Welcome to St. Anthony
Since 1863 St. Anthony of Padua Parish has been a source of faith and hope in our city of St. Louis. The Franciscan Friars of the Sacred Heart Province arrived in Southern Illinois from Germany in 1858, and just five years later, with the help of some very dedicated and hardworking future parishioners, the parish began. It has grown and prospered over the years and remains a place of WELCOME and PEACE for many throughout the region.
It is true that St. Anthony's is a beautiful Catholic church located in Saint Louis, but even more beautiful is its faith and its welcoming and friendly spirit; we are ready to share it with all of you! The Franciscans and all of our parishioners welcome you to come to St. Anthony's at any time. Please visit us, worship with us, join us! I hope you find all the information you need on our website. If not, then please give us a call, or better yet, come for a visit.
If you wish to learn more about St Antony of Padua Parish, please download this PDF brochure we have put together for you.
Parish Mission Statement
We, the members of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, strive to live out our faith as Christians in the Roman Catholic Church. Influenced by Franciscan spirituality, we see ourselves as a caring community, drawing from the strength and tradition of those who have gone before us, the wisdom of our senior members, and the energy of our younger members. We see St. Anthony's Church as a cornerstone in our changing neighborhood in South St. Louis.
We believe that our faith is our common bond, that all of us are made in the image and likeness of God; and, as such, possess a dignity and potential that is to be respected. We are called to be signs of God's love to each other and to all we meet. We believe our strength and nourishment come from the Church's ministry of Word and Sacrament.
Having experienced God's grace, we commit ourselves to announcing to others God's saving love for them. We will face the future by reaching out and serving the needy, by fostering spiritual growth in our families, by educating our children in Christian values, by welcoming visitors and strangers into our community, and by joyfully facing the challenges of our neighborhood. We value openness rather than negative criticism and reconciliation rather than materialism, selfishness and prejudice. We want to become a parish family with a care and concern that is characteristic of family members.
Prayer to Saint Anthony
O God send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate.
Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end.
May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. AMEN.