| St. Anthony de Padua Parish was established
by the faith of the Shrine Workers of St.
Anthony. Located in Cementville, the missionary
church was named in honor of the patron saint of
San Antonio. Its history remains a fascinating
story which touches the very character of Texas
culture and history. In 1925, Father Peter
Baque, the founder, wanted to form a congregation
committed to service. To serve the surrounding
community a small chapel was erected in 1927 from
the labor of pecan shellers, the workers of
Cementville, and others of more prosperous means.
During the next decade, the congregation grew
in number and grew spiritually. Pilgrims came to
worship at the site, a school was added, a
religious order of nuns was founded to teach and
serve in order for people to receive both
spiritual and material help. Within the depths of
the congregation one charism remained paramount:
to help area people in need.
Father Baque wanted, eventually, to build a
large Shrine which would be a replica of the
first church dedicated to St. Anthony -- the
Alamo. His work throughout the city involved him
with a great number of people. In 1957, the small
chapel was replaced by the current church
building which took the form of the old Alamo.
Protestant and Jewish congregations helped raise
funds for the building and for the vibrant
community. Pope Pius XII issued a declaration
that St. Anthony de Padua was the Patron of the
Archdiocese of San Antonio. The parish
represented a blend of race and ecumenism,
history and culture.
St. Anthony’s had become a cornerstone of
the people and the city. The parish had been
built by the people, for the people. A
multi-cultural community gathered from diverse
economic classes, to be one church celebrating
its rich history and cultural diversity.
City-wide activities, too numerous to mention,
rose from the parish and its commitment to social
justice.
Membership continued to grow rapidly. Today,
present and future needs are compelling. The role
of service is still paramount. Through worship,
religious education, community education and
celebration, and local outreach to the poor, St.
Anthony’s meets the needs of the people of
San Antonio. It is a place to pray, to play, and
to remember.
As the parish looks forward to the 21st
century, it continues to be dedicated to people,
the buildings they erected, the creed by which
they lived, and the services they performed.
Fr. Baque, on his deathbed, uttered these last
words, "Keep up the good work, love one
another and I will be happy, and you will be
happy too." For over seventy years, the
parish has attempted to carry on the mission of
Christ by ministering to the needs of others. The
vision of Father Baque and the early parishioners
has never changed.
Although Pope Leo XIII declared St. Anthony
the saint of the whole world, he is remembered in
San Antonio by the historic church dedicated to
him and to preserving a part of the story of a
great city. Filled with moments in the history of
San Antonio, the parish provides relief for the
pilgrim and stories of the past, relics and
artifacts of an earlier time, and hope for those
most in need.
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