About St. Anthony of Padua · San Antonio, Florida
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the small town of San Antonio, Pasco County, Florida — the second-oldest Catholic parish on Florida's west coast, founded in 1883 by Judge Edmund Dunne as part of his Catholic Colony. The parish has been served for most of its history by Benedictine monks from nearby St. Leo Abbey and today belongs to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, with Rev. Garry A. Welsh as pastor and Rev. Oscar O. Unakalamba as parochial vicar. The parish welcomes worshippers with daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school (St. Anthony Catholic School, VPK–8), a faith-formation program, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Garry A. Welsh
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Petersburg
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua offers a rare combination: deep historical roots as the second-oldest Catholic parish on Florida's west coast (founded 1883), a still-active 1911 church with original pews lovingly restored, and a thriving present-day community with daily Mass, three Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a vibrant faith-formation program for children and youth, the homebound ministry led by Fr. Oscar, a St. Vincent de Paul food-distribution outreach every Saturday, and an on-site VPK–8 Catholic school served by both diocesan priests and Franciscan Sisters. Whether your family has worshipped here for generations or you are just visiting, the parish invites everyone to share in the Benedictine spirit of welcome and St. Francis's love of Creation.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (In Church)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, in the Church (Refer to the bulletin for Mass time and seasonal changes)
Parish Welcome and Identity
St. Anthony of Padua describes itself on the front page of its website as 'the second oldest Catholic parish on Florida's west coast,' a community 'with a great history and a great future' that offers 'the Spirit of welcome and hospitality that comes from St. Benedict with the love of Creation that comes from St. Francis to all who seek the living God.' The opening greeting is signed by Fr. Garry Welsh, Pastor. Whether you are a multigenerational parishioner, new to the area, or just visiting, the parish invites you to make yourself known and to use the website (and parish office) as a resource for everything about St. Anthony of Padua.
History of St. Anthony of Padua Parish
The parish is intimately tied to the founding of San Antonio itself. In 1882, Judge Edmund Dunne — a Catholic layman with a deep devotion to St. Anthony of Padua — chose a stretch of rolling hills in east Pasco County as the site of a Catholic colony on 100,000 acres of Hamilton Disston's former Florida land purchase. Settlers had to bring a letter from their parish priest attesting to their practice of the faith (a rule that lasted six years), which is why the town remains predominantly Catholic to this day. Construction on the first church began in May 1883; Bishop John Moore of St. Augustine dedicated the unfinished building on June 13, 1883 — the feast of St. Anthony of Padua — and celebrated the first Mass inside on January 11, 1884. The school, which began in the home of Marie Cecile Morse in fall 1883, moved into the church on April 29, 1884, and then into a 12-by-14-foot frame schoolhouse by that fall.
Benedictine Roots and St. Leo Abbey Connection
The first resident pastor, Fr. Emilius Stenzel, was sent from the Archdiocese of New York in May 1884. After German-speaking settlers raised concerns about language, Bishop Moore asked Archabbot Boniface Wimmer of St. Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania for a bilingual Benedictine. The monks who arrived became the founders of Saint Leo Abbey; Fr. Gerald Pilz, O.S.B., became the third pastor and the first of a line of Benedictine pastors that would serve St. Anthony of Padua for over a century. In February 1889 four Benedictine sisters from Allegheny, Pennsylvania joined the parish, eventually establishing Holy Name Monastery, and in September 1889 they took over the school. This Benedictine–Franciscan heritage continues to define the parish's spiritual identity.
The 1911 Church and Campus Buildings
The present St. Anthony of Padua Church — still in active use — was dedicated by Bishop William Kenny of St. Augustine on March 21, 1911, and is the oldest Catholic Church building in Pasco County. It was extended in the 1950s and remodeled in 1988. The red brick schoolhouse was built in 1922; the grotto next to the church was constructed of native rock in 1935; and the rectory (built in the 1960s) was substantially renovated and expanded in 2018 to accommodate up to three priests plus a guest room. The original parish cemetery was relocated to its current site on Palm Avenue in the early 1900s.
The Welsh Era: Restoration, Rectory, and the Family Life Center
Since 2015 Fr. Garry Welsh has overseen a comprehensive renewal of parish life and facilities. The 2016 church restoration gave the church new flooring, refinished the original 1883 pews, added a fresh coat of paint throughout, installed a new sound system, and relandscaped the grounds. In 2018 the old rectory was expanded to host up to three priests with a guest room. In November 2019 Bishop Gregory Parkes approved plans for an ambitious campus expansion: a new Family Life Center and sports complex, summed up in the parish's rallying cry — 'Building a New Facility for a New Era' — while keeping the original 1883 church site at the heart of St. Anthony's.
Liturgical Ministries
The parish invites all practicing Catholics to consider giving their time to one of the liturgical ministries that sustain weekend, daily, and Holy Day Masses. Every ministry is supported with training and flexible scheduling.
- Altar Servers — adults and children who have made First Holy Communion
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers) — assist at Mass and on Ash Wednesday
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God at weekday and weekend Masses
- Ushers — welcome visitors, gather the collection, organize gift-bearers, and direct Communion flow
- Sacristans — prepare sacred vessels, linens, and the worship space before and after Mass
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry is led by Director of Music Jim Carlo and consists of singers who lead hymns and liturgical music at the Saturday Vigil, all Sunday Masses, and Holy Days throughout the year. Members can choose which Mass time(s) they sing at. The Adult Choir rehearses most Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the church, and all are welcome to join by completing the volunteer form and selecting 'Choir Singer.'
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation is led by Deacon Rob Miller (Director of Faith Formation) and assisted by Pat Finley (Religious Education Assistant). The parish prepares children and youth for the sacraments and supports them through their faith journey. RCIA — the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults — is offered for those inquiring about coming into the Catholic Church. Youth Ministry runs on Wednesday evenings twice a month, with additional trips, concerts, and service opportunities; contact [email protected] or call 352-588-3081 ext. 106.
- Faith Formation (children & youth)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
- Youth Ministry (Wed. evenings, twice a month)
- Adult Education (uses the Mother Teresa Room)
Saint Anthony Catholic School (VPK–8)
Sharing the historic campus is Saint Anthony Catholic School, a diocesan VPK through 8th-grade school operating under the spiritual direction of the St. Anthony of Padua pastor and the authority of Bishop Gregory L. Parkes. The school has both diocesan priests and Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth on campus. The school website describes the parish-school relationship this way: 'In 1884, two years after the founding of the Catholic Colony that would eventually become San Antonio, Florida, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church hosted mass for the first time. Our historical Catholic church is not only still active today, but its presence near the Saint Anthony Catholic School campus ties together the fabric of our shared history.'
- Weekly school Mass and weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Monthly First Friday Adoration
- Confessions for students four times a year
- Annual events: Living Rosary, May Crowning, Christmas Pageant
- Diocesan school under Office of Catholic Schools and Centers, Diocese of St. Petersburg
Homebound, Hospitalized and Hospice Ministry
Formalized in January 2024, this ministry meets the needs of St. Anthony of Padua parishioners who can no longer attend Mass in person because they are homebound, hospitalized, or in hospice care. Fr. Oscar Unakalamba leads the ministry, makes the initial visit, hears confession, and brings Communion; he then determines whether ongoing visits by a trained Eucharistic Minister (about 15 minutes each, weekly) are appropriate. Volunteers must complete Diocese of St. Petersburg safe-environment training, background check, Tabernacle/Sacred Host training, and shadowing.
- Led by Fr. Oscar Unakalamba
- Trained volunteer Eucharistic Ministers carry Communion and the bulletin
- Contact [email protected] or 352-588-3081 ext. 100
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul
The Mother Teresa Room (acquired by the parish in 2003) is now home to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which distributes food to the needy every Saturday. The building is also used by Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, adult education, and numerous other parish groups — a true hub of parish life and outreach.
Parish Staff
The parish staff combines clergy, religious, and lay ministers to support worship, faith formation, music, facilities, and administration.
- Fr. Garry Welsh — Pastor
- Fr. Oscar Unakalamba — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Frank DeSanto — Assisting Clergy
- Deacon Rob Miller — Assisting Clergy; Director of Faith Formation
- Jim Carlo — Director of Music
- Joanne Jacob — Parish Secretary
- Jennifer Schmidt — Parish Office Manager
- Martha Minarczik — Marriage and Annulments
- Pat Finley — Religious Education Assistant
- Joan Hepscher — Bulletin Editor
- Greg Euteneuer — Facilities Manager
- Aaron Levin — Maintenance
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone, email, or in person. The parish office mailing address is 32852 Rhode Island Avenue, San Antonio, FL 33576, while the Diocese of St. Petersburg lists the campus address as 32832 Saint Anthony Way, San Antonio, FL 33576. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–3:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00). A simple online contact form is available on the website, and parishioners can text FRG to 84576 to receive the parish bulletin and announcements.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Emilius StenzelMay 1884–
First resident pastor; sent by Bishop Moore from the Archdiocese of New York.
- Fr. John F. O'BoyleDecember 8, 1884–
Second resident pastor, previously of Fernandina.
- Fr. Gerald Pilz, O.S.B.
Third pastor and first in a long line of Benedictine pastors; helped bring the Benedictine sisters and St. Leo Abbey fathers to San Antonio.
- Rev. Dennis Murphy, O.S.B.through December 1995
Final Benedictine pastor; his death ended Saint Leo Abbey's supply of pastors.
- Rev. Dennis HughesMarch 19, 1996–2000
First non-Benedictine pastor in more than 100 years; oversaw dedication of the new parish center in 1998.
- Rev. Henry RiffleJuly 1, 2000–2008
Helped celebrate the parish's 125th anniversary; acquired the Mother Teresa Room for the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 2003.
- Fr. Edwin PalkaJuly 2008–2015
Renovated HVAC, purchased a new organ, restored the choir loft and confessionals, built a new school building, welcomed Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth.
- Rev. Garry A. Welsh2015–present
Current pastor; led 2016 church restoration, 2018 rectory expansion, and 2019 approval of new Family Life Center & sports complex.