“We had a generous donor for the new altar that was shipped from Italy to Chicago on a boat. It was amazing watching the Orbit crane workers bring it in on Wednesday of last week. It took over two days to get it in place,” said St. Anthony associate pastor Janet Gaier. “On Saturday, they will consecrate it with Archbishop Schnurr, and a relic of St. Anthony will be placed in the altar.”
Parishioners have been celebrating the church’s centennial anniversary since September of last year, and will conclude the year-long celebration this evening. The
Mass begins at 4:30 p.m. at the church, 830 Bowen St., Dayton. The choir has been rehearsing for this Mass over the past two years. According to Gaier, the church has one of the most outstanding choirs in the city of Dayton under the leadership of Madelon Kinzig, who took over for her father 25 years ago.
As part of the centennial celebration, invitations were sent out to approximately 400 members and alumni for a dinner dance this evening at the Presidential Banquet Center.
A century is a long time, and the church has a rich history. As a result of the great flood, St. Anthony Parish is situated on some of the highest ground in the City of Dayton. The first freestanding church building was constructed in 1913, where the playground is now located.
“Many wanted to escape the terrible damage caused by this catastrophe in our city. They did this by going to higher ground,” said Gaier.
The second church built is now the school gym. Ground was broken for the current church in 1952 at the cost of $1.2 million. It was designed by Cincinnati architect and church specialist Edward Shulte, and the first Mass was held there in 1954. The church’s focal point is a massive 28 by 45 foot mural representing Christ’s redeeming sacrifice. It designed and completed by Carl and Carolyn Zimmerman of Loveland, Ohio, and Bill and Carolyn von Stein of Covington, Ky.
The church building is magnificent, with dozens of stained-glass windows. Thirty-two of them honor saints along the east wall, and doctors of the church along the west wall of the sanctuary. The windows above the choir loft represent a narrative of St. Anthony’s life.
“When the church was built these windows were all opaque, but our second pastor, Raymond Backus, wanted to put stained glass windows in,” said Gaier, who grew up in the Parish and currently lives five blocks away. “I have five brothers and two of them live in the parish.”
One of her brothers, Tom Hickey, is particularly active, acting as pastoral council president, a member of the finance committee, and chairperson of the 100th anniversary. Gaier is beginning her 27th year as a pastoral associate. In that capacity, she oversees religious education in the school, sacraments, blessings and funerals.
“One of my favorite things to do is direct RCIA on Thursday evenings, Rite of Christian Initiation, although I like to call it Recruiting Catholics in America. People tend to get that description,” said Gaier.
Throughout the century, the church has changed leadership, but not as often as you would expect. The first pastor, Rev. Francis Kuenle, served from 1913 to May of 1959. He was followed by: Raymond Backus, 59-68; Robert Krumholtz, 68-78; Louis Hohlmayer, 78-90; Herman Jansen, 90-93; Thomas M. Shearer, 93-2003; Jeffrey Fulmer, 03-08; and the present pastor, Chris Coleman.
“In our 100 years, St. Anthony has only seen eight pastors and I have had the privilege of knowing all eight, and working for five of them,” said Gaier. “Father Chris has been very instrumental in growing the parish and giving it a vibrancy we haven’t had in awhile. It is a beautiful parish and continues to be vibrant and an anchor in our neighborhood.”
According to Gaier, there are approximately 900 families and about 1,900 actual parishioners. There are no nuns in the parish at this time, and the school’s administrators and teachers are laypeople. They have nine men entering the seminary this year — the largest group in about 20 years.
“Our dynamic and abiding presence in this neighborhood has made St. Anthony a beacon of light and hope. It has been a ministry of vision, struggle and persistence,” stated Fr. Christopher Coleman. “For 100 years our community has professed faith, celebrated our Sacraments, and has fed and educated many. Lives are touched by the presence of Christ.”
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