1560A Main St., Port Norris, New Jersey
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As most of you may recall from the past issues of our quarterly parish newsletter, we have covered the histories of almost all the churches that make up our great parish. Now, we would like to present to you, dear readers, last, but not least, the history of St. Anthony’s Church in Port Norris. Even though it is the smallest church in our parish, it is well over 100 years old and full of history.
In the early days of the 20th century, the town of Port Norris was a bustling town. It was known for its prime farmland, its shipbuilding industry at one point, but most of all, it was renowned for its thriving oyster industry. Recognizing its rich and plentiful farmland, many Italian farmers arrived at the Port Norris area from the late 19th century until the first part of the 20th century. The newly arrived Italian immigrants brought with them their extensive knowledge of agricultural skills, their culture and their Catholic religion. According to the book “The Great Wilderness” written by Margaret Louise Mints around 1968, during the first years of the 20th Century, Catholic church services were held in a private home on Strawberry Avenue which is close to the church’s current location. Mrs. Angelina Hanby, a long-time parishioner and trustee, also helped with the research of St. Anthony’s history and she revealed that eventually some of those Italian farmers got together, made up some plans, went to the Diocese of Trenton and got permission to build the church. In March 1913, plans for St. Anthony’s Church were completed and construction of the building began. Gaetano “Gus” Leonetti donated the land on West Main Street and the lumber was donated by Frank Scirotti. Some of the founders of St. Anthony’s Mission were: Gus Leonetti, Joseph Leonetti, Dominick Capaldi, Anthony DelRossi, Gabriel Gullo, Joseph Gullo and Pasquale Dagastine. The first trustees were Gus Leonetti, Dominick Capaldi, Anthony DelRossi, Joseph Lamanteer, Peter Randazzo, Dominick Damico and Carman DelRossi. The first Mass was offered by Fr. Caprezzi, and the first funeral was held for a Mr. Jack Danna. Not long after the completion of the church, in March 1915, the property and church premises were given to Church of the Sacred Heart in Vineland. It’s been exactly 100 years since the first bishop visited the Church of St. Anthony when in 1918, the third bishop of Trenton, Rev. John J. McMahan D.D. said Mass in St. Anthony’s.
St. Anthony’s was under the care of Sacred Heart Church of Vineland for many years and then it was placed under the care St. Mary’s Church in Rosenhayn. The mission was civilly incorporated while under the Diocese of Trenton and during the Episcopacy of the Rt. Rev. Maurice R. Spillane on September 26, 1935. In 1952, St. Anthony’s Hall was built and given to Fr. Spofera for St. Mary’s Parish. Some of the builders of St. Anthony’s Hall included Dominick Damico, Earl Kessler, Phillip Capaldi, Sam Ricci, Tony Ricci and Joseph Dagastine. Two years after the hall was built, in 1954, St. Anthony’s was placed under the care of the new St. Michael’s Parish in Cedarville with Fr. James Gallagher as its first pastor. Soon after its merger with St. Michael’s Church, in 1955, the pastor, Fr. Gallagher, had to borrow from St. Anthony’s bank account the amount of $5,000 on February 3, 1955 in order to meet expenses for St. Michael’s Church. Over the succeeding years, the Church of St. Anthony went through extensive repairs, renovations and additions, such as the addition of a tiny side room in the 1970s.
In October 2010, St. Anthony’s Church became one of five churches to merge with four more churches to create the Parish of the Holy Cross. As of today, even though it is not used as often as before, the Church of St. Anthony continues to bring the Word of the Lord to its small band of parishioners on the second, fourth and alternating fifth Sundays of the month. St. Anthony’s Church continues to be living proof of the longevity and presence of the Catholic Church even in small and remote places.