March 25, 1913
Little Miami River levees failed and the Great Dayton Flood began, engulfing most of the city and killing hundreds. Dayton then became one of the nation’s first major flood-control districts.

Sept. 21, 1913
First Masses celebrated in the new St. Anthony of Padua parish, headed by Father Francis J. Kuenle.

Oct 7, 1913
Ground broken for the original wooden church, large enough to seat 500. The Soldiers Home Choir sang for the first Mass on Dec. 21.

April, 1914
Cornerstone laid for the school, which opened in September, staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis from Oldenberg, IN.

1923
An addition to the school included a “temporary” church. The Great Depression and World War II delayed construction.

1938
Too large for the “temporary” building, the parish divided, creating Immaculate Conception Church about 2 miles away.

March 10, 1952
Ground broken for a new Gothic revival church designed by architect Edward Schulte.

June 13, 1954
First Mass celebrated at the new church in honor of Msgr. Kuenle’s Golden Jubilee. Regular Masses began with Christmas Masses.

1 Bell tower.

1 Central portal with two double doors, beneath a double stained-glass window.

10 Side, major, stained-glass windows by BeauVerre Riordan Studio in Middletown. Added in the 1960s, they depict the Apostles (east side) and Doctors of the Church (west side).

12 Rectangular pillars divide the nave from the aisles and support the vaulted ceiling.

1 Central mural depicts Christ as High Priest, King and Son of God Triumphant. 59 saints represent the Church Triumphant. The lowest row of figures represent “Nobis Quoque Peccatoribus”—“We, also Thy sinful servants”—the Church Militant working out our salvation.

“Per Ipsum, et cum Ipso, et in Ipso.” The words above the figure of Christ in the central mural, indicate that the priest mediates “through Him, with Him, and in Him,” and
we jointly offer the Holy Sacrifice when we unite our prayers with the priest’s prayers.

“It’s one of those hidden gems in East Dayton. People are struck by the beauty of the marble communion rail and ambo, the terrazzo floor, the stained glass. God has given us an anchor of beauty in which to worship Him.” – Tom Hickey, longtime parishioner

This article appeared in the July 2023 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.