November 28, 2003


Focus on Faith: St. Anthony's offers two churches, four masses and a variety of ministry groups

By Shari Kaplan
Staff Writer

"I was always mystified by God and the presence of God. I always felt that being close to God was being safe."

Rev. George "Father George" Mancha, 52, who has led parishioners at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Almaden Valley for nearly seven years, says he felt this way for as long as he can recall. Half a century may be a long time to remember, but St. Anthony's itself goes back much further.

The first St. Anthony's in the New Almaden area was built in 1858 by a Father Picardo. He was in charge of what was called the Almaden Guadalupe Mission; it was located on Mine Hill Road and served approximately 700 Mexicans living in the area.

Several other incarnations of St. Anthony's rose and fell—due to fires or relocation—for another century or so. In 1975, St. Anthony's Catholic Church, whose simple wooden construction blended in so well on New Almaden's rustic Bertram Road, became its own parish.

In 1982, a larger church was built on McKean Road to accommodate the congregation. It currently offers more than a dozen ministries, including St. Anthony's Seniors, Almaden Valley Youth Ministry (for teenagers, together with neighboring Holy Spirit Parish), CREATE (youth group for first through eighth graders), Pastoral Ministries, Liturgy Committee, Outreach Committee and Women's Club.

The "Old Church" on Bertram Road is still used for Saturday afternoon masses and reconciliations, as well as for weddings when the couple prefers a smaller venue. The "New Church" is used for three masses every Sunday; the parish center, church administrative offices and Father George's home are also located on the expansive property.

As for Father George himself, just because he cannot recall a time in his life that he didn't feel close to God, that doesn't mean he always found himself in a religious setting. Quite the opposite, he reveals with a smile.

A native of Texas, Father George was the eldest of eight children. After attending parochial elementary and middle schools, he wanted to attend a seminary boarding school during his teenage years. Those plans were thwarted when he fell ill with hepatitis after eating contaminated seafood. By the time he recovered, his parents decided it would be more practical for him to attend a Houston college-prep high school.

He went on to obtain a bachelor's degree in business from Houston's Lamar University, where he also served as president of his fraternity. "I wondered if I could sustain myself with a business degree," he muses. "I managed—of all things—nightclubs and restaurants. I eventually ended up owning a bar."

That bar was to be the venue for a propitious portent. "This lady would come in every day to drink wine—a lot of wine. I think she was an alcoholic," Father George recalls. "All of a sudden one day, she said, 'You ought to be a priest!' It shocked me because that's something I'd always thought about, but I had gotten too caught up in business."

He later obtained a master's of divinity degree from Houston's University of St. Thomas and then researched opportunities at difference Catholic dioceses in the U.S. "I figured God would put me where He wanted me," says Father George, who eventually found himself touring San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose—the latter being his favorite.

He was ordained at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park and also earned a certification in drug and alcohol counseling from U.C. Berkeley. After that, the large Diocese of San Jose transferred the young priest among various parishes for about a decade, from Palo Alto to Gilroy and several in between.

It was with some seniority under his belt that Father George came to St. Anthony's, where he says he hopes he can remain for the diocese's maximum allowance of 12 years. "The idea is that there needs to be new leadership in parishes so that nothing gets stale," he explains. "After a while, you might fall short of enough new ideas."

"The people at St. Anthony's have been magnificent; from the first day they made me feel right at home. I thank God daily for giving me St. Anthony's," says Father George, who tries to make the church as welcoming as possible by encouraging families to bring even their youngest children.

"I feel it sets an important example for kids when parents bring them to mass. Little kids may act out, and babies may cry, but it doesn't bother me as long as they don't get carried away," he says, with a patience that perhaps came from growing up with seven younger siblings.

Something else Father George has learned over time is an appreciation for people of other nationalities and religions. About 12 years ago, he says, a fellow priest and he decided that each year, they would travel somewhere in the world they'd never been before.

"It made me realize how similar we all are; people aren't that different after all. It's amazing what a smile and a nice gesture can do, even if you don't speak the language," he says, smiling himself. "It's also given me an understanding and respect for other people's faiths. I've learned about how a faith supports a people."

Back at St. Anthony's, Father George makes use of his life experiences in leading his congregation, itself comprised of people with hundreds of life experiences of their own. What draws all of them together is their shared faith.

"The best thing for me about being a priest is being able to share what I believe, and knowing it'll make a difference in people's lives, even if it doesn't right at the time," he says. "I like helping people realize the presence of God, from the most joyful times like baptisms and weddings to the most difficult times like funerals or accidents."