St. Anthony of Padua School, Bridgeport, CT

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to all of the St. Anthony alumnus!

06/13/2024

Rest in peace Rosalie Prusak

05/09/2024

St. Anthony graduate!

https://www.wvxu.org/arts/2024-05-02/miami-university-leonardo-drew-sculpture?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3r2iJCaW0ZNQG_kdgI_yXih5lsoz9-HfJO9-mVBCBwx53kCYeR8tik0Q8_aem_AcIOnGZa-FvdTcW6VDCjNmfTr1g9DDh2RVhjzNptXiUWc5nkQ-g4yr5mfCg4jm56faqxFFi3-0o_xU2H8fI868lu

Drew's work can be found at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Conn., as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Guggenheim Museum in New York.

02/18/2024

To all those who visit this page,
I’m not sure if my name appears when I post. I
am Keith Nelsen. I taught seventh and eigth grade at St. Anthony’s from 1969 through 1974. Having graduated from college in 1969 I wasn’t much older than my students. I started this page years ago hoping to reunite with my students. It’s worked. I met a lot of good people over those years one of which was Cesar Batalla. St. Anthonys was torn down and in its place is the Cesar Batalla Middle School. Cesar was my hero championing the rights of the Hispanic Community. Every meeting I went to Cesar was there. I think he was Bridgeport’s Ghandi. Kind, effective and definitely non-violent.
Ok to cut to the chase…the first week of November every year St. Vincents holds the Medical Mission offering free medical check ups, flu shots, clothes, precsriptions, shoes, haircuts and much more. Hundreds are served. All free. In September I’m going to beg for volunters who can translate. You are given an individual and walk that person to all stations making sure they get what they need. Spanish, Creole, Portuguese are just a few languages we need to address. Starts aroind 9:00 AM ends around 2:00 PM.
I’ve been doing this for a few years and every time I walk into the school I see Cesar’s portrait looking down at me. I leave feeling very fulfilled. Join me in November. Oh and my previous students don’t check this for spelling, punctuation or grammar…I’ve tripple checked this.

01/25/2024

Here’s a memory

10/15/2023

Vengan a San Pedro y disfruten de nuestras deliciosas comidas de diferentes países.
Come and enjoy a great lunch with us at St-Peter RC Bridgeport.

09/27/2022

Purple collar is my 1st choice
Pink collar is my 2nd choice

12/12/2021

RIP Mirko Mikan

11/23/2021

With great sadness please know of the passing of Bill Boemmels. RIP Bill.

12/19/2020

Dear ex students, fellow teachers, associates
and friends from long ago who worked with me in the West End of Bridgeport. It is with great sadness I pass on the news of Sister Constance’s passing. Constance was the principal of our school St. Anthony’s on Colorado Ave. She was in charge of a bunch of young idealistic teaching nuns in 1969. I was there from 1969 through 1974. She knew the problems and somehow was able to reconcile structured educational procedures with the needs of this inner city school. Many a day I’d pass her in the hallway with my kids. “Where you going Mr. Nelsen?”. “ Off to Burroughs Library. Herman Issacs is stinking up the neighborhood and it’s hot out”. She would look concerned while she shook her head but would always let me do what I wanted. No parents permission slip no previous notification. Respond to the need. Then there was my paddle “Dag” but we don’t need to go there.

She was firm but fair. Devout and compassionate. Kind with a warm smile. Wise and understanding. Thank God she was patient with me. Thank you Constance for being you and allowing me to be me. Best job I ever had.
RIP Constance.

04/16/2020

Convent and Church

02/17/2019

It is really a wonderful experience catching up with ex-students. Surprised some still talk to me!