Fr Gerard Harper January 1962 - June 1969 was one of the first Priests to be ordained in the chapel of St. Joseph's Seminary so in a way he was coming home. He had some considerable experience of building and had managed the construction of St. Vincent's College in Bendigo and a school, church and presbytery at Medina in W.A. in the fifties. He was an outspoken man who called a spade a bloody shovel and he was ready to use it. Following the Episcopal Visitation of March 1966 Bishop Muldoon wrote to Cardinal Gilroy "new church should strongly be considered". Building had commenced on Macquarie University in 1964. It was finished in '67 putting more pressure on the Parish. As the old Italian market gardens were sold and turned into housing areas more young families moved into the area.

Fr. Harper kicked off by writing to parishioners announcing a new series of envelopes. The Parish debt had been paid off, leaving only the diocesan education tax of $3,0()(). There were now about 600 families in the Parish and he estimated that a new church to seat 500-600 would cost around $100,000.00. At this time a new three bedroom project house on one of the old market garden sites cost around $20,000. Fr. Harper offered an alternative; the old church could be extended about 13 metres to accommodate 350 people. This would be only a temporary measure as the new church was inevitable. Fr. Harper threw himself into the Parish work and preparations for the new church. An assistant, Fr. L. Quinn C.M. was appointed in 1965, and was replaced by~ Fr. Hugh Murray C.M. in June '66. Work commenced in 1968. The architect was Mr Enrico Taglietti, from Canberra, and the builder Allan C. Smith & Co. Even though Fr. Harper was suffering from a serious illness, he still put all his efforts into the building. To the numerous questions "what is it?", "is it a service .station?" etc. he just said "wait and see". Although 62 children made their First Holy Communion on 8th December 1968 in the new church, it was officially opened by Cardinal Gilroy on 12th January, 1969. St. Anthony's accommodates 600 to 650 people comfortably and 800 at a pinch and cost $88,000. The opening mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. J.K. O'Reilly C.M., the Provincial. The assistants to the Cardinal were Very Rev. T. O'Reilly C.M., the Superior of St. Joseph's and Fr. Harper. Two former Parish Priests, Frs. Hayes and Conlon assisted the Cardinal at the Blessing and the Master of Ceremonies was Fr. Hugh Murray (who else?). The organist was Mr William Fitzgerald (now a Norbertine Priest in W.A.). The Entrance Antiphon read "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God: this is the gate of Heaven; and it shall be called the Court of God." The unusual design excited much interest. People talked about the sweeping roof planes and the expressed rainwater outlets, children still love them, especially in wet weather though they are not so popular with parents. The simple steel and concrete, symbols of the modern world, are softened by the rough timber beams forming the cross and the subtle intrusion of nature's greenery glimpsed through the four semi circular windows. The functional interior and sloping floor focuses attention on the altar and the large verandah caters for those who follow the advise of a fifties pop song; "the place where I worship is the wide open spaces". It reflects the church "laidback" rather than the old church "militant". Twenty years after it opened a contributor to "The Vincentian" magazine commenting on structural strength wrote; "Don't ever worry about the steel trusses collapsing and dropping the roof on the communicants. The chance of that happening is about as remote as the choir singing a hymn that I know." Fr. Harper was very ill in the final building stages and was admitted to Calvary Hospital, Kogarah, in May and died on 31st May 1969. The parishioners built the Fr. Harper Memorial Oval in his fond memory but his real monument is our church. He is sorely missed and often remembered in the numerous stories about his colourful language, novel sermons and spectacular terms of abuse.