Next month, the Wanneroo Parish community will gather in prayer, song, procession and celebration in honour of their patron saint – as they have done for the past 93 years.
Shaped by the migrant story of the Church in Western Australia, the annual feast or festa of St Anthony has been celebrated in Wanneroo since the original St Anthony of Padua Church opened in 1932.
In the early days, parishioners, many of whom hailed from an Italian migrant background, would celebrate Mass before taking to the streets in procession, carrying a statue of St Anthony – a tradition that continues today.
Now in its 94th year, the St Anthony of Padua Church procession exists as one of the Archdiocese’s longest-running devotional traditions. Its endurance speaks to the strength of faith carried by migrant communities and nurtured within parish life.
At the heart of the celebration is St Anthony, a beloved Franciscan saint known for his preaching, charity and deep spirituality. Widely invoked as the patron saint of lost things, St Anthony holds a special place in the hearts of the faithful, and the annual procession serves as a visible reminder of his enduring presence in the life of the Church.
The 2026 festival and procession of St Anthony will be held on Sunday 14 June, commencing with Holy Mass at 11.00am.
