Part IV: A History of St. Anthony's Church

Patch started a 4-part series on the history of the Church of St. Anthony in Nanuet. Patch looked into the history of St. Anthony’s Church using information from Marie Hoose’s book Nanuet’s Heritage, a centennial publication about St. Anthony’s Church, “The Old Timers’ Notebook”(tales about St. Anthony’s Church) and interviews with Rev. Joseph J. Deponai, or Father Jerry, as he prefers to be called.

Saint Anthony's Church is a shrine church in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua. It was founded in 1898. The first article looked at The Beginning: 1896 – 1911 and A Fire & A New Start, the second looked at A New Name & Priest and Moving Forward & a Special Mass, and the third looked at Starting a School and An Expansion.

Another Fire 

On November 14, 1978 disaster struck St. Anthony’s. Fire destroyed the church. The only things that survived “were the foundation, of course, and the cross” said Deponai. “The beautiful stained glass windows just exploded. It was completely rebuilt in just one year. The new stained glass windows are reinforced.”

The church was restored and rededicated June 9, 1980 by Terrence Cardinal Cooke.

St. Anthony’s Today

St.Anthony’s now has 4000 families. There are eight Masses on Sunday, two daily, and three during Lent. The cemetery has been there since the beginning.

With such a large congregation, “it’s a busy place,” said Deponai. “Between weddings, funerals and Masses there’s always something happening.”

For St. Anthony’s Feast (June 10) busses come from the Bronx for the celebration. There is a picnic, with international foods, representing the many groups of people who belong to the Church. There is a Novena (a 9-day prayer), where members ask God for a favor through St Anthony, their patron saint.

Deponai was educated at West Point and was a chaplain there. He also served in the Air Force from 1992 to 2007. He’s probably one of the few pastors to ever jump out of a plane.

The Church is served by The Rev. Joseph J Deponai, Pastor, Rev. Frank Bassett and Rev. Fernando Caindec, Associate Pastors, Rev Msgr William V Reynolds, Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Joseph Desanto, In Residence, Rev Msgr Ed McCorry, Weekend Associate and Mr. John Maloney, Deacon. Msgr Reynolds and Msgr McCorry serve only on Sundays.

In addition, Sr. Pat Howell O.P. is the School Principal, Ms. Anne D. Malloy is Director of Religious Education, Ms. Lisa Chen is Director of Music, and Mrs. Kathy McMahon and Mrs. Shirley Lemay are coordinators of Senior Ministry.

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This is the last of a 4-part article series leading up to the Annual St. Anthony’s Feast on Sunday, June 10.

Here’s a look at what each article looked at:

• The Beginning: 1896 – 1911 and A Fire & A New Start
• A New Name & Priest and Moving Forward & a Special Mass
• Starting a School and An Expansion
• Another Fire and St. Anthony’s Today