St. Anthony's Parish Mission Statement

We, the Eucharistic community of St. Anthony's Parish, by the Grace of God and through our participation in His word, the church's sacraments and prayer, seek our eternal salvation.
We live out the doctrines and traditions of our faith in communion with the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, established by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

With courage, we follow the example of our patron saint and invoke His intercession as we strive to know God, love God and serve God which moves us to actively promote and live the gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of our everyday life.

The First Church

While the recorded history of Northvale, New Jersey, dates to 1681, St. Anthony’s Parish was not founded until 1890. Because St. Anthony’s did not have a pastor assigned until 1907, not much data exists about the founding of the church. The first registered Baptism was held on August 4, 1891, by Father Marino Lepore, and from that point, several priests served the parish until 1907, when St. Anthony’s first pastor, Father Joseph E. Ostino, was assigned.

Shortly after Orino’s arrival, however, a fire burned St. Anthony’s nearly to the ground. But the spirit to grow St. Anthony’s did not die there. Plans to rebuild the church began immediately, and Masses were held in a public hall on Paris Avenue until construction was complete.

The Second Church

While some parishioners donated funds, many parishioners donated labor to rebuild the church. This construction also included St. Anthony’s first-ever rectory. With the building complete, spirits grew, and parishioners felt St. Anthony’s Parish had a stronger identity. Therefore, attendance at Mass soared.

In 1918, Ostino was transferred, and the second-ever pastor of St. Anthony’s, Rev. Vincent Sansone, was named in 1919. His arrival brought the Sisters of St. Joseph, who would live at the parish and eventually staff St. Anthony’s School.

St. Anthony’s faced another trial when the neighboring boroughs, Norwood and Tappan, established their own churches, thus lowering Mass attendance in Northvale. But Sansone still sought ways to expand, and so did his successor, Father Cajetan Sferrazza, who was appointed in 1929. He served throughout the Great Depression and some of the church’s toughest times, until 1945.

Expansion

After World War II, several renovations were made to St. Anthony’s Parish to accommodate repairs and to revitalize the interior. In 1948, the church also installed a new altar, sacristy, and Sanctuary, along with a heating system. Funds for these projects were raised through parish events, such as the “St. Patrick’s Corned Beef & Cabbage Supper.”

In 1952, ten lots south of the church were bought with the intention to expand, and at the end of 1956, the parish purchased a house and property for a future convent. Shortly after, having seen a need for a school, the parish proposed the opening of St. Anthony’s School on its purchased property. Parishioners were enthusiastic about the project and raised almost $30,000 over the fund goal. St. Anthony’s School opened in 1957 with four grades and 153 students, and the first principal was Sister Miriam Gervase.

In 1959, the parish announced the construction of a new convent and began hosting sisters in 1961. Then, in 1963, the parish said that the Franciscan Brothers would begin instructing upper-grade males in St. Anthony’s school starting in 1965.

This church served Northvale and neighboring boroughs for 57 years.

The Third Church (Our Current Parish)

To accompany the growing number of parishioners and address the much-needed repairs, the parish made plans to demolish the church and rectory. The last Mass was held on January 27, 1964, and over 57 years, 25,000 Masses were held, and parishioners witnessed about 600 weddings, 500 funerals, and 2,200 Baptisms.

Once the church was demolished, Masses were offered at St. Anthony’s school. A circular design was proposed to achieve a practical yet aesthetic effect, and upon completion, St. Anthony’s became the first circular church in the Archdiocese of Newark. Then the church and rectory were combined to keep costs down while still providing administrative offices and a comfortable living space for priests.

St. Anthony’s third church (and our current parish) opened on June 4, 1965, and was dedicated by His Excellency, Archbishop Thomas A. Boland.