Broward County’s first Catholic school celebrates centennial

By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic

Photography: Tom Tracy | FC

FORT LAUDERDALE | Jane Pangratz Smith walked into the classroom which once served as her seventh-grade homeroom, taking in the moment as memories came flooding back. Five decades ago, she had graduated from St. Anthony School in Fort Lauderdale as part of the class of 1975. Now, on Sept. 13, 2026, she had returned to celebrate her alma mater’s centennial.

Her daughter, Meghan Mauney, who came with Pangratz Smith for a special centennial tour of St. Anthony School, herself graduated from there in 2005. She thinks that her mother’s seventh-grade homeroom classroom is the same space that served as her reading room a generation later.

“It looks like it still is,” Pangratz Smith remarked.

A Fort Lauderdale native, she has grown up in this community and her family is still active at the parish church next door.

“Like everybody says, St. Anthony School is a home and the memories here are incredible. My class in particular — we are very close. I just sat with a classmate of mine during Mass today. I still keep in touch with many of the other students I graduated with.”

St. Anthony School, Broward County’s first Catholic school, officially launched its yearlong Centennial Celebration on Sept. 13 with a special Mass and celebration held on parish and school grounds. The community gave thanks for a century of Catholic education, honoring the generations whose faith, leadership and dedication have shaped them.

Highlights of the event included when a papal blessing document from Pope Leo XIV was displayed in the church, and when the mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Dean Trantalis, presented a proclamation on behalf of the city.

Following Mass, guests had an opportunity to tour the historic campus during an open house at the school; explore memorabilia displays highlighting the school’s history; and reconnect with classmates, former teachers and members of the St. Anthony community.

The centennial theme, “Honoring Our Past[,] Building Our Future,” reflects St. Anthony’s commitment to celebrating the people and traditions that shaped its history while preparing future generations to carry on its mission of faith, leadership and service.

Jenna McIntosh, principal, noted that the school has grown from a small parish school into a thriving campus serving more than 430 students in Pre-K 3 through eighth grade. The admissions waiting list is long.

“The thing about St Anthony is it is one of those places that has a hundred years of history, and with our [downtown] location, there are a lot of alumni in our community,” McIntosh said, adding the school has been in the process of renovations and upgrades to the campus.

The Catholic faith remains the foundation of the programming, she added, even well after the departure of the Adrian Dominican nuns from Michigan who once staffed the school.

“Catholic formation is the heart of who we are,” the principal emphasized. “St. Anthony [Parish] serves as the hub of our community and is what has brought so many multi-generational families through. We have had third- and fourth-generation families come through our doors.”

Traveling an hour by car to attend the centennial Mass and the school open house, alumna Yolanda Bero pointed out that her mother and each of her mother’s seven siblings attended St. Anthony School.

“I just love St. Anthony's – all my memories are fond ones,” said Bero, who graduated in 1985 and who now lives in Lake Worth.

“I still have the best friend I had in grade school, and this church holds a lot of memories. My parents were married here, we have had family funerals here. My aunt was an Adrian Dominican nun and a teacher here.”

Bero said she hadn’t been inside the school since graduating and that she was keen to ask around about a favorite teacher she had lost touch with.

“I loved my teachers, especially Maureen Thomas, whom I've never been able to find. I don't even know if she is still alive, but she changed my life by taking me under her wing, and she gave me a sense of purpose and a lifelong desire to learn. I became a teacher because of her.”

Ashley Herring, school board member, assisted at the open house. Although she is not an alumna, one of her children currently attends fifth grade at St. Anthony.

“I have had all three of my children [enrolled] here. When we first came on a tour here, we immediately felt like this was our community spot. They had the overall picture and total package for a student,” Herring said.

“They focus a lot on the well-rounded student with the spiritual/religious part, academics, a lot of community events, and athletics.”

Father Rolando Cabrera, pastor, pointed out that 100 years is much more than a number: it represents generations of children, families, teachers, priests, staff and parishioners who have been part of a beautiful story of faith and education.

“For a century, our school has sought not only to educate young minds, but also to form young hearts, to help children grow in knowledge, character, faith and love of God,” he said.

 

Join the celebration!

• St. Anthony School’s ongoing Centennial Celebration is open to alumni, current and former families, parishioners, friends of the school, and members of the community. Additional centennial events will be announced throughout the 2026-2027 school year. For more information, visit their website at https://www.saintanthonyschoolfl.org/alumni/reunions.