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

Amanda Vessel, "The Making of a Landmark: St.decided to build a new convent for the nuns at a
Anthony's Cathedral, Beaumont, Texas,"cost of $25,000. More building projects included a
Touchstone, vol. XIX (2000), 48-58.This articlebrick rectory in 1922, a high school in 1926, and an
explores the history and symbolic and culturaloutdoor recreation area in 1928. In 1937, Father
significance of St. Anthony's Cathedral inKelly began restoring and decorating the interior
Beaumont, Texas. Amanda Vessel asserts thatof St. Anthony's. Father Kelly added oil paintings
this Catholic Church has special meanings for theirand stained glass windows at a cost of $32,000.
parishioners. St. Anthony's physical appearance isIn 1953, a new grammar school was constructed
very symbolic. The floor plan is shaped like ato accommodate an increasing student enrollment.
cross and the statues and other works of artThis school cost $400,000 and is still in use
represent many tenets of the Catholictoday.Monsignor Kelly retired from his position as
faith.Before 1897, and the coming of Fatherpastor of St. Anthony's in August 1954, and he
William Lee, the Catholic Church in Beaumont, St.passed away six months later. His successor,
Louis, was very small and Spartan. In 1901, theReverend George Black, constructed a new high
discovery of oil led to an influx of people andschool and a new convent in 1961. In 1972, Father
oil-related businesses. As a result, St. LouisMarvin Enderle began restoration of the church's
became too small to accommodate the increasinginterior, and he added a parking lot for the church
Catholic population, and Father Lee proposedin 1979. In 1995, under Father Beenie Patillo, St.
building a new church. This church was builtAnthony's had developed a parish center.The
according to Father Lee's design, and it wasevolution of St. Anthony's from a Spartan church
dedicated in January 1907, in honor of St.to the beautiful structure that is an historical
Anthony of Padua. Next Father Lee started alandmark in Beaumont involved many different
new grammar school and the former school waspastors and generations of the Catholic
moved to be a convent for the nuns who taughtparishioners. St. Anthony's is more than a place of
at the schools. Father Lee did not live to see theworship; the church is involved in numerous
completion of the grammar school in Septemberaspects of its parishioners' lives. Thus, St.
1918; he died in July of that year and was buriedAnthony's is very important to the Catholics in
in St. Anthony's at the foot of the altar.Father E.Beaumont.Mary Arnold graduated from University
A. Kelly, Father Lee's successor, arrived inof Houston - Clear Lake with a B.A. in literature
Beaumont while the city was still experiencing theand history.She is an author on which is a site for
economic prosperity from the oil boom. HeCreative Writing.