Family of Parishes
WHO IS SAINT
PHILIP NERI?
St Philip lived in 16th Century Rome, initially as a layman looking after the sick and forming young people in the faith. During this period, he embraced a life of poverty and simplicity, and spent many hours of his day in prayer. At the age of 29, while praying in the catacombs, he felt the Holy Spirit enter his heart physically, enlarging it and exuding heat for the remainder of his life.​
On fire with the love of God, he eventually accepted ordination to the priesthood and began a zealous ministry for souls. He made himself available for confession and spiritual direction for young people at all hours of the day and night, especially in the early days of their conversions.
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He was known throughout Rome for his cheerfulness and humility. He was determined to teach the faithful how to engage in mental prayer. He and his brothers visited the sick in Rome's hospitals, looked after poor pilgrims and taught the faithful. He was anxious about his young people falling into sin and organised wholesome activities to help them avoid the occasions of sin.
Above: Chiesa Nuova - the Roman Oratory established by St Philip Neri. Source
WHAT IS AN
ORATORY?
St Philip wasn't initially intending to found a community, but young men gathered around him who were inspired by his priestly life and wanted to share in it. The congregation he founded became known as the Oratory, and other oratories have been founded throughout the world since St Philip's time. The Oratory was introduced into the English-speaking world by St John Henry Newman in the Nineteenth Century.
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We look forward to sharing more with you of the life of St Philip in the months ahead.
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BEGINNING IN
MELBOURNE
As of the 16th of November a new Oratory Project will begin in the parishes of Malvern, Malvern East, and Glen Iris. Fr Michael Gallacher, Patrick Harris, and Anthony Wright are excited to begin what we hope will become a stable community of priests and seminarians in our family of parishes. We look forward to accompanying you and your families for years to come, modelling ourselves as much as we are able, and by the grace of God, on the example of St Philip Neri.