October 11, 2007

FOCUS ON FAITH

Saint Anthony parish celebrates 25 years

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Faith and fellowship were in abundance as St. Anthony’s Catholic Church celebrated 25 years at a picnic on Sept. 30 in a pastoral setting on McKean Road.

The St. Anthony’s picnic committee outdid themselves at the event Sept. 30 at the “big church” on McKean Road. Among the committee members are Mary Orlowicz, Father Larry Hendel, Jeryl Gerhardt, Mary Ann Low, Vince Macaluso and Fred Banchero. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“This is a great event,” said Rev. Larry Hendel, who has led parishioners at St. Anthony’s in Almaden Valley a year this past July. “And it’s a beautiful day.”

Known as the “big church,” St. Anthony’s on McKean welcomed more than 250 parishioners to a celebration of faith, food and fun as well as the 25th anniversary.
Many members reminisced that before the church was built, mass would sometimes be held outside and deer would be spotted on the rolling hills of the area. They remembered the different leaders of the church--Rev. George Mancha, Fathers James Warwick, Bob Hayes and Tom McMahon--some who attended the celebration.

The “little church” is located on Bertram Road and still has one mass on Saturdays. In 1898, Guadalupe Madera’s son Tony volunteered for service in the U.S. Navy during the Spanish-American War. She vowed to build a church with the help of the mining company if he returned home safely. He did and St. Anthony’s Church was constructed in 1901.

In 1982, a larger church was built on McKean Road to accommodate the growing congregation. It currently offers over a dozen ministries, three masses on Sunday at 8:30, 10 and 11:45 a.m., as well as masses Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m.

A couple of young St. Anthony members continue to play soccer while everyone else lines up for food.

But this year, St. Anthony’s is celebrating 25 years on McKean Road. Many of the congregants, like Rick and Jeryl Gerhardt, Jim and Marilyn McMahon and Doreen Juard, have attended the church since its inception.

The picnic committee outdid themselves with an inflatable slide, games of horseshoes, basketball, water balloons, a three-legged race and soccer for the children and rows of tables shaded with large umbrellas as friends and families shared in the celebration. The food was special too, a catered affair with salads, herbed chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs.

“There’s something for everyone at St. Anthony’s,” said MaryAnn Low, who has attended the parish for 20 years. “It’s a very warm community and welcoming to new members.”

But perhaps Jurado said it best, “I love our St. Anthony’s!”