By Rita McInerney

The 90th anniversary of St. Anthony's Church in Atlanta's West End was celebrated Sunday, June 13, the feast day of the parish patron, St. Anthony of Padua, and of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Celebrant and homilist was Father Chester Smith, SVD, with Father John Salvas, OFM Cap., pastor and Father Robert Jones, OFM Cap., parochial vicar, as concelebrants. Deacons were Rev. Mr. Joseph Barker and Rev. Mr. Fred Sambrone.

At the conclusion of the 10 o'clock Mass, which lasted almost three hours, clergy, with Father Smith carrying the Blessed Sacrament, altar servers and choir processed out of the church. The people followed, with choir members and two drummers for the Griot Cultural Arts Center leading them in hymns of praise.

The procession wended its way down Ralph David Abernathy Drive to the parish school where everyone was offered a small loaf of bread, an ancient Franciscan tradition symbolizing St. Anthony's love for the poor of his era, the 12th and 13th centuries.

A barbecue on the grounds of the school and a neighboring park concluded the 90th anniversary celebration.

Chuck Douglas, chairman of the anniversary committee, said two earlier events also celebrated the anniversary. The first, June 9, was Gospel Fest 1 at which several other choirs joined St. Anthony's Mass Choir in an evening of singing praise to God. Taking part were the St. Peter and Paul Choir from the Decatur parish; Zion Hill Baptist Choir; Opus, a Seventh Day Adventist choir; Hi-Prayz, and the Word, an independent recording group.

"Other churches frequently have no idea of how we worship, how we sing," Douglas said. "They're astonished that we have such a wide range of music." He called it "one beautiful spirit-filled night of praising God." The Mass Choir was host for the event.

On Saturday, June 12, a '70s style disco party was held in the church hall with the Knights of Peter Claver and the Man's Action Club as sponsors. Guests came in styles of those times. There was a good turnout for the fun night, Douglas said.

Five longtime members honored during the anniversary celebration were Ms. Rachel Bailey, a member since 1931, who wrote a personal account of the church and school she knows and loves so well for the anniversary; Bob and Dorothy Mallinson Todd, both of whom were baptized, attended school and were married at St. Anthony's and Mrs. Tommie Zuniga, a member for more than 40 years. Mrs. Agnes Ingrish, a parishioner for about 66 years, was unable to attend.

In 1902, Mrs. Esther LaRose Harris, wife of Joel Chandler Harris, the famous author of the Uncle Remus stories, and a group of her Catholic women friends organized the Catholic Ladies Aid Society and were able to convince church leaders to establish a church in the West End. St. Anthony's parish was dedicated at a Solemn Mass celebrated by Savannah Bishop Benjamin Keiley on Sept. 20, 1903. The first Mass in the parish, however, was celebrated June 13, 1903, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Conley at 742 Lawton St., SW.

The women's group was of great financial help to the young parish.

In 1911, ground was broken for the basement of the new St. Anthony's Church. The school opened in 1912 with two Sisters of Mercy teaching first and second grade. This was located at 651 Ashby St. (now Abernathy Blvd.) and was replaced in 1917 when a parishioner, Miss Hannah Kuhn, gave the parish a building located on the site of the current school building. The Sisters of St. Joseph took over the education of the children the same year. The present church was dedicated Jan. 15, 1924.

Father Eusebius Beltran was pastor when he was appointed Bishop of Tulsa, Okla., on Feb. 28, 1978. He was installed as archbishop of Oklahoma City late last year.

Father Salvas said the extensive work needed to be done on the 1924 roof of St. Anthony's Church will begin soon. He said the archdiocese has made a grant of $40,000 to the parish and that, together with funds the parish has raised, makes the badly needed work possible.