ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC CHURCH

Worship in Columbus

All of the area churches welcome you to worship with them.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LORI OLIVAREZ-LIGUES

St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus is named after St. Anthony of Padua, one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints. He was a Franciscan preacher and teacher. St. Anthony is typically depicted with a book and the infant child Jesus and is commonly referred to today as the “finder of lost articles.” He is venerated all over the world as the patron saint for lost articles, and is credited with many miracles involving lost people, lost things and even lost spiritual goods.

The church started in 1854 with Father Victor Gury, stationed at Frelsburg. He was the first to minister to the people of Columbus. The first church structure was built in 1872 on land donated by the Tait Family and named in honor of St. Matthias. Parish records indicate that Father M. Orth arrived in the early 1870s. At this early date a school was established and conducted by the Sisters of Providence.

In 1929, a disastrous fire in the church caused it to be unusable. A new church was built and was blessed on May 6, 1930. As a condition of a donation by the Catholic Church Extension Society, it was renamed in honor of St. Anthony. From 1930 to 1945 there was not a resident priest and the needs of the Catholic community were met by adjoining communities.

Father V.J. Bily became the first resident priest of St. Anthony Catholic Church in 1945. A new rectory was built in 1948 and Father Alex Kraus became it’s first resident. Plans for St. Anthony Cemetery was finalized and the first burials occurred in 1950. During this time, a new school building was constructed.

Source: http://www.stanthonycolumbustx.net/ This article will feature different churches in each edition. To suggest a church for the next issue, email michelle@tripspublictaions.com.