About St. Anthony · Sullivan, Missouri
St. Anthony Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of St. Louis located in Sullivan, Missouri, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. Worshiping at 201 West Springfield Road, the community is currently pastored by Rev. Noah Waldman (since July 2023), who also serves Holy Martyrs of Japan and St. Gerald of Aurillac, with Deacon Kevin Miller assisting. The parish runs a K-8 Catholic school under the motto 'Pray Together, Play Together, Learn Together' and offers daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, RCIA, and a long tradition of parish festivals and a summer picnic that traces back to the 1940s.
- Established
- 1861
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Noah Waldman
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Anthony is a small-town Catholic parish where members are known by name: a single pastor and deacon serve the community alongside an active lay corps of lectors, servers, Eucharistic ministers, a Home & School Association, Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a Cemetery Committee. Families can send their children to the parish's own Catholic school (Preschool through 8th grade) with Before- and After-Care, while adults grow in faith through Wednesday-evening RCIA, weekly PSR, Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, and a long-running annual Picnic and Parish Festival that keep generations connected.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 8:30 a.m. — Holy Martyrs
- Wednesday 8:30 a.m. — Holy Martyrs
- Thursday 8:30 a.m. — St. Anthony's
- Thursday 6:00–7:00 p.m. — Holy Martyrs
- Friday 8:30 a.m. — St. Anthony's
- Saturday 3:00–3:50 p.m. — St. Anthony's
- Sunday 7:00–7:25 a.m. — St. Gerald
- First Saturday 7:30 a.m. — before the Consecration Mass at Holy Martyrs
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
St. Anthony's story in Sullivan, Missouri, began with a land donation to the St. Louis Archdiocese in the early 19th century, about 60 miles southwest of the city. A small rural mission served the local Catholic population for nearly fifty years before Fr. Marrs dedicated it to St. Anthony of Padua in 1861. The first church — a log building on a stone foundation on what is now the St. Anthony Cemetery site on Acid Mine Road — was completed in 1862. The mission was formally inaugurated as an official parish in 1891, and successive pastors shaped the community through the founding of its school, the building of the current church in 1964, and the construction of an expanded school facility in 2003.
- 1861 — Mission named for St. Anthony of Padua by Fr. Marrs
- 1862 — First log church completed on the present cemetery site
- 1891 — Becomes an official parish with a larger church south of the current site
- 1919 — Fr. Joseph Little founds St. Anthony Catholic School
- 1936 — First graduating class
- 1941 — Msgr. Joseph O'Toole launches the still-running St. Anthony Picnic
- 1946 — Fr. Arthur Ryan takes over; Sisters of Notre Dame begin teaching
- 1958–1976 — Fr. Clarence Winkler starts weekly PSR and builds the current church (dedicated 1964)
- 1989 — Fr. Ted Brunnert arrives; celebrates 1991 centennial
- 2003 — Expanded school facility completed with media center, library, and first gymnasium
- July 2023 — Fr. Noah Waldman installed as current pastor
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Team
St. Anthony is shepherded by a small, clearly identified team. Fr. Noah Waldman serves as pastor for the parish cluster, with Deacon Kevin Miller assisting in ministry. The parish and school offices are staffed by dedicated laypeople who handle formation, finance, communications, and the school.
- Rev. Noah Waldman — Pastor (since July 2023)
- Deacon Kevin Miller — Permanent Deacon
- Shelly Tolliver — School Principal
- Tammy Hutchison — School Secretary
- Robin Kaufman — Finance and Rectory Secretary / Bookkeeper
- Marcia McKay — Bulletin Editor, Rectory Secretary, PSR & RCIA Coordinator, Safe Environment Coordinator
- Lisa Boyle — PSR Coordinator
First Saturdays of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
On each First Saturday of the month, Fr. Waldman celebrates Mass at 8:00 a.m. at Holy Martyrs Church for the Fatima devotion of the First Five Saturdays of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Confessions are heard beforehand at 7:30 a.m., and the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary are recited before Mass.
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the parish's process for non-Catholics and Christians from other traditions who are considering entering the Catholic Church. Classes meet Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the rectory basement meeting room; all materials are provided and there is no cost. The parish typically holds an orientation meeting in early October before classes begin the following week.
- Classes: Wednesday 6:00–7:00 p.m. in the rectory basement
- Contact: Marcia McKay at the rectory (573-468-6101)
PSR — Parish School of Religion
St. Anthony's weekly religious-education program, in place since 1976 under Fr. Clarence Winkler, supplements Catholic formation for parish children. It is coordinated by Lisa Boyle and rectory staff and continues the parish's long tradition of partnering parish and school for faith formation.
St. Anthony Catholic School
St. Anthony Catholic School welcomes students of all faiths in a nurturing Preschool–8th grade environment under the motto 'Pray Together, Play Together, Learn Together.' The school day runs Monday–Friday from 7:50 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with doors opening at 7:20 a.m. Before Care begins at 6:30 a.m. and After Care runs from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., available to all enrolled students including Pre-K. Founded in 1919 by Fr. Joseph Little and significantly expanded in 2003, the school today offers classroom instruction, a media center and library, a gymnasium, athletics through the St. Anthony Athletics Club (SAAC), and a cafeteria with free/reduced lunch options.
- Motto: 'Pray Together, Play Together, Learn Together'
- Preschool (age 3, potty-trained) through 8th grade
- School day: 7:50 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (doors 7:20 a.m.)
- Before Care from 6:30 a.m.; After Care until 6:00 p.m.
- School office: (573) 468-4423
- Principal: Shelly Tolliver ([email protected])
Parish Organizations & Councils
A wide range of parish organizations support parish life, the school, the cemetery, and parish facilities. Membership rolls over annually, with most committees meeting only a few times a year to keep service sustainable for busy families.
- Parish Council — seven-member advisory council (4th Tuesday monthly)
- Finance Committee
- Home & School Association (meets 5x/year)
- School Board — nine members (3rd Thursday, 5x/year)
- St. Anthony Athletics Club (SAAC)
- Auction Committee — annual Dinner Auction fundraiser
- Festival Committee — annual August Parish Festival
- Hall Rental Committee — Multi-Purpose Hall bookings
- C-Force — parish community-building events
- Cemetery Committee (4th Wednesday monthly)
- Ladies Guild — funeral dinners and rummage sales
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Dean Grus (573-578-5756)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (1-877-238-3228 ext. 3365)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to take a more active role in the Sunday and weekday liturgies through several lay ministries. Sign-ups happen during the annual stewardship drive, or anyone interested may contact Fr. Waldman directly at the rectory.
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Liturgy Committee (contact: Joan Koebbe, 573-468-8671)
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptism requires an arrangement call to the rectory and attendance at Baptismal Classes for parents. Reconciliation is offered at multiple sites and times during the week. RCIA welcomes new Catholics. Other pastoral needs (Anointing of the Sick, Marriage preparation, etc.) are coordinated through the rectory office.
- Baptism — contact the rectory; parents must attend Baptismal Classes
- Reconciliation — see full schedule (multi-site)
- Eucharist — see Mass schedule
- RCIA — Wednesday evenings
- Additional sacraments by appointment via the rectory
Parish Festival & Annual Picnic
Two beloved summer traditions bring the parish together each year. The Parish Festival, overseen by the Festival Committee, is held every August and is open to the whole community. The St. Anthony Picnic, dating back to 1941 when Msgr. O'Toole launched it to fund the wartime school building, continues annually as a parish-wide fundraiser and reunion.
- Parish Festival — held each August (e.g., August 22–23)
- St. Anthony Picnic — annual tradition since 1941
Facilities: Hall Rentals & Cemetery
St. Anthony's Multi-Purpose Hall and cafeteria are available to rent for weddings, showers, parties, and other parish or community events. The parish also maintains the historic St. Anthony Cemetery on Acid Mine Road — the original site of the 1862 log church — with a Cemetery Committee that meets the 4th Wednesday of each month.
- Multi-Purpose Hall rental: $500 ($200 non-refundable cleaning fee + $200 deposit)
- Cafeteria rental: $100
- St. Anthony Cemetery on Acid Mine Road — maintained by the Cemetery Committee
Bulletin, News & Contact
Announcements for the parish bulletin may be emailed to [email protected]. The latest bulletin is posted on the parish website, and the church also maintains a parish calendar with the week's Mass, confession, and adoration times. Visitors and new families are invited to call the rectory at (573) 468-6101 to introduce themselves and learn more about becoming part of the parish.
- Bulletin announcements: [email protected]
- Rectory: (573) 468-6101
- Bulletin and calendar: stanthonysullivan.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Marrs1861
Traveling priest who named and dedicated the mission to St. Anthony of Padua.
- Fr. Joseph Littlefrom 1919
Founded St. Anthony Catholic School, remodeling a donated house into classrooms and a convent for the Dominican Sisters; first graduating class was 1936.
- Msgr. Joseph O'Tooleby 1941–1946
Obtained WWII-era government permission to build a new school; inaugurated the first St. Anthony Picnic (still held annually). Returned to his former parish in 1946.
- Fr. Arthur Ryanfrom 1946
Succeeded Msgr. O'Toole; welcomed the Sisters of Notre Dame to the parish school, where they taught until 1995.
- Fr. Clarence Winkler1958–1976
Replaced the summer Public School of Religion with a weekly PSR program; built and dedicated the current church in 1964.
- Fr. Ted Brunnertfrom 1989
Celebrated the parish's 100th anniversary in 1991; oversaw construction of the expanded 2003 school facility (classrooms, media center/library, gymnasium).
- Rev. Noah Waldmanfrom July 2023
Current pastor; also pastor of Holy Martyrs of Japan and St. Gerald of Aurillac; previously served as associate pastor in South County and St. Charles and as pastor of St. Martin of Tours in St. Louis.