AN ANAHEIM PARISH celebrated its 70th anniversary with a multicultural gala banquet — a nod to the efforts gone into uniting its diverse parishioners.
On Oct. 24, St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church hosted a Pontifical Mass with Bishop Kevin Vann, and a cocktail reception and multicultural banquet where parishioners dressed in their best formal or cultural attire. The event was followed with an alumni homecoming reunion on Oct. 25.
“This whole weekend is an extravaganza for us,” said Fr. Bill Cao, pastor of St. Anthony. It’s a big, big weekend.”
BISHOP KEVIN VANN IS WITH BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER AND FR. BILL CAO, PASTOR OF ST. ANTHONY MARY CLARET PARISH IN ANAHEIM.
The celebrations ended with a processional Mass on Oct. 26 to celebrate not just the parish’s 70th anniversary, but the Feast Day of St. Anthony Mary Claret. Hundreds came out on the sunny day and filled nearly every seat as the youth musicians readied themselves and volunteers prepared food for after.
“It’s really exciting to be a part of something that is so big,” said 30-year parishioner Amy Gonzalez. “It’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than us. The parish has been here for so long, it’s been such a big part of our lives. It’s part of our family.”
ST. ANTHONY MARY CLARET PARISH HOSTED AN OCTOBER WEEKEND OF FESTIVITIES TO MARK ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
St. Anthony Mary Claret opened its doors in 1955 and celebrated its first Mass at midnight on Christmas. Just down the road, the parish’s neighbor, Disneyland, also opened its gates that
year. The city of Anaheim was in a time of tremendous growth when St. Anthony’s began serving the community. Previously, it was a predominantly agricultural town known for growing oranges, chili peppers and grapes.
The city’s population boomed in 1955 to 30,059 — a 109 percent increase from roughly 14,000 residents just five years before, according to city records. The 8 acres of land for St. Anthony’s was gifted to the church by Joseph and Dorothy Huarte, parents of Mater Dei High School alumnus and 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, who later played in the NFL.
Back then, the parish was an offshoot of St. Boniface parish in downtown Anaheim and was part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Fr. Bill said. It started as a so-called “temporary church,” but 70 years
later, it is still there.
Within two years of opening, the parish school was built in 1957 under the guidance of the Sisters of St. Louis. The school provided the community with a Catholic education until it had to close its doors in 2009 due to financial hardships. This year, the school grounds are being used again, this time as a charter school. The charter, Vibrant Minds, currently has a one-year lease and is serving 350 students in grades TK to sixth. Fr. Bill called the school a chance to reconnect with the community and evangelize.
Parishioner Nancy Cardenas said it’s been wonderful to have students back on the parish grounds.
“It’s kind of nice to bring that back and liven things up a little bit more,” Cardenas said. “And I think it brings people who have not been coming to our parish. I’ve seen parents drop off their children at the school and then come to Mass.”
The biggest change over the years has been the parishioners themselves. Reflecting its changing community, the church went from a predominantly Anglo congregation to being about 80 percent Latino and 20 percent Filipino, said Fr. Bill.
“This speaks of the cultural diversity and the richness of the faith that is embodied in the Diocese of Orange, especially in this part of Anaheim,” said Fr. Bill.
A FESTIVE BANQUET WAS HELD FOLLOWING MASS ON OCT. 24 IN HONOR OF ST. ANTHONY MARY CLARET PARISH’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY.
When Fr. Bill started at the church in 2015, he found his diverse congregation ministering separately. So, he began challenging parishioners to find ways to celebrate together, break down language barriers and set aside fears.
“In the beginning, they were very hesitant,” said Fr. Bill. “They said, ‘I don’t speak Spanish.’ So, I’d say, ‘Well, let’s pray together. Let’s meet together as leaders of ministry.’ And now it’s a common and normal thing.”
Long-time parishioner Beatric Rodriguez has watched St. Anthony’s unification unfurl. Now everyone celebrates together, grows in their faith and develops spirituality as they walk the same road to God, she said.
“No matter the culture, no matter the language we speak, we always pray together because we are the same,” Rodriguez said. “We are brothers and sisters in the name of God.”
Celebrating is one aspect that makes St. Anthony Mary Claret unique, several parishioners said.
The church is not only welcoming, but festive, Gonzalez said.
“That’s something that stands out from a lot of other parishes,” Gonzalez added. “We like to celebrate here. We celebrate everything, and we are very festive. So, everything is a big celebration and we come together like a big fiesta every chance we get.”