About St. Anthony of Padua · Union City, New Jersey
St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in Union City, New Jersey, belonging to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Newark. Founded in 1899 to serve the Italian Catholic community on the bluffs above the Hudson, the parish has historically celebrated Mass in three languages — English, Spanish, and Italian — and today its Sunday liturgy is overwhelmingly bilingual English/Spanish, with four weekend Masses and weekday Masses in the school chapel. The parish operates a parochial school (Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Elementary School at 700 Central Avenue), runs a thriving Neocatechumenal community, a Spanish Charismatic prayer group, Legion of Mary, CCD, altar servers, OCIA, and a youth group, and is led today by Parochial Administrator Rev. Juan Carlos Velasquez.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- Saint Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Juan Carlos Velasquez (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Newark
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua welcomes Catholics in three everyday ways: four Sunday Masses (one in English at 10:00 am, three in Spanish at 8:45, 11:30 and 1:00 pm) plus a Saturday 8 pm NeoCatechumenal Mass and daily bilingual Mass in the school chapel make it easy to find a liturgy that fits your week. A strong formation life — CCD/religious education, OCIA for adults, a Saturday youth group, Legion of Mary, the Spanish Charismatic group, the Neocatechumenal community, and 'Madres y Padres Orantes' praying parents — gives every age a place to grow in faith. And with Saturday confessions from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, weekday sick calls, and baptism and marriage prep handled personally through the rectory, parishioners are cared for through every season of life.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00–5:00 PM (English & Spanish; other times by request)
History of St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Saint Anthony of Padua was established in 1899 by the Archdiocese of Newark to serve the Italian Catholic community of what was then West Hoboken (renamed Union City in 1925). The parish's tri-lingual centennial site (English, Spanish, Italian) recorded Italian Saturday Masses at 4:00 PM into the late 1990s alongside English and Spanish schedules, and ran a Chapel of Lourdes at 502 Palisades Avenue. The parish celebrated its centennial in 1998–1999: Bishop Dominic Marconi presided at the kick-off Mass on September 26, 1998, and Archbishop Theodore McCarrick presided at the closing Mass on September 11, 1999, concelebrated with former pastors including Rev. Robert Templeton, Bishop Dominic Marconi, and Rev. Michael Fuino. Today, while the Italian Mass is no longer scheduled, the parish continues to honor its Italian roots (the blessing of St. Anthony's Bread loaves around the June 13 feast is documented as early as 1979 under Rev. Joseph Fiorino) while serving a predominantly bilingual English–Spanish congregation.
- Founded 1899 (Archdiocese of Newark)
- Centennial kick-off Mass: September 26, 1998 (Bishop Dominic Marconi presiding)
- Centennial closing Mass: September 11, 1999 (Archbishop Theodore McCarrick presiding)
- Historically Italian, English, and Spanish tri-lingual parish
- Chapel of Lourdes at 502 Palisades Avenue used for some Spanish Masses
- School staffed by Religious Sisters Filippini (M.P.F.)
Parish Leadership & Staff
The parish is currently led by Parochial Administrator Rev. Juan Carlos Velasquez, assisted by Rev. Yunior Almonte (In Residence). Two lay trustees — Mr. Wilfredo Gonzalez and Mr. Jose Espinal — share fiduciary responsibility with the pastor. Mr. Luis Tobar serves as Religious Education Director; Ms. Jessica Rodriguez administers the parish bulletins and serves as webmaster together with Mr. Steven Gonzalez; Mr. Jorge Segura is the parish's Local Safe Environment Coordinator. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
- Rev. Juan Carlos Velasquez — Parochial Administrator ([email protected])
- Rev. Yunior Almonte — In Residence
- Mr. Wilfredo Gonzalez — Trustee
- Mr. Jose Espinal — Trustee
- Mr. Luis Tobar — Religious Education Director
- Ms. Jessica Rodriguez — Bulletins Administrator / Webmaster
- Mr. Steven Gonzalez — Webmaster
- Mr. Jorge Segura — Local Safe Environment Coordinator
Baptism, Marriage, Anointing & Sick Calls
Per the parish's published sacramental policy, Baptisms are arranged by calling the Rectory. Marriages must be arranged at least one year in advance, in keeping with Archdiocese of Newark policy. The parish brings Communion, Reconciliation, and the Anointing of the Sick to parishioners who are homebound or ill — simply call the Rectory to request a visit.
- Baptism: Call the Rectory to schedule
- Marriage: One year of preparation required
- Sick Calls / Communion / Anointing: by request through the Rectory
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
Faith formation at St. Anthony of Padua is directed by Mr. Luis Tobar. CCD / Educación Religiosa classes meet on the second Sunday of each month, immediately after the 11:30 am Spanish Mass. Adults preparing for initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed into the parish OCIA process (Formación en la Fe y Doctrina de la Iglesia para adultos).
- CCD / Educación Religiosa — 2nd Sunday of the month, after 11:30 am Mass
- OCIA / Adult Faith Formation — for those preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, or reception into the Church
- Director: Mr. Luis Tobar
Parish Groups, Societies & Prayer Communities
The parish sustains an unusually rich devotional and community life, with both English- and Spanish-language groups. The Neocatechumenal Community meets Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the school and is the source of the parish's Saturday 8:00 pm Mass. A Spanish-language Charismatic Prayer Group meets Tuesdays at 6:00 pm. The Legion of Mary meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the school chapel. The Sociedad de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia meets by appointment. Madres y Padres Orantes (Praying Mothers and Fathers) meets Thursdays at 8:00 pm in the school chapel.
- Neocatechumenal Community — Wednesdays 6:30 pm in school
- Charismatic Prayer Group (Spanish) — Tuesdays 6:00 pm in school
- Legion of Mary — 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 pm, school chapel
- Sociedad de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia — by appointment
- Madres y Padres Orantes — Thursdays 8:00 pm in school chapel
Youth & Altar Servers
Children and teens find a home at St. Anthony's through the Youth Group (Grupo Juvenil), which meets on Saturdays at 10:00 am and 11:30 am, and through the Altar Servers ministry (Monaguillos), which gathers on the first Saturday of each month at 1:00 pm in the school. The Altar Server coordinator is Mrs. Rita Mejia; children must have made their First Communion before serving.
- Youth Group / Grupo Juvenil — Saturdays 10:00 am and 11:30 am
- Altar Servers / Monaguillos — 1st Saturday, 1:00 pm, school
- Coordinator: Mrs. Rita Mejia — [email protected] / 917-716-8445
Parish School (Historical)
Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Elementary School, located at 700 Central Avenue, was long staffed by the Religious Sisters Filippini (M.P.F.), with Sister Catherine Santorsa, M.P.F. among its later principals. The school has since closed, but its physical plant continues to host CCD classes, the school chapel hosts daily bilingual Masses, and the school building is the meeting place for most parish groups.
- Address: 700 Central Avenue, Union City, NJ 07087
- Historical phone: 201-864-5605 / Fax: 201-223-1101
- Formerly staffed by Religious Sisters Filippini (M.P.F.)
- Today the school chapel hosts weekday Masses; the building hosts CCD and parish groups
Giving, Bulletins & Annual Appeal
Parishioners are reminded to identify themselves as 'St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Union City' when making donations. The parish publishes weekly bulletins (available as PDFs on the parish website) and participates in the annual Archbishop's Appeal of the Archdiocese of Newark. Bulletins Administrator: Ms. Jessica Rodriguez ([email protected]).
- Weekly bulletins published as PDFs on the website (2024 and 2025 issues online)
- Participation in the Archdiocese of Newark Annual Appeal
- Bulletins Administrator: Ms. Jessica Rodriguez
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The Rectory is at 615 8th Street, Union City, NJ 07087 — at the corner of 8th Street and Bergenline Avenue. Phone: (201) 867-3818. Fax: (201) 867-8859. Email: [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The parish also maintains a Facebook presence as 'Iglesia San Antonio De Padua | Union City NJ'.
- Rectory: 615 8th Street, Union City, NJ 07087
- Phone: (201) 867-3818 — Fax: (201) 867-8859
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
- Facebook: facebook.com/iglesiasanantoniouc/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Fiorinoby 1979
Pastor in 1979; presided at the blessing of the loaves of St. Anthony's Bread, as documented in the Archdiocese of Newark / Jersey Catholic archives.
- Rev. Ilario Crepazaround the centennial (1998–1999)
Administrator at the time of the 1999 centennial celebration; assisted by parochial vicars Rev. Carlos Flor and Rev. Fabio Venturini.
- Rev. Robert Templetonformer pastor
Concelebrated the closing Centennial Anniversary Mass on Sept. 11, 1999.
- Rev. Michael Fuinoformer pastor
Concelebrated the closing Centennial Anniversary Mass on Sept. 11, 1999.
- Rev. Juan Carlos Velasquezcurrent (Parochial Administrator)
Currently leads the parish as Parochial Administrator.