St. Anthony of Padua

Welcome to St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in Revere, Massachusetts, part of the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish identifies itself as a faith-filled, growing community rooted in more than a century of Italian-American devotion to St. Anthony and now welcoming English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics. Visitors are invited to join for Mass, get involved in parish ministries, or learn more about the sacraments through the parish website.

Parish History

The parish traces its origins to 1904, when Italian Catholics in Revere petitioned Archbishop John Williams for an Italian-speaking priest. A basement church was completed in 1906 on the site of today's Friendly Gardens, and in 1910 Fr. Ernesto Rovai was installed as pastor, establishing St. Anthony's as the only Italian National Church outside of Boston. The present, palatial church was begun in 1924 and completed in 1943 under Fr. Guido Pallotta, whose commissioned sculptor Charles H. Pizzano created the wooden statues still in the church. In 2001 the parish merged with St. Theresa and St. John Vianney under Fr. Rocco Guarino, who led a full interior renovation in 2002. Fr. George Butera succeeded him in 2011, and the current pastor, Fr. Karunaya Xavier Arulraj, was appointed administrator in 2019 and pastor in 2023.

• 1904 — Mission established at the request of Revere's Italian Catholic community
• 1906 — First church basement completed and consecrated on Revere Street
• 1910 — Fr. Ernesto Rovai installed; parish designated an 'Italian National Church'
• 1924–1926 — Construction of the larger church begins; first Mass in the new structure on June 6, 1926
• 1943 — Fr. Guido Pallotta appointed; church completed to present form on October 3, 1943
• 1975 — Fr. Joseph Veneto succeeds Pallotta; builds religious education center and chapel
• 1986 — Fr. Dominic Menna takes over
• 2001 — Merger of St. Anthony of Padua, St. Theresa, and St. John Vianney; Fr. Rocco Guarino named first pastor
• 2002 — Major interior renovation (cleaning, repainting, new pews)
• 2011 — Fr. George Butera appointed pastor
• 2019 — Fr. Karunaya Xavier Arulraj appointed Administrator; Fr. Butera retires after 51 years
• 2023 — Fr. Xavier appointed Pastor

Pastor and Staff

The parish is led by Rev. Karunaya Xavier Arulraj, who was ordained April 14, 1996 in India, arrived at St. Anthony's as Parochial Vicar on June 19, 2012, and has served as Administrator since 2019 and Pastor since 2023. He is assisted by a Parochial Vicar, Senior Deacon Joseph A. Belmonte, Faith Formation Administrator Donna Felzani, and Finance & Operations Manager Maryann Giorgio. Fr. George Butera continues to assist with the Saturday 4:00 PM Mass from Regina Cleri.

• Pastor: Rev. Karunaya Xavier Arulraj (Ext. 17)
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Paul Ugwu (Ext. 13)
• Senior Deacon: Joseph A. Belmonte (Ext. 11)
• Administrator of Faith Formation: Donna Felzani (Ext. 22)
• Finance & Operations Manager: Maryann Giorgio (Ext. 10)

Faith Formation and Religious Education

The parish Faith Formation program, led by Donna Felzani, prepares children in Grades 1 through Confirmation 2 for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Classes meet on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15, with students and families encouraged to attend Mass together. Children aged 7 and older who have not yet been baptized can also enter the program and receive the sacraments of initiation, typically baptized in the spring before First Penance and First Communion. The program's annual Opening Family Mass is held the third Sunday of September, followed by a 'Meet the Teacher' gathering in the parish hall.

• First Communion preparation begins in Grade 1
• Confirmation preparation for Grades 7–8 (Confirmation 1 and Confirmation 2)
• Class times: Sunday 9:15–10:15 AM
• Rite of Election and spring baptisms for unbaptized children preparing for First Communion
• Opening Family Mass: third Sunday of September at 10:30 AM
• Annual 'Meet the Teacher' meeting in the parish hall

Sacraments

The parish celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Baptism is offered monthly, with required preparation classes for parents and godparents. Marriage preparation begins at least a year in advance and uses the Archdiocese of Boston's 'Transformed in Love' program. Confession is available at the regular weekly times or by appointment.

• Baptism: 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 2:00 PM in the main church
• Baptism Preparation: 1st Thursday of each month, 7:00–8:00 PM in the Chapel on Breed Street
• First Communion & Confirmation: through the Faith Formation program
• Marriage: at least one year of preparation via 'Transformed in Love'
• Confession: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM, Tuesday 6:00–6:45 PM, or by appointment

Parish Building and Architecture

The present St. Anthony of Padua church on Revere Street is a large, palatial Italian Catholic church begun in 1924 and completed to its present form on October 3, 1943. The interior is filled with hand-carved life-sized wooden statues and artwork created by sculptor Charles H. Pizzano, often called the 'Michelangelo of Saint Anthony's.' After years of soot damage from candles, Fr. Rocco Guarino led a complete cleaning, repainting, and refurnishing with new pews in 2002. A separate chapel on Breed Street hosts the Baptism Preparation classes.

• Construction began 1924 (Fr. Rovai); first Mass in the new church June 6, 1926
• Completed to present structure October 3, 1943 (Fr. Pallotta)
• Major 2002 renovation: cleaning, repainting, new pews
• Sculptor Charles H. Pizzano — life-sized wooden statues and artwork
• Separate chapel on Breed Street (used for Baptism Prep classes)

Outreach and Charitable Works

The parish supports a St. Vincent de Paul Conference — formally the 'Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Archdiocese of Boston (St. Anthony of Padua Conference)' — which assists neighbors in need in the Revere community. Parishioners also volunteer in liturgical and parish life roles, including the floral displays that enhance the church interior.

• St. Vincent de Paul Conference (tax-exempt since 2013; EIN 27-3663918)
• Floral and decorating volunteers (e.g., Gloria and Ruben Aguirre)
• Catechists and Faith Formation team volunteers
• Two weekly collections: Offertory and Promoting the Gospel (from recent bulletins)

Contact, Office, and Visiting

The parish office (rectory) can be reached by phone at (781) 289-1234 or by email at [email protected]. The mailing address is 250 Revere Street, Revere, MA 02151. The parish also maintains a Facebook page (St. Anthony's of Padua, Revere MA) for updates and announcements. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Boston and is listed in the Boston Pilot Catholic Directory.

• Address: 250 Revere Street, Revere, MA 02151
• Phone: (781) 289-1234
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://stanthonysrevere.org/
• Facebook: facebook.com/stanthonysofpaduareverema
• Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Boston