History
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When the Diocese of Galveston was established in 1847, it comprised the State of Texas east of the Colorado River. It was from Galveston that Richard Hennessy, a young missionary who was later ordained to the priesthood, came to Saint Paul (about 4 miles from Wylie) to minister to the early families of Irish immigrants: Gallagher, Miller, Neilon, Boylan, Corbitt, Cotter, Dempsey, Harnett, Howrey, Marchant, Marriott, Peace, Scanlan, Spurgin and White as early as 1856. it was in that year that Saint Paul Catholic Church was established. A small religious group gathered in the home of James Gallagher, where Father Joseph Martiniere came in 1868 and celebrated the first Mass. He was the first pastor of Saint Paul Catholic Church but also rode horseback into Dallas to say Mass at the homes of Catholic families. The first Catholic Church was built on land deeded by James Neilon in 1869 to the Bishop of Galveston, as the Dallas Diocese was not yet established. This frame church was destroyed by a cyclone in 1871 and rebuilt with lumber from Jefferson, Texas. In 1869, Andrew and Lucinda Bums donated land for a Catholic school. James Gallagher and Emily Spurgin Gallagher donated land for Saint Paul Catholic Cemetery.
The first entry in the Baptismal Register of Saint Paul/Saint Anthony Catholic Church is dated 1876.
At the turn of the century, the Wylie area became the dominant residency place for many Catholics. Saint Anthony Catholic Church was established in 1890 or 1900. The first church was built in 1890 but was destroyed by fire in 1900. It has been rebuilt into the present wooden church. In 1916, Bishop Lynch of Dallas was permitted to remove the Saint Paul Church and school. The vestments and the church bell (dated 1876, presently in the bell tower of the white church) were given to Saint Anthony Church.
Over the years, Saint Anthony fluctuated between being a parish and a mission (of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Garland, Texas, and Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plano, Texas).
Father Pondant remodeled the old white church, purchased additional land, and oversaw the construction of the present church.
Over the years, several men and women members of the parish have entered the priesthood or religious life:- Rev. Patrick F. Gallagher, Diocese of Dallas, deceased
- Rev. Clement V. Gallagher, Diocese of Denver, deceased
- Sister Helen Marie Gallagher, Ursuline Sisters, deceased
- Sister Theresa Claire Gallagher (Gertrude), S.S.M.N., deceased
- Sister Mary Philip Cotter (Regina)
- Sister Brendelia Corbitt (May)
- Sister Doloretta Housewright (Loretta)
- Brother Paul Corbitt, S.M.
Those parishioners currently in the Seminary include:- Ken Geraci, Father of Mercy, Priest
- Paul Iverson, Priest
- Matthew Hawkins, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
- Matthew Tadyshak
- Kyle Fletcher
Chronology of Priests and Deacons Who Have Served Our Parish
1869 Rev. Joseph Martinere - First Pastor of St. Paul's with Dallas as a Mission
1872 Rev. Joseph Martinere & Rev. Claude Martinere
1875 Rev. John Marie Troncy
1879 Rev. Anthony De Flaches
1882 Rev. Peter Garvey
1883 St. Paul Attended from Dallas
1890, the Diocese of Dallas was established
1891 Rev. Jeremiah B. LeHane
1892 Rev. Philip Reagan & Rev. J.J. O'Riordan
1893 Rev. B. M. Pujos, R.M
1894 Rev. Anthony O'Hara - Stations: Commerce, Greenville, McKinney, and Sulphur Springs; School: Lay Teacher
1895 Rev. Frank P. McGinn - Stations: Commerce, Greenville, McKinney Sulphur Springs, and Wolfe City; School: Lay Teacher
1897 Rev. P.H. Donaghue - McKinney as a Mission; School: Lay Teacher
1900 Rev. J.J. Mulloy - St. Anthony's in Wylie as a Mission
1905 Rev. P. Murphy
1906 Rev. John N. Diebold - First Pastor of St. Anthony/St. Paul as a Mission
1907 Rev. Christian Wiegand - St. Paul as a Mission
1909 Rev. Lydus George Parroccin - St. Paul as a Mission
1909 Rev. Neale - Buried at St. Paul Cemetery May 19
1910 Rev. Christian Wiegand - St. Paul as a Mission
1913 Rev. Donald F. McNeil, Rev. Moore, Rev. Navin, Rev. Francis J. McNaman, CM - Vincentian Fathers from the University of Dallas
1928 Rev. Thomas Zachary – From Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dallas 1929 Rev. Philip Lewis - Rowlett as a Mission
1933 Rev. John Chestnut - Rowlett as a Mission
1935 Rev. James A. Abbey - Rowlett as a Mission
1937 Rev. John J. Donnelly-Rowlett as a Mission
1939 Rev. Ed J. Szapka - Rowlett as a Mission
1944 Good Shepherd was established in Garland; St. Anthony became a Mission
1946 Rev. John F. Lavin - St. Anthony as a Mission of Garland
1949 Rev. John H. Morse - St. Anthony as a Mission of Garland
1954 Rev. Charles W. Smid - St. Anthony as a Mission of Garland
1966, St. Mark was established in Plano; St. Anthony became a Chapel of Ease
1967 Rev. E.J. Ryan - St. Anthony as a Mission of Plano
1968 Rev. Claude Smyth - St. Anthony as a Mission of Plano
1976 St. Anthony once again becomes a Parish Church
1976 Rev. Robert J. Sokolski-Rowlett as a Mission
1977 Rev. Albert Cuschieri - Rowlett and Rockwall as a Mission
1978 Deacon Pete Martinez (died 12/17/01)
1979 Rev. Edward McDonnell - Administrator from Diocese of Chicago
1982 Rev. Walter E. Boyter - Buried at St. Paul Cemetery
1982 Rev. Anthony W. Pondant
1996 Deacon Warner Washington
1997 Rev. Loyd D. Morris
2000 Deacon Wally Gove
2009 Rev. Andrew Semler
2012 Rev. Sinu Joseph
2013 Deacon Randy Wilson
2015 Deacon Jose Perez
2016 Rev. Tony Densmore
2018 Deacon Greg Hawley
2019 Rev. Jacob Dankasa
2020 Rev. Ramiro Alvarez
2021 Deacon Federico Marquez
2021 Rev. Francisco Orozco
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