In 1928 Father John J. O’Looney became the pastor of Saint Anthony Catholic Church and was the driving force for Catholic education throughout Fort Lauderdale. In 1952 grades nine through twelve were transferred to another site. That high school was originally named Central Catholic High School, which was later renamed, and is known today as, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Father Timothy G. Hannon became pastor of Saint Anthony Catholic Church in 1982, and secured the services of the Order of the Marist Brothers, with Brother Thomas Aquinas, FMS becoming the first brother principal. After the untimely death of Brother Thomas in 1986, Mrs. Elaine L. Patterson became the first lay principal. Father Jerry Singleton was the Pastor of Saint Anthony Catholic Church until 2014 when Father Michael Grady became the Pastor and is currently leading the way for continued enhancements and advancements to Saint Anthony Catholic School. The school is now under the direction of Ms. Jenna McIntosh who was assigned as principal in 2022.
Today Saint Anthony Catholic School has an enrollment of over 430 students. The school consists of PreK3 through 8th Grade. The students, faculty, and staff begin the day during flag raising by reciting the Saint Anthony Catholic Student Mission Statement, which emphasizes and reinforces what we are all about.
