History

** St. Phillips History **

In 1908 there was a group of committed young Christian believers who believed in taking care of their community and committing their lives to helping out others. They were giving back to the town for what the town had done for them. They helped out in soup kitchens and restored houses so people wouldn't have to live in the streets. They even helped out at other parishes. At the time the town was a community centred town that helped each other out. Soon they town decided to give back to this caring, generous group. A group of builders and carpenters had come together to build a headquarters for this group so that this group could now work from a building. It would give them the opportunity to store and hold charity events to raise money for the group. This building was established on the 6th of April 1910 after hours and hours of effort. Originally the building was used as a storage facility and a town hall that could be used to run charity events. Eventually this group decided after years of practising good moral and generosity they decided to give back for their good fortune and create a town meeting place. A strong community based facility aimed at bringing the wider community together. This is how they come up with the idea of creating a warm sense of community which is the church.

The group which was unnamed believed in the idea that the church would not be established as a church until it became a community run church. This happened on the 21st of January 1911 in which the church was christened, the Church of St Phillip the honourable. The generous group was then named the St Phillip Jesuits. It started off with the local town butcher and hairdresser who ran a mass once a week. Soon a few people turned up, and then a dozen, and then a couple of hundred until the church was finally up and running and up until now is still bringing people together. Our current priest father Jahulovic has studied for many years and is still based on St Philip the Honourables original morals of bringing the wider community together. St Phillips is now a community based church which focuses on building it's church to be the best it can be. Here is a more detailed parish timeline of events that affected the parish and community.

__**St Phillip the Honourable Parish Timeline**__

1908: A group of dedicated young members of the Ho Chi Mihn City society dedicated their lives to helping out the Ho Chi Mihn City Community. 1909: A secret meeting was held between the Mayor and the Ho Chi Mihn City community about giving back to the dedicated young members of the Ho Chi Mihn City Society. 1910: Building is established for the group for storage and charity events. 1911: St Phillip the Honourable Parish is established for the Ho Chi Mihn City society of Venezuela. 1912: First parish priest; Father Peter is appointed priest this year. Father Benedict is appointed assisting priest. 1921: St Phillips choir becomes an established part of the everyday mass. 1922: St Phillips finally hosts mass for more than 150 people. 1926: Renovations to the Church include new pews and extra storage facilities. 1931: Bishop Michael the 9th blesses the church for the 20 year anniversary of St Phillips the Honourable parish society. 1937: Father Peter Passes Away Due to Prostate cancer. Father Benedict becomes a Cardinal and is in the running for Pope. 1937: Father Carl and Father Jim are appointed parish priests. 1938: Father Benedict is elected Pope. 1941: 30 year anniversary of St. Phillips parish. 1942: War breaks out leaving the priests to fight for the country. The church is taken over by nuns. 1943: Women's Auxiliary is started and initially run by Nuns. 1945: War ends and the Priests and the men come back. Father Carl once again takes over the church but has unfortunately lost a leg. 1968: The annual Parish Trivia night is held for the first time in conjunction with the new church building. 1966: Father Carl is forced into retirement from ministry of the priesthood due to gambling addiction on the TV game show "The Price is Right". 1967: Father Akmed is appointed the assistant priest. The sisters leave claiming that Father Akmed had abused them. No charges were laid on Father Akmed. 1969: After a long 32 years at St. Phillips, Father Jim decides to retire. 1969: Father Alastair is appointed the new Parish Priest. 1975: The St. Phillips Softball club is established. 1979: The St. Phillips Softball club win the grand final. 1981: The Church celebrates it 70 year anniversary. The council decides to fund the church with some money for its long awaited renovations. The church can now seat over 300 adults. 1985: The church is trashed by graffiti artists. Over $21,000 damage was caused. 1986: Father Akmed disappears, after a month missing Father Jezalinko is appointed the new assistant priest. 1990: The church hosts its first annual fair. 1991: The church fair committee and Italian prayer group is formed. 1995: Father Alastair dies of frostbite after an attempt to break a world record. 1995: Father Jahulavic is appointed the new Parish Priest. 1996: Pope John the 5th visits St. Phillips. Over 1000 people come to see Pope John. 2000: Father Jezalinko leaves the priesthood to pursue his lifelong dream as a singer, do far he is unsuccessful. 2000: Father Jamal is appointed the new assistant priest. 2001: The parish celebrates its 90th anniversary of since the establishment of the church. 2004: St Phillips Primary School and The College of Moses the Great Open. 2006: Prep - 12 All - Ed Catholic School Opens due to a high demand in catholic schools. 2009: Father Jezalinko finally has the chance to make it big in the singing world after a top 5 performance in 'So You Think you're a Priest (singing edition)