St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 60 Lorimer St., Rochester, will conduct its closing Mass at 5:15 p.m. on June 30. The parish is part of the City West Catholic Community, which also comprises Holy Family and Holy Apostles churches.
According to diocesan and parish histories, the 100-year-old church opened in 1906 as the first Italian-national parish in the diocese. Vietnamese Catholics began to make the parish their home following the Vietnam War.
“We’re very grateful for the Italian-American and Vietnamese Catholic communities’ great generosity and life all these years, and their activity in this neighborhood,” said Father Paul Tomasso, pastor of St. Anthony. Parishioners at the church have been active in the Jones Square neighborhood, where the church is located, and in such organizations as Interfaith Action.
The closing Mass will be followed by simple refreshments.
The Vietnamese community, meanwhile, is being welcomed to St. Helen Church in Gates during a 10:30 a.m liturgy on June 24.
