After a career in the Air Force and then running a property management business, Rev. Fred Anthony has become the new priest at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Sweet Home and the Holy Trinity Church in Brownsville.
He succeeds Rev. Henry Rufo, officially taking over pastoral duties on July 1.
“My journey to the priesthood was originally without a map, and it has a few detours,” Anthony said. He was born and raised in Coos Bay where he attended Coos Catholic Elementary School along with his five sisters and one brother.
“I learned about serving others and that teamwork produces greater results than individualism,” he said.
He graduated from Marshfield Senior High School in 1972, then joined the Air Force, where he worked on avionics, which includes aircraft autopilot instruments, radar, radios and navigation systems, for helicopters, fighters and transport aircraft as well as U-2 and SR-71 recon aircraft.
“At the time, I went in, it was because of a graduation gift Uncle Sam gave me,” he said. “It was called a draft notice.”
After his required six-year enlistment period was over, the economy was beginning a downturn, he said. The military provided stability for his family through housing, medical care and schooling.
“The life was very stable,” he said. “That’s the reason both my sons went in.”
He was married for seven years and had two sons, David and Christopher, while he was stationed in Alaska. Both now serve in the military. He also has a 12-year-old granddaughter living in Corvallis.
David is a graduate of West Point and is serving as a major in the Army. Chris is a tech sergeant, the same rank as his father at retirement. He is a crew chief, a non-commissioned officer in charge, in the Air Force.
After he and his wife divorced, Anthony raised his sons and became involved at the various base chapels, the Boy Scouts,
Knights of Columbus and single-parent activities. His involvement in the church constantly grew during his military career.
During 20 years of military service, he was stationed in Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Alaska, Greenland, California, Oklahoma,
Turkey, Greece, Spain and finally California a second time until his retirement in 1992.
His father had recently died, and Anthony relocated to his hometown, Coos Bay, and took over his family’s property
management business. On weekends, he visited prisoners at Shutter Creek Correctional Facility in Coos County for 10 years leading an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program.
In 2002, he filed for an annulment of his marriage and then entered the Diaconate Inquiry program for the Archdiocese. The next spring, he was offered the opportunity to study for the priesthood at a seminary specifically set up for second career callings to religious life.
“I packed up my bags, got in my truck and drove to Wisconsin,” Anthony said.
He accepted and entered Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners near Milwaukee, Wis., in fall 2003 to study for the Archdiocese of Portland. He received his bachelor of religious studies degree from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee in 2007. He then completed the Masters in Theology program at Sacred Heart School of Theology in December 2008.
Anthony’s ordination to the priesthood was on June 13 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, along with six other transitional deacons.
The priesthood is a little like the military, he said. “You always are working for somebody, a particular cause.”
Instead of having the President of the United States for a boss, Anthony has Archbishop John G. Velazny, he said, but the chain of command is much looser, more like a family.
“So, you have acquired a grandfather who is still on a journey of discipleship with Jesus,” he told his church in a written introduction. “I am excited to be here. May we accompany each other with mutual support in the years to come.”
Sweet Home is a perfect fit, Anthony said. “I was born and raised in a timber town, the world’s largest timber town at one point.”
The people have a good basic feeling about life, and it’s not overly pretentious, “where you live, what you wear, what you drive,” in a small town like Sweet Home, he said. “The people are hard-working. They’re interested in a family environment, a place you can instill ethics, morality and justice. They’re your neighbors, and people help people here.”
The people are giving, generous, Anthony said. “It’s all part of being a Christian.”
As the pastor of a church, his primary concern is finding lost sheep, he said. He did his master’s thesis on the subject.
“The largest group of Christians are fallen-away Christians,” he said. “For some reason they aren’t growing in their faith. I feel it’s important to reach out to those people and help them any way I can €“ If they want help, I am willing to help them in any manner.”
St. Helen’s holds communion services at 8:30 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday each week. Mass is held at 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday through Friday in Sweet Home and at noon on Wednesday at Holy Trinity. Saturday vigil is held at 5:30 p.m. Mass is at 9 a.m. at St. Helen’s on Sunday and 11:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity.
For information, call 367-2530 or e-mail [email protected].