Brooksville in Hernando County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
St. Anthony the Abbot Church
Established 1892
— Oldest Catholic Parish in Hernando County —
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, June 30, 2011
1. St. Anthony the Abbot Church Marker
Inscription.
St. Anthony the Abbot Church. Established 1892. Though mass was first celebrated for Brooksville Catholics at the Hope residence on Easter Sunday 1874 by Bishop Augustin Verot, a formal Catholic mission was not established until 1892. At that time Fr. Roman Kirchner, the Benedictine Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua would regularly travel on horseback up from San Antonio to celebrate mass at the home of Linn B. Sanders. In 1908, the Catholic Women’s Guild was formed to raise funds for a church, which would be constructed that same year at 61 Olive Street adjacent to a private cemetery – land no other residents were willing to build on. As the number of area Catholics grew, a new provisional church and school were built on US 41 in 1964. By the end of the decade the parish was once again moved, this time to its present location.
Though mass was first celebrated for Brooksville Catholics at the Hope residence on Easter Sunday 1874 by Bishop Augustin Verot, a formal Catholic mission was not established until 1892. At that time Fr. Roman Kirchner, the Benedictine Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua would regularly travel on horseback up from San Antonio to celebrate mass at the home of Linn B. Sanders. In 1908, the Catholic Women’s Guild was formed to raise funds for a church, which would be constructed that same year at 61 Olive Street adjacent to a private cemetery – land no other residents were willing to build on. As the number of area Catholics grew, a new provisional church and school were built on US 41 in 1964. By the end of the decade the parish was once again moved, this time to its present location.
Location. 28° 32.218′ N, 82° 23.465′ W. Marker is in Brooksville, Florida, in Hernando County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Cortez Boulevard (State Road 50) and Hope Hill Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20428 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville FL 34601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, January 11, 2010
4. St. Anthony the Abbot Church Interior
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, January 11, 2010
5. St. Anthony the Abbot Church Interior - Main Altar
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, June 30, 2011
6. Picture of the original St. Anthony the Abbot Church (on Olive Street)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2011, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,366 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 1, 2011, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
