About St. Anthony of Padua · Lancaster, Pennsylvania
St. Anthony of Padua is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, founded in 1870 to serve the growing German-Catholic population on the east side of the city. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Harrisburg and is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Lancaster, with a richly layered history that has welcomed German, Italian, Hispanic, and Vietnamese Catholics over the decades. Today it offers weekend and daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, Eucharistic Adoration, a Religious Education program, a Youth Ministry, the parish chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and an active music ministry, and is home to the Vietnamese Catholic Community's weekly Vietnamese-language Mass in the Lower Church.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Morelli
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua offers a warm, multigenerational community rooted in 155 years of Catholic tradition in the heart of Lancaster. Parishioners can worship at a Saturday Vigil or two Sunday Masses in English, attend a daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, pray before the Blessed Sacrament at First Friday Adoration, or join the Vietnamese Catholic Community for weekly Vietnamese Mass in the Lower Church. The parish also runs a Religious Education program, a Youth Ministry, an active music ministry, a St. Vincent de Paul conference for those in need, and a Special Needs Advocacy effort, all supported by a Parish Pastoral Council and staff dedicated to families and the wider neighborhood.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM (no Confession during Holy Week)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM
History of Our Parish
St. Anthony of Padua was founded in January 1870 as a parish for the German Catholics settling on the east side of Lancaster, when Father Anthony Kaul—himself the first priest ordained for the newly formed Diocese of Harrisburg—was just 24. Bishop Jeremiah F. Shanahan dedicated the church on May 17, 1875, and consecrated it debt-free on September 24, 1895. The parish grew around Father Kaul's vision for Catholic education, served from 1877 onward by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and later by Sacred Heart Academy across the street, until that school was closed in 1958 and razed in 1963 to make way for today's parish parking lot. Msgr. Kaul himself served as pastor for 65 years before his death in 1935, and was followed by an extraordinary line of pastors and Redemptorist fathers. The parish's history page on the official site, written by parish historian Dianne, is a deeply illustrated chronicle of pastors, schoolchildren, choir directors, organ fundraisers, parish picnics, and the German, Italian, Hispanic, and Vietnamese communities that have all called St. Anthony's home.
- Founded 1870 for German Catholics of east Lancaster
- Church dedicated May 17, 1875; consecrated September 24, 1895
- Sisters of the Holy Cross served the parish school from 1877; last Sisters departed Lancaster in 2003
- Sacred Heart Academy closed 1958, razed 1963; site is now the parish parking lot
- Parish historian Dianne has organized archives, photos, and relics into bound volumes
Pastoral Succession
St. Anthony's has been served by an unusually long and well-documented succession of pastors. Founder Msgr. Anthony Kaul (1870–1934) was followed by a brief caretaker pastorship of future Bishop George L. Leech, then Rev. Louis Yeager, Rev. Herman Gies (1936–1945), Rev. Paul A. Gieringer (1947–1952), Rev. Robert Hartnett (1952–1963), and Rev. Alphonse Marcincavage (1963–1967). In 1967, Bishop Leech asked the Baltimore Province of the Redemptorists to take over, beginning a 38-year CSsR era under Fathers Charles O'Leary, Wallace Berrier, Joseph McManus, William Geiger, E. Patrick Lynch, Francis Collins, Charles McDonald, and Patrick McGarrity. Diocesan priests returned in 2005 with Revs. Daniel Mitzel and Lawrence Coakley, then Fr. Daniel O'Brien in June 2014, and the current pastor, Rev. Matthew Morelli, appointed by Bishop Ronald Gainer in October 2020.
Vietnamese Catholic Community
Since 1986, the Vietnamese Catholic Community of Lancaster has used St. Anthony's Lower Church for its weekly Sunday Mass, celebrated in Vietnamese under the pastoral care of Fr. Hoa Nguyen. Vietnamese parishioners often join the English daily Mass and frequently gather in the Lower Church for devotions. During the months of May and October, the community gathers every night to pray the Rosary and sing praise to God.
- Weekly Vietnamese Mass in the Lower Church
- Nightly Rosary in May and October
- Pastoral care provided by Fr. Hoa Nguyen
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education program (CCD) is led by Director of Religious Education Mrs. Alyson Dreer. The program has deep roots: Father Kaul's basement classrooms taught boys and girls separately with lay teachers before the Holy Cross Sisters arrived in 1873, and the parish school served the community for more than a century. Today, sacramental preparation and ongoing faith formation are coordinated through the parish office, with families supported by the parish school community at Resurrection Catholic School.
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Alyson Dreer
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and other sacraments
- Connection to Resurrection Catholic School
Youth Ministry
St. Anthony's has a long history of vibrant youth ministry, going back to Fr. Travers and the Redemptorist era when the parish Youth Club ran kitchen duties for parish events, hosted basketball championships through Lancaster Catholic High School, and produced Living Stations of the Cross each Lent. Today the parish continues that tradition with a Youth Ministry program coordinated by Alyson Dreer and supported by the parish council.
- Long-running youth groups since the Redemptorist era
- Annual Living Stations of the Cross
- Connection to Lancaster Catholic High School athletics and activities
Music & Liturgy
Music has been central to St. Anthony's since the founding era, when Sister Stanislaus (Father Kaul's own sister) ran a music conservatory across from the rectory that became the nucleus of Sacred Heart Academy. The parish choir today is led by Director of Music Ministry Mr. Robert Grabowski, and the church is blessed with a ca. 1915 Gottfried pipe organ that has led worship since 1939. A major 1974 restoration campaign—spearheaded by parishioner William Mowery—raised $25,000 to overhaul the organ, and ongoing capital efforts continue to support the instrument. Even Msgr. Kaul famously ignored Pope St. Pius X's decree against female voices in choirs, so essential were the women of the parish choir.
- Director of Music Ministry: Mr. Robert Grabowski
- ca. 1915 Gottfried pipe organ (installed 1939; restored 1974)
- Parish choir with deep historical roots
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Anthony's life goes well beyond the liturgy. The St. Vincent de Paul Association of St. Anthony of Padua Parish serves those in material need in Lancaster. The Parish Pastoral Council (led by Mr. Al Ricci) guides the parish's mission and planning, while Mrs. Kathy Schober coordinates the parish's Special Needs Advocacy ministry. Parishioners also support Lancaster Catholic High School (President Bill Childs, Principal Sean Van Eman) and Resurrection Catholic School. A Parish Family Newsletter insert has historically been included monthly with the bulletin to share births, deaths, baptisms, and weddings of parishioners.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Anthony of Padua Parish
- Parish Pastoral Council (Mr. Al Ricci)
- Special Needs Advocacy (Mrs. Kathy Schober)
- Support for Lancaster Catholic High School and Resurrection Catholic School
- Capital Campaign for Lower Church renovations
- Online Giving / Parish Weekly Donation
Parish Staff & Leadership
Day-to-day parish life is led by Pastor Rev. Matthew Morelli, supported by a team of parish and school staff. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Pastor: Rev. Matthew Morelli
- Secretary: Mrs. Sharon Ickes
- Bookkeeper: Ms. Shelby Ickes
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Alyson Dreer
- Director of Music Ministry: Mr. Robert Grabowski
- Special Needs Advocacy: Mrs. Kathy Schober
- Parish Pastoral Council: Mr. Al Ricci
- St. Vincent de Paul Association contact
- Lancaster Catholic High School: Bill Childs (President), Sean Van Eman (Principal)
Facilities & Visiting
The parish campus includes the upper church with its Carrera marble interior and ca. 1915 Gottfried organ; the Lower Church, which hosts the Vietnamese Catholic Community and devotions; a parish parking lot on the site of the former Sacred Heart Academy; and the former Holy Cross convent at 533 East Orange Street, which now houses ministries, religious education, and activity groups, with a chapel that remains available around the clock for parishioners' meditation. The Diocese of Harrisburg venue listing notes that the church, parking, restrooms, and social hall are all accessible.
- 501 East Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
- Office phone: 717-394-0669
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Lower Church used for Vietnamese Mass and devotions
- Former convent chapel open 24 hours for meditation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Anthony Kaul1870–1934
Founder and first pastor; first priest ordained by Bishop Shanahan for the new Diocese of Harrisburg; served 65 years; elevated to Monsignor by Pope Benedict XV in 1918; resigned 1934 due to failing eyesight; died 1935.
- Most Rev. George L. Leech1935 (less than one month)
Auxiliary bishop of Harrisburg appointed pastor of St. Anthony's after Msgr. Kaul's death; left within a month to become Bishop of Harrisburg after Bishop McDevitt died.
- Rev. Louis Yeager1935–1936 (administrator), 1945–1947 (pastor)
Had served as Msgr. Kaul's assistant; returned as pastor after Fr. Gies.
- Rev. Herman Gies1936–1945
Instituted many parish improvements including a parish quarterly, new organ from the Pergola Theatre in Allentown, and bingo fundraisers.
- Rev. Paul A. Gieringer1947–1952
Amateur architect who designed the church interior and brought in the Carrera marble during the 1949 renovation.
- Rev. Robert Hartnett1952–1963
Continued Gieringer's renovation work; resigned for health reasons.
- Rev. Alphonse Marcincavage1963–1967
Oversaw closure and razing of Sacred Heart Academy (1958–1963) and creation of the parish parking lot.
- Rev. Charles O'Leary, CSsR1967–1970
First Redemptorist pastor, appointed when the Baltimore Province took over the parish.
- Rev. Wallace Berrier, CSsR1970–1972
Administrator (Redemptorist).
- Rev. Joseph McManus, CSsR1972–1978
Redemptorist pastor.
- Rev. William Geiger1978–1984
Redemptorist pastor who oversaw the exterior renovation of the church.
- Rev. E. Patrick Lynch1984–1990
Redemptorist pastor; completed interior refurbishing of the church by 1988.
- Rev. Francis Collins, CSsR1990–1993
Redemptorist pastor.
- Rev. Charles McDonald, CSsR1993–1999
Redemptorist pastor.
- Rev. Patrick McGarrity, CSsR1999–2005
Last Redemptorist pastor; oversaw departure of the Holy Cross Sisters from Lancaster in 2003 after 130 years.
- Rev. Daniel Mitzel2005–
Appointed by the Bishop with Rev. Lawrence Coakley in 2005 when the Redemptorist ministry ended.
- Rev. Lawrence Coakley2005–
Appointed alongside Fr. Mitzel in 2005.
- Rev. Daniel O'Brien2014–2020
Appointed by Bishop Ronald Gainer, June 2014.
- Rev. Matthew Morelli2020–
Current pastor; appointed by Bishop Ronald Gainer, October 2020.