The Highlights of our History
1959: Monsignor Philip Coffey of Holy Cross parish in Oshawa saw the need for a Catholic Church in the south end of Oshawa. He was instrumental in the building of our parish. We were a mission Church of Holy Cross until May 31, 1968, when the parish was canonically established as a parish of the Archdiocese of Toronto, and Father Harold MacMillan became our first pastor.
1969-1976: Father Edward Lawlor was appointed in October 1969, and church life began to flourish. He established a group of advisors to the pastor, which paved the way for the eventual establishment of the first Parish Council.
1976-1984: In November 1976, Father Frank Skumavc succeeded Father Lawlor. The laity became involved in programs and organizations such as R.C.I.A, Knights of Columbus, and many more. In 1980 a Parish Council was formed. More space was needed and, through financial support from the government, a new rectory and office was completed in December 1983.
1984-2000: On November 1, 1984, Father Paul Lennon succeeded Father Skumavc, and many more social and spiritual programs were established. After many BINGO fundraisers, we were able to pay off the mortgage, and growth continued.
2000-2004: On July 1, 2000, Father Edward Ewczynski became Pastor. His goal was to inspire the children to attend Mass with their parents, and assure them that a priest was approachable; as Jesus himself said, “Let the little children come to me.” (Matthew 19:14) He invited the children to say the “Our Father” on the altar with him during Mass. The 40th Anniversary of the Parish was celebrated on November 10, 2001.
2004-2006: Father Xavier DePinto became our new Pastor, and remarked how St. Philip the Apostle had become a beacon of light in Oshawa. He organized a children’s choir and assisted with continued parish growth through its various ministries.
2006-2009: Father Makarios Isaac succeeded Fr. DePinto. The parish became involved in many activities such as bake sales and Bazaars. Fr. Isaac refurbished our Chapel for Mass and Adoration through the week.
2009-2012: We welcomed Father Callistus St. Louis after Fr. Isaac. Parish life continued until, unfortunately, a fire on Christmas morning 2009 put activities on hold. It was a painful experience for the congregation. Several months were needed to restore the sanctuary. During that time, Sunday Masses were held in the gymnasium at Monsignor Philip Coffey school.
2012-2022; Fr. Keith Callaghan succeeded Fr. St. Louis while serving as pastor of Holy Cross Parish. St. Philip’s parish life continued to progress and was adapted as needed under his leadership during the Covid-19 Pandemic, until his retirement in 2022. The 50th Anniversary of the parish quietly came and went in the midst of the pandemic and the limitations it placed on parish life.
July 2022: We welcomed Fr. Jorge Lopez to St. Philip the Apostle. As a parish community, we are confident that we will continue to flourish under his guidance, as well as his enthusiasm to evangelize and motivate the congregation to become active members of the community, both within the parish and our homes, neighbourhoods, and in society.
So, who is St. Philip the Apostle?
Feast Day, May 3
The Patron Saint of Hatters and Pastry Chefs
St. Philip is mentioned in all the Gospels and in Acts of the Apostles. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke mention St. Philip as one of the original 12 Apostles.
Philip was a disciple of Jesus from the city of Bethsaida. He shares this hometown with the Apostles Andrew and Peter. Philip likely knew Jesus from the first days of His public ministry. He was present when John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus to be the Lamb of God.
Jesus called Philip the day after He called Peter, inviting him with the words, “Follow me.” Philip was also present at the Wedding Feast at Cana, where Jesus worked His first recorded public miracle.
St. Philip is listed multiple times in the Gospels as one of the original 12 Apostles. He is involved in several stories. Notably, when Jesus asked how they might feed the multitude, it was Philip who allegedly explained that spending a large sum of money would still be insufficient to feed everyone even a small meal.
On another occasion, it was Philip who, along with Andrew, informed Jesus that a group of Greek pilgrims wanted to speak with him. And it was Philip who asked to see God the Father, to which Jesus explained “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 12:8)
It is believed that St. Philip was born in 3 AD in Bethesda, Israel and was martyred in 80 AD in Hierapolis in Asia Minor, which is now the nation of Turkey. It is also believed that St. Philip was crucified sideways. For this reason, he is often depicted with a cross, which is sometimes on its side.
St. Philip the Apostle’s feast day is May 3. He is the patron saint of hatters and pastry chefs.