San Antonio in Pasco County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
St. Anthony of Padua Church
Established 1883
— Second Oldest Catholic Church on Florida’s West Coast —
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, February 21, 2011
1. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Marker
In thanksgiving for a prayer answered, Judge Edmund F. Dunne began the Catholic Colony of San Antonio in 1882 and built its first church the following year at this site. Reminiscent of what he saw in Europe, the church (rather than a municipal building) was intentionally situated at the center of the town on the large plaza and by 1884 a schoolhouse had been added next door. The present church replaced the original wooden one in 1911 and is one of the oldest known precast hollow-block structures in Florida. While most of the heart of pine pews are originals salvaged from the 1883 church, the twin colonial towers were added in 1954. The wall and adjacent Lourdes grotto are of native stone and the antique stained glass windows were produced locally. Staffed for over 100 years by Benedictine monks from nearby St. Leo Abbey, care of the parish was returned to diocesan priests in 1996.
Erected 2011 by Diocese of St. Petersburg.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.
Location. 28° 20.093′ N, 82° 16.326′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Florida, in Pasco County. Marker is on Massachusetts Avenue (St. Anthony Way) west of Joe Herrmann
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. Anthony School (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph J. "Joe" Herrmann 1912-2002/Edward J. "Eddie" Herrmann 1936-2017 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); City of San Antonio, Florida (about 500 feet away); Veterans Memorial (about 600 feet away); Lake Jovita (approx. 0.6 miles away); San Antonio Railroad Depot (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lake Jovita Club (approx. 1.1 miles away); St. Joseph Community (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, February 21, 2011
2. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Marker
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, February 21, 2011
3. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, February 21, 2011
4. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and Grotto
View of hollow-block walls, another wall and grotto.
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, February 21, 2011
5. Interior St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
Photographed By Fr. Len Plazewski, February 21, 2011
6. Interior of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (Altar)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2011, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,261 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on February 25, 2011, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 24, 2011, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
