St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School

Many people have seen a statue of St. Francis or St. Anthony in a garden or in front of a home. I wanted to take this space to share a few things with you about our patron St. Anthony, and order’s founder St. Francis. When we think of them in relationship to our core values, “The Dignity and Order and Care of Creation,” we can gain significant insight into God’s will for us and for our children.

When St. Francis encountered birds and squirrels and worms on the path he marveled at them because they always did the same thing. Birds chirped and pecked and made nests. Squirrels ran about collecting, burying and digging up nuts. Worms made the soil rich. All day and night they act exactly as the creator intended. Never would they act outside of God’s intention for them.

Francis wondered why human beings weren’t so obedient to their nature. A bird can never be in-bird the way a human being can be in-humane. The disobedience of humanity saddened him when everything around him was being obedient. St. Francis longed to act obediently, which he believed was to live like Jesus, true human nature.

So, like St. Francis and St. Anthony, we marvel at the way creation obeys God better than we do. We try to learn from nature and respect and care for it because it teaches us to obey our nature, to be true Christian people, followers of Jesus Christ. Then, all of nature, us included, praises God at once! How wonderful for us to pursue these goals together at St. Anthony School.

- Father Patrick Tuttle, OFM

How many times have we been in a situation where someone stands up and speaks the truth in love? How many times have we been in a situation where someone stayed with us all night when we were scared or lonely? How many times have we been a little less than ready, feeling like we can’t do something, and someone comes and says, “You can do it!” or, “We can do it together?” These times and people are found like bricks at St. Anthony’s. They hold us all up, they delineate for us the boundaries. We find ourselves bigger than we thought we were as children of a loving God, we find ourselves hemmed in so we don’t tear.

I think St. Anthony’s is the environment that fosters a kind of feeling that, no matter what, we can do it. The feeling fostered is courage. Once you try courage and win you have more the next time. You see achievers born, creators creating, experimenters experimenting.

Here you are supported to show your gift.

“This little light of mine…”

For children from St. Anthony’s to enter the world confident, centered, generous and kind we must courageously support them to know their value, offer their gift and assist others to do the same. This year we have expanded music, art and unique tutoring opportunities from Furman University. Each new effort amplifies the support, and consequently the performance of our students.

I cannot tell you how important the members of a student’s family are to their child as they show from the home environment that we (home and school) are working together to courageously support them. Please make regular visits with your child’s teachers to team up and win. You must be courageous as a parent if you want courageous children.

- Fr. Patrick Tuttle, OFM