In 1951, the new St. Anthony's Church was dedicated, and the dream
long fostered by the Parish was realized. It was, and still is
a beautiful Church, simple and elegant.
Far from the darkness of the basement Church, it was full of light with a
perfect shade of blue on the ceiling. It seemed always cool in the summer and
warm in winter, It was where I was confirmed and our little sister Mariellen
made her first communion.
Mariellen Souza Smith
1958
Sometime later, the basement Church provided the foundation for a
new Parochial School which Mariellen attended and from where she graduated.
I remember how she spoke so fondly especially of Mrs. Carew and Sister Rose Emmanuel.
I remember Sr. Rose from catechism classes as well.
1954
Dedication of the new St. Anthony's Parochial School.
(The school existed until 1972 when lack of staff and
spiraling costs caused it to be closed. In 1990, a
fire destroyed the school building. In another building feat, in 1999
a large parish center was built and connected to the Church.)
It seemed that the dreams of the Parish were being realized
with the opening of the school.
Yet, in reality, sons and daughters
were seeking their own dreams elsewhere, just as I did.
The Parish would stay anchored by the many
who stayed in the Village. But, that vibrant,
exciting and rooted parish life especially prior to the 50's
would soon disappear.
-----
Now it lives only in our memories, those of us who
lived it and in the pages of this blog.
Next post: Memory Potpourri and more.....
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