History of St. Anthony's Cathedral in Beaumont, Texas

Amanda Vessel, "The Making of a Landmark: St.nuns at a cost of $25,000. More building projects
Anthony's Cathedral, Beaumont, Texas," Touchstone,included a brick rectory in 1922, a high school in 1926,
vol. XIX (2000), 48-58.This article explores the historyand an outdoor recreation area in 1928. In 1937,
and symbolic and cultural significance of St. Anthony'sFather Kelly began restoring and decorating the
Cathedral in Beaumont, Texas. Amanda Vesselinterior of St. Anthony's. Father Kelly added oil
asserts that this Catholic Church has special meaningspaintings and stained glass windows at a cost of
for their parishioners. St. Anthony's physical$32,000. In 1953, a new grammar school was
appearance is very symbolic. The floor plan is shapedconstructed to accommodate an increasing student
like a cross and the statues and other works of artenrollment. This school cost $400,000 and is still in use
represent many tenets of the Catholic faith.Beforetoday.Monsignor Kelly retired from his position as
1897, and the coming of Father William Lee, thepastor of St. Anthony's in August 1954, and he
Catholic Church in Beaumont, St. Louis, was verypassed away six months later. His successor,
small and Spartan. In 1901, the discovery of oil led toReverend George Black, constructed a new high
an influx of people and oil-related businesses. As aschool and a new convent in 1961. In 1972, Father
result, St. Louis became too small to accommodateMarvin Enderle began restoration of the church's
the increasing Catholic population, and Father Leeinterior, and he added a parking lot for the church in
proposed building a new church. This church was built1979. In 1995, under Father Beenie Patillo, St.
according to Father Lee's design, and it wasAnthony's had developed a parish center.The
dedicated in January 1907, in honor of St. Anthony ofevolution of St. Anthony's from a Spartan church to
Padua. Next Father Lee started a new grammarthe beautiful structure that is an historical landmark in
school and the former school was moved to be aBeaumont involved many different pastors and
convent for the nuns who taught at the schools.generations of the Catholic parishioners. St. Anthony's
Father Lee did not live to see the completion of theis more than a place of worship; the church is
grammar school in September 1918; he died in July ofinvolved in numerous aspects of its parishioners' lives.
that year and was buried in St. Anthony's at the footThus, St. Anthony's is very important to the Catholics
of the altar.Father E. A. Kelly, Father Lee's successor,in Beaumont.Mary Arnold graduated from University
arrived in Beaumont while the city was stillof Houston - Clear Lake with a B.A. in literature and
experiencing the economic prosperity from the oilhistory.She is an author on which is a site for
boom. He decided to build a new convent for theCreative Writing.