This year, St. Anthony School celebrates its 175th anniversary! As a parish and school community, we have many exciting plans to celebrate, including a special brunch event, called Sunday in the Shade.
“As one of the oldest schools here in Hawaii, we have a deep history,” says Emily Bartow, Advancement Coordinator and Enrollment Director. “We’ve had people such as St. Damien, who was actually here at St. Anthony when he got the direction from the bishop to take the job over in Kalaupapa. We were established before Hawaii was a part of the United States, and to still be around and serving the community is huge!”
The Sunday in the Shade event will be held on the school grounds on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 11 to 2 p.m. It will be a vintage Hawaii-style brunch, with mimosas, food, live entertainment, and a silent and live auction.
“We will have island-style entertainment, and we are also looking into having our student musicians provide entertainment as well,” Emily says. “We will also have a special Mass preceding the event, and the bishop will preside and then attend the brunch with us afterward.”
Proceeds from tickets and the auction will go to support the school in various ways.
“We have asked our teachers for wish lists for items that will be purchased for our classrooms, and proceeds will also go toward improvement of our campus,” Emily says. “We are 175 years old, so there are things like doors, windows, and air-conditioning that need to be fixed on campus. Donors and sponsors can also donate directly toward specific areas such as school supplies, campus improvement, or technology.”
Volunteers are crucial to the success of our parish and school events, and there are many ways in which parishioners can get involved!
“We will need volunteers to sponsor tables, sell tickets and contribute auction items,” Emily says. “We also are looking for folks with an artistic eye who can help us with decorations. We would also love for parish ministries to get involved as a group. Anyone is welcome to join our planning committee, and we meet every other week.
“St. Anthony has touched our entire community in some way throughout its history, and for us to still be here after 175 years is amazing in and of itself,” she adds. “We will also have additional events that will be announced throughout the year, so please continue visiting our website and social media platforms for updates!”
For more information, or to get involved, send an email to 175th@sasmaui.org or call the parish office at 808-244-4148.