St. Anthony Schools Plan Open House, "Walk Down Memory Lane" to Wrap Up 150-Year Celebration

(A CROWD SCENE AT A ST. ANTHONY BULLDOGS BASKETBALL GAME AT GOFF GYM IN 1979)

St. Anthony of Padua Parish Pastor Fr. Chuck Edwards invites the Effingham Community to the final celebrations of the 150th Anniversary of Catholic Education and Formation at St. Anthony schools to be held on Sunday, April 28.

Open House events will be held following all of the Sunday masses at St. Anthony Church. Tours of the schools will be offered by volunteers, including current teachers, administrators and volunteers from 8:00am - 2:00pm.

St. Anthony High School will also be hosting a “Walk Down Memory Lane”, which is a display of historical items portraying student life, activities and special events that occurred throughout the past 150 years. Additionally, other unique and one-of-a-kind artifacts from special individuals that impacted the schools and parish have also been curated for this display.

(THE ST. ANTHONY HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND IN 1955)

Special items include student notebooks and art class sketchbooks from the 1800’s; a quilt from the 1900’s with student names hand-sewn with gold thread, report cards and diplomas from the early 1900’s, yearbooks, candid photos, sports scrapbooks, clothing items through the decades, play programs, and other unique items. Scrapbooks have also been created to document the first communion, confirmation and eighth grade promotion throughout the years of St. Anthony schools.

All of the items on display have been loaned by parishioners and friends of the parish and community. Kay Adams, parish historian and display coordinator, has been collecting items for the past year to support this display. She and her group of volunteers will be on hand to share stories and further explanation of the items featured.

The Walk Down Memory Lane is also free and open to the public from 8:00am - 2:00pm on Sunday.