St. Anthony Catholic Church was first established as a mission to St. Stephen Catholic Church in New Boston, Michigan, during the 1920's. At that time, a church building on Main Street in Belleville was purchased from a disbanded Episcopalian congregation. As a mission, St. Anthony Church was served by Fr. Alphonse Nowogrodowski, Pastor of St. Stephen Church.
St. Anthony Catholic School
The first classes were held at St. Anthony School in September of 1954 with Sr. Mary Richard, S.S.J., as principal. Sisters of St. Joseph from Garfield Heights, Ohio served as the first school teachers. In 1955, the school was enlarged to its present size with eight classrooms and a cafeteria. The first school board was elected in compliance with the directives of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1968. St. Anthony Catholic School saw many children come through the doors from 1954 until the decline of students forced it to close in 1994. It now serves as a meeting space for St. Anthony Catholic Church groups.
On July 14, 1968, we began construction of the present Church edifice. On August 9, 1969, the present Church was dedicated by His Eminence Cardinal John Dearden of Detroit. The gymnasium Church was then converted into a gymnasium and social hall.
Fr. Folta retired from active ministry on October 1, 1969 giving 16 years of energentic service to St. Anthony Parish and many more to the Archdiocese of Detroit. Fr. Folta was succeeded as pastor by Fr. Raymond Skoney who in the late 1960's embraced the Archdiocese of Detroit's directives that each parish have a Parish Council. After a year of planning, in March of 1970 St. Anthony Parish elected its first council. In 1971 St. Anthony celebrated 25 years as a parish with a special liturgy and dinner on February 14th to mark this quarter of a century progress. At that time the gymnasium was renamed in honor of Fr. Folta, the Fr. Folta Building. Today it is known by it's new name, St. Anthony Parish Center.
Today, our pastor is Fr. Bryan Shackett who came to us from St. Thecla Parish in Clinton Township, Michigan. Fr. Bryan was ordained to the priesthood in 2014 and has served at many churches in Michigan. He is also a part time faculty member of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan.