St. Anthony Parish at 830 Bowen St., Dayton, OH 45410-2514 US - About St. Anthony's
About St. Anthony's
St. Anthony Parish, serves the neighborhoods of Linden Heights, Walnut Hills and Ohmer Park and is located in the archdiocese of Cincinnati. Located within the St. Anthony Complex is St. Anthony Catholic Church and rectory, St. Anthony School (grades K-8), St. Anthony Day Care/preschool center, and the parish Credit Union. The Great Flood of 1913, cause unimaginable damage to the city of Dayton. As a direct result the neighborhoods on higher ground, including those surrounding the old Ohmer Orchard and Farm grew quickly. By May of 1913 the pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Dayton, Rev. Charles Kemper, suggested the need for a new parish in East Dayton. By September of that year Rev. Francis J Kuenle was appointed to head the new parish, which was later named for St. Anthony of Padua. The first parish church, a frame building seating 500 people, was complete by December of 1913. By the next September the church had built an eight-room schoolhouse that was to be staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis from Oldenberg, Indiana. In December of 1924 twelve more rooms were added to the school to accommodate a growing population. A new auditorium, seating 700, was built to serve as a new church. Father Kuenle’s dreams of a traditional church would have to wait until after the Great Depression. The current church was ready for Mass on June 13, 1954. It was properly dedicated on May 8th of 1955, with the parish being 51 years old. Monsignor Kuenle was called home to God in May of 1959, the old auditorium was restored and renamed Kuenle Hall. Monsignor Kuenle was succeeded by Rev. Raymond Backus (1959-1968), Monsignor Krumholz (1968-1977), Father Louis Hohlmayer (191977-1990) and Father Herman Jansen (1990-1993). Father Tom Shearer was brought in as an interim pastor in March of 1993 due to the sudden death of Father Jansen; he was later named pastor of St. Anthony’s in May of 1993. For 87 years, St. Anthony Parish has been a vibrant part of the East Dayton Community. With the patronage of St. Anthony Padua, the grace of God, and the love and dedication of its parishioners, St. Anthony will continue to shine well into the Twenty First Century!