The Philadelphia Oratory at Saint Francis Xavier Church

06/15/2026

Our first coffee hour was a huge success! Join us after the 10:30 Sunday Mass each week this summer for great coffee, homemade lemonade, delicious treats, and a chance to hang out with fellow parishioners!

06/10/2026

Pictures from Fr. Joshua Edmund Vargas' First Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, May 31, 2026.

Photos courtesy of Miriam Gaudete Photography.

06/05/2026

We are delighted to share photos from the priestly ordination of Father Joshua Edmund Vargas on May 30, 2026 at the hands of Bishop Keith J. Chylinski. Please keep Father Joshua and the Philadelphia Oratory in your prayers.

Photos courtesy of Emma Dallman Photography.

05/26/2026

04/05/2026

Happy Easter from the Oratory!

04/05/2026

Happy Easter! Christus Resurrexit! Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

For Christ, arising from the dead,
from conquered hell victorious sped,
he thrust the tyrant down to chains,
and Paradise for man regains.
(Ad cenam Agni providi, 5th century Latin hymn)

We encourage you all during this octave of Easter to exchange the traditional Easter greeting:
Christ is risen!
Response: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Every place where Christianity has ancient roots this greeting exists in the local or liturgical language. Additionally, the Church grants us an indulgence for exchanging the greeting during the octave of Easter (until next Sunday).

Latin: Christus resurrexit! Vere resurrexit!
Spanish: Cristo ha resucitado! En verdad ha resucitado!
Greek: Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!
Ukranian: Khristos voskres! Voistinu voskres!
French: Le Christ est réssuscité! En verite il est réssuscité!
Italian: Cristo e' risorto! Veramente e' risorto!
German: Christus ist auferstanden! Wahrlich Er ist auferstanden!

Artwork:
"Resurrection" — Carl Bloch (1881)
"The Three Marys at the Tomb" (1876) - William Bouguereau