THE
HISTORY
PAGEof
ST. ANTHONY'S, PARISH
EAST FALMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS
DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER MASSACHUSETTS
THE
HISTORY
PAGESt. Anthony's Church was opened to the public on January 1, 1923. It's first pastor was the Rev. Antonio Machado Fortuna, who came to East Falmouth in 1921. Earlier that year a group of Portuguese residents appealed to Bishop Daniel Feehan, of the Fall River Diocese, for a Portuguese priest because of the large number of local persons who were unable to speak or understand English. Until 1922 St. Anthony's parish existed as a part of St. Joseph's parish, Woods Hole, under an English speaking pastor, Rev. Thomas F. Kennedy, then the pastor of the entire Falmouth area.
With the creation of the new parish, all Portuguese Catholic residents of Cape Cod, regardless of where their homes may be, were to be communicants of St. Anthony's parish. To this day, parishioners of St. Anthony's are spread out throughout the entire Falmouth area, from Woods Holes to as far away as Cotuit.
Father Fortuna effeected the purchase of the 36 acre Joh Crocker estate and erected the present church on it. The old Crocker homestead, the only building then on the estate served as the priest's residence until _____ when a new rectory was built. Until erection of the new church, services were held at the St. Anthony's Hall on Brick Kiln road. Having accomplished much in a short time, Father Fortuna was succeeded on December 24, 1924, by the Rev. Mauel J. Teixeira. Within the next two years a mortgage of $42,000 was paid, and the parish became free of debt.
During the winter of 1933, the parish hall was moved to its present location. It had formerly been a dance hall, located in the center of East Falmouth village some 200 yards away. On January 4, 1934, after undergoing complete remodeling, the hall was formally dedicated.
During Father Teixeira's pastorate, two priests served as assistants to him, - Rev. Maurice Souza, from November 1939 to November 1943 and Rev. Jaime V. Mendes, from November 1943 to September 1944. The Rev. Jose Maria Bettencourt e Avila began his ministry as pastor of St. Anthony's in September 1944. Like Father Teizeira, he was to remain for 20 years. During this period, St. Anthony's parish experienced its greatest development and the church was almost completely renovated. In 1946 the magnificent painting of Our Lady of Falmouth was unveiled, in 1943 new pews were installed, and in 1951 the Sanctuary was remodeled. A new altar was installed at this time into which the painting of Our Lady of Fatima was incorporated. The landscaping of the area surrounding the church and rectory was also completely done over and parking facilities for approximately 200 cars were constructed.
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