About Us
Between 1810 and 1820, a small parcel of land near present-day Sullivan was donated to the archdiocese of St. Louis. Located about a mile and a half northeast of the present parish grounds, it was to be used for a Catholic Church and cemetery.
As the population was small, no permanent structure was erected, nor was the deisgnation of "St. Anthony Parish" used. Rather, the term "mission parish" applied, indication that the spiritual needs of the Catholic comunity was attended to by traveling Jesuit Priests from nearby parishes.
In 1861, the parish of St. Anthony of Padua was officially extablished and in 1862, the first church was built. It was not until 1883 that St. Anthony had its first permanent priest.
Today, St. Anthony of Padua has the church and school, which includes pre-K through 8th grade, as well as PSR and RCIA. It aslo has a host of ministries to serve the community of Sullivan.