We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.
Weekly Bulletin March 5, 2023
by Terrie Evans
On this 2nd of Lent, we extend many thanks to all those dedicated men and women from San Antonio Church, all their families and friends who gave up their time to make the first fundraiser event of 2023 our annual Pizza Party a success. Our kitchen crew, bakers and the staff who handled all the orders and covered the drive thru, we thank you. One of those crewmembers, Vic Minella handled the many tasks to get this Saturday, March 4th event completed for the benefit of San Antonio Church. Vic, his wife Marilyn and their family members have volunteered and done the many jobs our grandparents before us have done to keep our church going. Every Sunday before our 9:00 AM Mass and on all Lunch on the House Tuesday’s Vic and Marilyn were the first to arrive and the last to leave. After he retired, and on the urging of his cousin Richard “Mussie” Minella, Vic would go on to use his managerial skills to align our volunteers in an orderly way for the benefit our church. He became the liaison within our Parish Family working with Fr. Jim Kiffmeyer, Fr. Len Wenke, and our new pastor, Fr. Rudy at Holy Family Parish. Vic and Marylin returned in 2007 to San Antonio Church and to the old neighborhood of Vic Minella’s Grandparents, Giovanni Pasquale Raffaele (1877-1963) and Philomena (Perrone) Minella (1881-1974).
His grandparents were born and married in Felitto, Italy in 1899 before arriving in America around 1902 with their first born, Vic’s father Victor “Vito” Minella Sr. ( 1899-1985). After their arrival, they settled in Old Forge, Pennsylvania where jobs were available to work in the mines and it was there that they became Naturalized citizens. After settling in Cincinnati, Giovanni Pasquale Raffaele and Philomena Minella welcomed siblings Vic’s Aunts and Uncles, Anna (Minella) Augustine (1904-1992), Sabato “Sam” Minella (1906-1946), Mathilda Lea (Minella) Zompero-Macaluso, Antoinette May “Nay Nay”(Minella) Lee (1911-1997), Therese (Minella) Frye (1912-1997), Rose Marie (Minella) Dattilo (1915-2014), Catherine “Kate” Minella (1918-2011, and Herman “Hermie” Minella (1920-1993).
The large Minella Family was part of the group of Italian immigrants who settled in the Little Italy section of South Fairmount at 1985 Queen City Avenue close to the Schiavo family at 1990 Queen City. The Esposito Family at 1994 Queen City Avenue and the Panaro Family at 1998 Queen City Avenue. These family members along with other residents of the Upper and Lower Lick Run sections of “ Little Italy” came together with Sr. Blandina, Sr. Justina, and Sr. Euphrasia to help start our early church, work the first Festivals, Spaghetti Dinners, and years later be involved with the Monte Carlo Nights along with the many Fish Frys that united all these families to keep San Antonio Church alive.
Vic’s Aunts, Anna, Kate, Mathilda, Nay Nay and Rose were dedicated parishioners who attended Mass and celebrated many milestones, meetings and events that made San Antonio unique. Vic’s father, Victor “Vito” Minella Sr. (1899-1985) the oldest Minella Sibling served in the United Sates Army during WWI while his younger brothers Herman and Sabato “Sam” Minella would help their parents support the church. After serving in the Army Air Corps, Vic’s father Victor Minella Sr. wed Loretta (Fisher) Minella (1907-1976) and welcome daughters Mary Margaret (Minella) Mills (1926-1964), Delores Minella (1928-1929 lost in infancy), Phyllis R. (Minella) Clyde (1931-2012), Geraldine M. (Minella)) Gilligan (1939-2019), Cheryl Willenborg, and the youngest Victor Minella Jr. Our dedicated parishioner and volunteer, Vic Minella Jr. would marry his high school sweetheart Marilyn Schuster on August 29,1959 when he was a mechanic and she worked as a stenographer.
They celebrated 64 years as a married couple in 2023 with their children Vic III, Lynn, Barb (who was here many Sundays as a lecture when needed), and Janet (who lives in Florida) along with their families have continued to offer support and volunteer for fundraisers at San Antonio Church, especially during our 100th Anniversary year in 2022. We appreciate their efforts for always being available to us when needed. We will never forget the Minella Family for always carrying on the tradition, dedication, and mission of our church for the last 16 years.