The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a congregation of Catholic priests and lay-brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity.
They are commonly referred to as Oratorians.
Our Founder
St. Philip Neri is known chiefly as the founder of the Roman Congregation of the Oratory.
Born on July 21, 1515, he grew up in Florence, where he was known as “Pippo Buono” – good little Philip – and was educated by the Dominican friars of San Marco.
While Sts. Peter and Paul are the classic “Apostles of Rome”, Philip came to be considered the “second Apostle of Rome”.
One day, in his 29th year, he experienced mystically the coming of the Holy Spirit as a burning ball of fire into his heart, and remaining deeply lodged there for the rest of Philip’s long life.
He was ordained a priest in 1551, almost 36 years old, a “delayed vocation”. He is known as the “Saint of Joy” and passed in the early hours of May 26, 1595, from this earthly life into heavenly glory
History and Life of the Oratory
"Servite Domino in Laetitia"
"Serve the Lord with Gladness " (Psalm 99)
Oratorian Saints
Asked how someone should become a saint, Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman replied:
“If you ask me what you are to do in order to be perfect, I say, first – Do not lie in bed beyond the due time of rising; give your first thoughts to God; make a good visit to the Blessed Sacrament; say the Angelus devoutly; eat and drink to God’s glory; say the Rosary well; be recollected; keep out bad thoughts; make your evening meditation well; examine yourself daily; go to bed in good time, and you are already perfect.”
Newman stated in his “Short Road to Perfection” that the journey towards sainthood is not easy and that there are no shortcuts. Let us consider the lives of the Saints that has travelled this road to its end already so that we might imitate their virtues on our own journey. We are called to Sainthood so that one day we might be live eternally in heaven with our Lord.
Parish
The parish of St Bernadette in Walmer, Port Elizabeth is served by the fathers and brother of the Oratory. The parish and the Oratory (which share the same premises) have a close relationship.
