St Phillip Neri Catholic Church Soweto Gauteng

St Philip Neri Catholic Church is a Catholic parish that was built in 1962 and opened its doors in May 1962.It serves mostly the communities of Moletsane, Tladi, Naledi, Naledi Ext, Jabulani, Jabulani Flats, Emdeni and other surrounding areas around Moletsane township in Soweto. It is named after Saint Philip Neri, an Italian priest who is also known as the Second Apostle of Rome after St Peter.

St Philip Neri Catholic Church is made up of many faithful people who serve the parish and community in numerous ways – from worship, religious education and formation, sacramental preparation and spiritual development.We strive to be a welcoming parish that reflects the heart, mercy and teachings of Christ, the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and the spirit of joy manifested by our patron saint St. Philip Neri. We pray you find St. Philip Neri Catholic Church a warm, welcoming home and a place where you can deepen your faith and become a part of our Catholic faith community.

Mission & Vision

Aims at creating an informed, involved, and acting Christian community and a financially self-sustaining parish to enable parishioner to support one another and serve the people of God through:

Maintenance of small Christian communities Proper orientation and receiving of new Christians to our catholic faith and church. Liturgy. Caring for the sick and poor. Caring for the youth of the parish Parish support of parishioners on matters of bereavement, weddings, and Counseling on the matter of concern. Creating the capacity for the parish to be financially self-sustaining.

 

Download St Phillip Neri Catholic Church vCard with Mass Times

Click here to contact the church  

Download Lead Father Fr Limpho Maoela vCard

Click here to contact Fr Limpho Maoela  

 

https://stphilipneri.co.za/  

 

 

Know how to get there? Share the knowledge with others!  

Please share parking information and/or parking experience!  

 

 

 

ST Phillip Neri Catholic Parish History

The early sixties ushered a new era in the life of the Diocese of Johannesburg. It was an era when Soweto Catholic Congregations left Class-Rooms and other make-shift venues of worship Churches. Indeed, we can well remember the days when we worshipped even under trees. The exodus from these makeshift venues was a gradual one. In that process, St Phillip Neri came about. For a very long time Holy Cross Parish in Zola was the only Catholic Church in the one time site and service area west of the rail line.

In 1962, Rev Fr Coleman OMI began work at the present Moletsane site. One of his team members was Mr Johannes Nxumalo who is one of the stalwarts of our faith. Shortly, the Church was ready for the official opening. That presented an immediate financial problem, the act of opening and dedicating a Church goes hand in hand with thanks giving, celebration and rejoicing. These go along with having to spend money.

DOOR TO DOOR VISITS

We then went out into the neighbourhood and to our places of work to seek donations. These ranged from a cent to more. The enthusiasm was tremendous. In a matter of weeks the Church was officially opened and the Parish Priest was then, the Rev Fr Barnabas Mbatha OMI, a young and energetic man. In no time a Church Choir was put together and worked hard on a number of Latin Masses. At that time we had two Choirs; one for the first mass and another for the second mass. One of the highlights of this period was the number of nuptual masses we used to have.

In 1963, Rev Fr Mbatha was succeeded by Rev Fr Christian Phetla OMI. By and large, he continued as his predecessors had been doing. We used to tease Rev Fr Phetla a lot about his sermons, they used to be extra long. He laughed it off but did not shorten the sermons. Rev Fr Phetla used to cycle from Moroka to St Philip Neri Parish every day.

n 1965, Rev Fr Makgokolo was succeeded by Rev Fr Buckley OMI, a dear old man who truly belonged to the old school. He was a war veteran and therefore his hearing was rather impaired. This caused the confessional pattern to be modified, this he did by himself. You ought to know that Rev Fr Buckley was a Priest. according to the order of Melehizedek and that was it. This is how we came to accept him. Needless to say, this did upset the apple cart in a way. After some time we got wind of the fact that he was going to be 75 years and the date coincided with his 50th anniversary as a Priest. Immediately, the Parish got together and decided to give him a surprise party for the two events. As we went on with the preparations we wondered if he wouldn’t refuse to come to his own party. Fr Buckley being Fr Buckley. We invited people from Parishes where he had served and those who knew him came. When he walked in, we all held our breath. He stood there, looked around and just gaped. After having received all his presents, he stood up to speak. All he said was “I am overwhelmed. Thank you very much” and that was all.

n 1967, Rev Fr Buckley was succeeded Rev Fr Samson Kataka OMI. This time we had some one who was very fond of a black baret and cassock with a big customary OMI sach. He was tough with the Alter Boys. It is Rev Fr Kataka who was the first Priest to be …

In 1971, Rev Fr Kataka was succeeded by Rev Fr Joseph Leathem OMI, who stayed for only 3 months.

In 1972, Rev Fr Leathem was succeeded by Rev Fr Enoch Kini Shomang OMI. His youthful ideas tended to ruffle many a feather. Here we had a young man who was very strong on homilies. It could have been that he was ahead of the Parish in ecumenism. Rev Fr Shomang had a very strong thrust towards the youth in the Church and encouraged spontaneous prayer a lot. It was during this time that the introduction of the Ministers of Eucharist and the Moletsane Catholic Youth League (MOCYL) took root.

It was also during this period that the Black Priest Solidarity Group was born. Our Priest played a pivotal role and urged some members of the Congregation to participate

Rev Fr Shomang was very active in starting the neighbourhood Gospel Groups (Small Christian Communities) in 1976. He took mass to the homes of the Parishioners, especially those who had been victims of detention. Chorus-singing and the clapping of hands were introduced by Rev Fr Shomang

Rev Fr Shomang got arrested and detained. One day the Security brought him to the Parish to search his rooms. His hands were cuffed and his feet were chained. That very evening, the Parishioners organized a night vigil to which many people came, the Clergy and the Lay. Archbishop Desmond Tutu addressed the people while Rev Fr Shomang led the Assembly in a very moving prayer. What was most significant that evening was the fact that the organizers had bound the Alter in Chains to signify that a man of God had been chained.

In 1981, Rev Fr Shomang was succeeded by Rev Fr Theophilus Lesiba Malotsa, commonly known as Fr Bisto, he continued as his predecessors had been doing. It was during his time that Parishioners became very vocal against the showing of secular films in the Church as a way of raising funds. The Congregation felt it was improper use of the House of the Lord.

In 1985, Rev Fr Malotsa was succeeded by Rev Fr Emmanuel Lafont

REV FATHER LESIBA BISTO MALOTSA OMI

He was the 8th Priest of St Phillip Neri He Presided from 1981 to 1985 (3 years and 2 months) On his arrival there were 3169 Parishioners already baptised He Baptised 370 new Catholics On his departure, there were 3539 parishioners baptised.

RT REV BISHOP EMMANUEL LAFONT

He was the 9th Priest of St Phillip Neri He Presided from 1985 to 1994 (9 years and 8 months). On his arrival there were 3539 Parishioners already baptised. Baptised 1273 new Catholics On his departure, there were 4812 parishioners baptised. He is currently a Bishop Of French Guyana in South America

REV FATHER EZEKIEL MKHWANAZI

He was the 10th Priest of St Phillip Neri He Presided from 1995 to 1996 (10 months) On his arrival there were 4812 Parishioners already baptised He Baptised 136 new Catholics On his departure, there were 4948 parishioners baptised He left Ministry in 2006

REV FATHER PETRUS SHIYA

He was the 11th Priest of St Phillip Neri He Presided from 1996 to 1999 (3 years and 6 months) On his arrival there were 4948 Parishioners already baptised He Baptised 383 new Catholics On his departure, there were 5331 parishioners baptised He is currently a Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima in Dube Soweto

REV FATHER GREGORY NKOSI

He was the 12th Priest of St Phillip Neri He Presided from 2000 to 2002 (2 years) On his arrival there were 5331 Parishioners already baptised He Baptised 218 new Catholics On his departure, there were 5549 parishioners baptised He left Ministry in 2004 He is currently a Part Time Chaplain at Leeukop Maximum Prison, and also a Production Manager in a Corporate Company

REV FATHER SIKHOSIPHI MGOZA Op

He was the 13th Priest of St Phillip Neri He Presided from 2002 to 2009 (7 years and 7 months) On his arrival there were 5549 Parishioners already baptised He Baptised 423 new Catholics On his departure, there were 5972 parishioners baptised He is currently a Parish Priest of Holy Family in Turfontein.

REV FATHER RAPHAEL NTLOU Op

He was the 14th Priest of St Phillip Neri He Presided from 2009 to 2012 (2 years and 5 months) On his arrival there were 5972 Parishioners already baptised He Baptised 98 new Catholics On his departure, there were 6070 parishioners baptised He is currently a Parish Priest Of two Parishes, St Lewis Bertrand Parish at Paynneville in Springs and St Rose of Lima at Delmas in Mpumalanga