Early in the century, a small group of Catholics living within Hawthorne used to travel each Sunday into Paterson to attend Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in the Belgium Hill section of Riverside. Although the distance often proved to be difficult, they practiced their faith and observed their religious obligations each week. But their concern was for the spiritual welfare of their children. Late in 1907, 13 Catholic men met for the purpose of asking Fr. Anthony Stein, Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, to start a religious education program in Hawthorne for the Catholic children in the area. After canvassing the town to establish support from local Catholics, the group of 13 presented their petitions to Fr. Stein. He received the petitions and allowed Dominican Sisters from Our Lady of Lourdes School to travel to Hawthorne to set up a Sunday school.

Sr. Mercedes and Sr. Raymond responded, holding classes for 18 children above Vickery's grocery store on Lincoln Avenue beginning on April 18, 1908. With the success of the Sunday school classes, Fr. Stein began working with the Catholics in the area to establish a mission in Hawthorne. On October 4, 1908, the first Mass in Hawthorne was celebrated on Lafayette Avenue in Lill's Hall.

From that point on, the establishment of a permanent church in Hawthorne progressed at a rapid pace. Seeing that the Catholic community in Hawthorne was growing, Fr. Stein sought out property to build
the parish church. Land at the corner of Washington Avenue and Diamond Bridge Avenue was donated to the new Catholic community by a non-Catholic real estate developer Robert Patton, who resided on Diamond Bridge Avenue.

On August 3, 1909, a little over 15 months from the day that Sr. Raymond and Sr. Mercedes began their Sunday school classes, the ground was broken for the new church. Designed by architect William Fanning, the Gothic-style church would seat more than 350 people, and have room for classes and meetings in
the basement.

September 1912 saw the opening of St. Anthony's School in the basement of the church with 48 students filling out eight grades. Two Dominican Sisters, Sr. Concepta and Sr. Christina were the first of a long line to run and teach the children of St. Anthony School into the 1990s.

The new mission church, petitioned by the people and aided by a non-Catholic, was named after Saint Anthony, Fr. Stein's Patron.

If the speed at which the new mission church was established amazed many, they were confounded by
the zeal of St. Anthony's first pastor, Fr. William Van Zale. He laid the framework for what is the present-day St. Anthony's.

Over the course of his fifteen years as pastor, Fr. Van Zale purchased additional land, constructed a rectory, and renovated a building to be used as a convent.

Fr. Van Zale had another task to complete before handing over the service as pastor. His vision and drive saw the completion of the present "red brick" St. Anthony's School in December 1923.

In 1925, Fr. William Thompson became pastor and the framework of St. Anthony's continued to strengthen and grow. It was Fr. Thompson who dealt with both the growth of Hawthorne and its Catholic population. He spearheaded the building of the present-day church during the Depression and celebrated the first Mass in it on September 25, 1932. Fr. Thompson was to shepherd his flock through much more than just
a building program, through an economic depression and World War II for over 26 years until his death in 1951.

Each of St. Anthony's pastors has added his own special piece to the quilt work fabric of our parish life: Msgr. Joseph O'Sullivan - the school addition and new rectory, Msgr. Joseph Brestel - the implementation of the Vatican II changes and the first of several alterations to the church building, Msgr. Joseph Ciampaglio - the institution of lay ministries and the introduction of parish renewal, which was continued by Fr. Joseph Ryan.

The 1990s saw new changes. Under the leadership of Msgr. Elso Introini, a restoration campaign was undertaken to repair the church building and modernize the mechanical systems. In St. Anthony's School, the Dominican Sisters departed and the future of the school was entrusted to the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco. The Parish was made ready for the Third Millennium built on a strong foundation over many years and through the enormous dedication and devotion of the faithful.

St. Anthony's has been a parish for the people, serving their spiritual, educational and social needs through their priests, deacons, sisters, pastoral ministers, school, and many social organizations.

Today, the Parish continues to serve the People of God. We are still dedicated to continue providing for
the spiritual welfare of our children, the worthy concern that gave birth to our Parish.