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The Historical Highlights of St. Anthony of Padua Hungaria Roman Catholic Parish

 

 

The first Hungarian Catholic Community formed in 1924. The Hungarian Pioneers formed the Society of Sacred heart under the leadership of Father Stephan Soós in 1929. Tough economic times and only small number of parishioners kept the group from realizing their dream of building their own parish.

 

In march of 1950, the parish community began holding regular church services at Our Lady of Fatima Church on Main Street. During the Autumn of that same year the parish community purchased a small protestant chapel on Burnell St. in the West end of Winnipeg. The church was blessed and consecrated and named after its patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                                        

In the months and years following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution a large influx of Hungarian immigrants arrived in Winnipeg, and the small church soon outgrew itself. The generosity of its parishioners along with Hungarian faithful from other parts of Canada and the United States helped the parish community build a new church under the direction of Fr. Szerénus Szabó. It was completed and consecrated by Cardinal Flahiff in 1964. Around the same time, Fr. Szabó also inspired the formation of the Hungarian Kapisztrán Folk Ensemble, which began as a choir, and later expanded to include Winnipeg’s much acclaimed Kapisztrán Folk Dancers.

 

In 1999,  the Parish celebrated its 35th anniversary and on this occasion was gifted with Hungary’s 1000th anniversary banner originating from Székesfehérvár, what was the home of Hungary’s patron saint, St. Stephen. The parish has been blessed with many other additions including the statue of our Lady of Fatima, from Portugal, a relic of St. Stephen, and a beautiful stained glass rendition of St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Anthony of Padua parish continues to flourish as parishioners from many other ethnic backgrounds have joined and blended into the community. The Hungarian Kapisztrán Choir still sings Hungarian Hymns on Sundays while members of the St. Elizabeth Catholic Ladies Guild also enrich the life of the parish by organizing many parish functions and assisting with the liturgy. The Kapisztrán dancers continue to preserve and contribute to the vibrant folklore and ethnic heritage of the Hungarian parish community in Winnipeg.