spirit seminars, an Intercessory Prayer Team, Discipleship & Small Groups, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, and an Interior Prayer Group. Liturgical roles are filled by Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors, and boys who have received their First Holy Communion are invited to serve as Altar Servers.

• Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
• Knights of Columbus
• Life in the Spirit Seminars
• Intercessory Prayer Team
• Discipleship & Small Groups
• Eucharistic Ministers
• Lectors
• Altar Servers
• Mother's Rosary Group
• Men's Nights (monthly)
• Women's Recollection Nights
• Prayer Shawl Ministry
• Interior Prayer Group

Sacraments

Information about the seven sacraments is available through the parish office. The parish prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation through its faith-formation programs; adults seeking full initiation are welcomed through OCIA. Couples preparing for marriage are encouraged to contact the parish office, and Natural Family Planning instruction is offered. The Anointing of the Sick is available to those in need of healing or facing surgery, and the pastor is available for Last Rites.

• Baptism
• First Holy Communion
• Confirmation
• Marriage (with NFP preparation)
• Anointing of the Sick
• OCIA (adult initiation)
• Eucharistic Adoration & Confession

Hillsdale College Campus Ministry (The Grotto)

St. Anthony's operates a dedicated campus-ministry program for students at nearby Hillsdale College. The parish owns a residence called 'The Grotto' in close proximity to the college, where married campus ministers live and host students for hospitality, weekday adoration and confessions (noon to 5:00 PM during the school year), small groups, Bible studies, and mentoring. The campus ministers work alongside the Director of Parish Life to build a collegiate discipleship pathway that focuses on relational ministry, mentorship, small groups, and Bible studies, and they also serve as the visible heads of outreach from St. Anthony's to the student body.

• The Grotto — parish-owned campus-ministry residence
• Weekday adoration & confessions noon–5:00 PM (school year)
• Small groups, Bible studies, and mentoring for students
• Director of Parish Life coordinates collegiate discipleship pathway

Bulletin, Events & Calendar

The parish publishes a weekly bulletin (most recent: June 7, 2026) with archived copies going back through the spring of 2026, available on the parish website. A regularly updated parish calendar includes recurring events such as Morning Prayer in the Church (6:50–7:20 AM), the weekly Rosary at the Courthouse (Sundays, 3:00–4:00 PM), the annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession, Knights of Columbus meetings, Council of Catholic Women meetings, OCIA Inquiry, and the summer Parish Picnic at Owens Memorial Park (280 Water Works Ave).

• Weekly bulletin (current and archived)
• Parish Calendar with Mass times, devotions, and meetings
• Parish Picnic at Owens Memorial Park
• Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession
• Rosary at the Courthouse (Sundays)
• Knights of Columbus monthly meeting