The parish and church of St. Anthony, Troy, New York, was organized in October, 1892, to meet the demand from the Italian Catholics of Troy and vicinity for a place of worship where the services would be conducted by pastors of their own nationality and tongue. Their first meeting place was in a house purchased on Ferry street, and their first pastor was Rev. Giovanni Santoro. In 1905 the congregation had so increased in numbers that the Unitarian church on the corner of Fourth and State streets (which was for sale) was purchased, completely renovated and transformed into a Catholic house of worship. The property has a valuation now (1910) of $85,000, including the lot next to the church building. The parish numbers two thousand communicants and is in a sound financial condition.
Rev. Giovanni (John) Santoro, pastor of St. Anthony, was born in the province of Avellion, village of Anzano, Italy, June 2, 1849. His early education was obtained in the state schools, after which he attended Lacedonia Seminary until 1870, then went to Rome, where he pursued his theological studies and prepared for the ministry of the Roman Catholic church. He was ordained to the priesthood at Lacedonia, June 24, 1872, by Bishop Maiorsini, in St. Mary's Church, and celebrated his first public mass on the following Sunday, in the same church. He taught Latin in the Seminary (where he had been a student) for the following five years. In 1877 he was compelled to retire from active effort for a year, on account of poor health. He was then sent to the United States by his religious superiors, and after a few months in New York City was settled over the parish of St. Anthony at Troy, New York, as their pastor. Father Santoro is a son of Allessio and Carmila (Rossi) Santoro, both natives of Italy, where his father died. He is one of eleven children. Two of his father's brothers took holy orders: Rev. Alphonso Santoro, of the Order of St. Francis, and Rev. Nicolo Santoro, who died in Rome, Italy, 1905.