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History The Church of Saint Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic faith community in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Originally founded in 1908, to minister to Italian immigrants. In 1897, Eureka Mine Number 30, first of the local mines of the Berwind-White Coal Company, began producing coal and thus heralded the birth of the town of Windber. In the next few years, dramatic development transformed the farm and timberland into rows of houses and streets of commerce. As the local mining industry grew, an influx of immigrants from Italy, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Russia, Ireland, England, Scotland, Austria, Hungary, Sweden and Lithuania swelled the growing population of the community. Not only did these courageous immigrants bring their strong muscles and backs to their adopted 'land-of-plenty,' but they also brought their hopes, dreams, and faith in God. Therefore, it is not surprising that theses foreigners longed to have a church in their thriving new home. The first Catholic Church, St. John Cantius, was built in 1900 and served all nationalities. However, as coal production increased, it became apparent that the Reverend Father John Kopera, pastor at St. John Cantius, was overburdened in trying to meet all of the spiritual needs of his parish. Thus, Frank Lowery and Peter Rich suggested to church officials that a separate parish be established for the Italian Catholics. Although this suggestion was treated with skepticism by the Most Reverend Eugene A. Garvey, Bishop of Altoona, he did send the Reverend Father Ferdinando Papale to Windber in 1905 to serve as pastor to the Italian community. The new pastor ministered at the St. John Cantius Church, but he became disillusioned with the indifference of the people to religion and left in 1906. The Italian congregation was reassigned to St. John's church until Father Nicholas Capaldo arrived in 1906 to assume the duties as the second pastor of the Italian people. Under Father Capaldo's direction, donations were collected to build a church. The Wilmore Coal Company consented to donate two lots at the northeast corner of Graham Avenue and Twenty-Second Street. (A notation in the lot-record of the Wilmore Coal Company states that the original transaction was made to the trustees of St. Peter's Church! Evidently, the fist committee had intended to dedicate the church to St. Peter.) Construction of the church began when Frank Lowery, the committee chairman and a contractor, offered to build the foundation without charge. Work progressed and the cornerstone was set in place in November 1908 with bishop Garvey presiding. A jubilant Italian band played as the statue of St. Anthony of Padua, patron of the parish was carried in procession. Father Capaldo continued his ministry at the St. John's Church until the new church was completed in 1909. Several months later, Father Capaldo was transferred to Altoona and Father Angelo Leone became the third pastor of the Italian congregation. During Father Leone's sixteen-year pastorate, the parish acquired a rectory in 1915 and the land for a cemetery in 1923. Prior to this, the pastor had lived at St. John's rectory and the parish had buried its dead in the other local Catholic cemeteries. In 1924, an impressive stone arch and wall were erected at the cemetery. A year later, Father Leone left the parish to return to his native Italy. After Father Leone's departure, the right-Reverend John J. McCort, D.D., second bishop of Altoona, entrusted the parish to the care of the Franciscan Fathers of the Third Order Regular, Province of the Immaculate Conception, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. The next eleven years brought rapid growth under the pastorates of Father Francis Capannari in 1925, Father Anthony Possumato in 1928, and the Father Alban Gormley in 1929. During the next seven years, it became painfully evident that the congregation had outgrown the confines of the existing church. Therefore, in 1936, Father Angelo Piacentini, successor to Father Alban, began plans to build a ten thousand dollar addition to the church to double the seating capacity and to enlarge the sanctuary to accommodate three altars. After three productive years, Father Angelo was transferred to Altoona in 1939. Father Angelo was succeeded by Father Francis Capannari as pastor, Father Paul hatch was the assistant, but later was transferred and was succeeded by Father Louis Hileman in 1942. These years enabled the parish to repay its debt notes, paint the church, install a liturgical altar, and form an Altar Society. Father Louis left Windber in 1944 and was replaced by Father Richard McNamara who later was transferred to Hollidaysburg. Father Francis was sent to Johnstown in 1945 and Father Cletus Adams assumed the Windber pastorate. For three years, Father Cletus served his congregation while initiating a male choir, converting the rectory porch into a parish office, and remodeling the third floor of the rectory. In February 1948, Father Paul Hatch returned to St. Anthony's Church s pastor. Under his direction, additional cemetery land was acquired, a new organ was installed, and the stone and marble altar at the cemetery was constructed. Father Paul left Windber in 1953 and was succeeded by Father Francis Mastrovito as pastor. Father Kenneth La Pan, assistant for Father Francs, served for three years before leaving in 1956. Father Francis and Father Kenneth continued to improve the church by directing the refurbishing of the rectory and church. After Father Kenneth left in 1956, he was succeeded by Father Charles Smyth as assistant pastor. He and Father Francis continued to minister to their growing congregation and directed the redecorating of the church interior, which included a new paint job, new altars baptismal font, and sanctuary furnishings. The early fifties continued to be years of growth for the 'town that coal built.' However, as the sixties dawned, it became obvious that the mining industry was declining as more mines were sealed or sold. Nevertheless, the strong commitment of family and community that has sustained the town and churches remained constant. The parish at St. Anthony's thrived because of the deep-rooted faith of the people and the spiritual leadership of the following who served the faithful in their needs during these difficult years: Rev. Ignatius Della Valle, Very Rev. Aloysius J. Hankison, Rev. Camillus Angle, Very Rev. Louis G. Hileman, Rev. Alphorns M. Dominick, Rev. Cletus Adams and Rev. Gregory McConnell. These clergy ushered in the 'decade of change,' the seventies, in which the Catholic Church felt the commanding impact of the Second Vatican Council. The Council's call to encourage fuller participation of the people in to the liturgical celebration was greeted with mixed feelings. However, the same faith that fortified the early immigrants enabled the people of St. Anthony's to meet the challenges of the Vatican II reforms. With the directives of Vatican II in mind, and under the spiritual guidance of Father Reginald Krakovsky, the parish launched plans to build a new church-rectory complex. Ground was broken in July 1972 and demolition of the original church was started in August. Construction began in September and was finished August 1973. While the church was being constructed, Father Reginald and his assistant, Rev. Terrence T. Smith, celebrated daily Mass in a temporary chapel located in a house on Twenty-Second Street. Sunday masses were celebrated in the Windber Area High School auditorium. The new church was designed to accommodate 470 and the church basement was designed to accommodate 450. In addition, a rectory complete with offices and living quarters was constructed as an integral part of the church complex. Even though the cost of the project was $700,000 the mortgage was met within three years. As the congregation settled into the semi-circular church, the feeling of 'community' once again was felt. The brick wall, the modern stained glass, and most importantly, the following dedicated spiritual leaders of the seventies and eighties created a continuity of the past with the changes made by Vatican II: Brother William Hazelett, Rev. Martin D. Brady, Rev. Adrian Tirpak, The Very Rev. Eugene H. Kubina, Rev. Gerard M. Connolly, Brother Blasé Romano, Rev. Timothy Arsenault, and Rev. Anthony M. Criscitelli. The eighties brought no major structural changes until 1986 when Father Eugene directed plans to construct an enclosed church entrance and basement stairway. In 1987, under the supervision of Father Gerard, the confessionals were transformed into reconciliation rooms and another 'cry room' was constructed near the front entrance. Although the mortar and bricks of St. Anthony's Church have changed through the years, the mortar and bricks of our faith and heritage remain constant, just as our belief in the Eucharist is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
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