SAN ANTONIO • “¡Viva San Felipe de Jesús!” was the phrase of the day, when St. Philip of Jesus Church and parish school celebrated 90 years of serving the near Southside on Saturday, Sept. 25.
    Established in 1914 as an offshoot of the nearby St. Henry Church, whose parishioners were predominately German, St. Philip of Jesus was formed under the guidance of Father Gerard Alsina to serve the Latin American community.
    From the beginning, it has embraced other ethnicities as well, however, and both church and school continue to draw back parishioners and their children who have moved out of the small neighborhood the parish encompasses.
    The church’s namesake is St. Philip of Jesus, a Franciscan priest from Mexico, who was martyred in Japan in 1597. For 39 years, Father Alsina served as the church’s pastor and sole priest, residing during the church’s early years in small quarters adjoining the church sacristy.
    Long-time parishioners recall his teaching catechism classes and ringing the old church bell by hand. He did not request an assistant until shortly before his death in 1953 and is still remembered with deep affection by older parishioners.

    In his first year there, Father Alsina oversaw the building of the original, wood frame school, which temporarily served as the first church. The first church building went up in 1915, with a rectory added in 1919, and served the parishioners until the current church was constructed in 1967. It is notable for being the first church in the diocese built under Vatican II guidelines.
    St. Philip of Jesus School, adjacent to the church, was served by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word for many years — from its start in 1915 through 1981. In later years, it was headed by the Hermanas Mercedarias del Santísimo Sacramento, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and, finally, by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

    The sisters’ first residence was completed in 1923 and enlarged in 1948. A new convent that could accommodate eight sisters was erected in 1956. The school itself was expanded to a two-story building in 1948 and was later replaced by a new two-story structure in 1956, in response to ever-growing enrollment. The school currently serves around 250 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, with Sister Celly Ann Amparano, SSND as principal for the past 10 years.
    Festivities to mark the 90th anniversary of St. Philip of Jesus began with a special evening Mass celebrated by Archbishop Patrick F. Flores, with concelebrants being Bishop Emeritus Bernard F. Popp; Father Rudolph T. Carrola, Jr. (parish priest at the church from 1991 to 1993); Msgr. Joseph Petsch; Father Maury Smith, OFM; and current pastor, Father Michael DeGerolami, who served as a parish priest at the church from 1989 to 1991 and returned as pastor in 1998.
The colorful entrance procession featured children from the parish school and religious education program in ethnic costumes that included the Far East, Mexico and the United States and parishioners bearing 23 banners representing the various active ministries in the parish. The 90th anniversary choir was directed by Sister Amparano.
    
     “It’s really beautiful to see all that has happened in this area, this community, during the course of 90 years,” said Archbishop Flores, who lauded the parishioners for their continual willingness to lend a helping hand to others. “Great things have happened, not only because buildings were being built,” he noted, “but because the buildings were being built to evangelize and instruct and teach the people from this community.” The archbishop related that in his travels throughout the diocese, the state and the country, he has often encountered persons who attended church or school at St. Philip of Jesus.
    He spoke of the new call to evangelization by Pope John Paul II, reminding the parishioners that “there is no new gospel, but rather a new recommitment to the basics of the Gospel.” He added that this involves love of God and others, being of service to others, and a spirit of forgiveness — all of which the community of St. Philip of Jesus had amply practiced over the years. Speaking of the many ills that beset modern society, including San Antonio, the archbishop urged the parish to continue to do their part in evangelizing society. “Let us offer the hand to help people help themselves, to live as God wants them to live,” he said.

     Father DeGerolami then invited those present to stand and give a round of applause for the archbishop, noting that this would probably be Archbishop Flores’ last official visit to the parish before his retirement. After thanking all who had assisted with the day’s celebration, Father DeGerolami, remarked, “An anniversary is a time to think, to reflect — reflect about the mission of the parish. And, according to our mission statement, we are committed here at St. Philip of Jesus to build ‘one unified community,’ ‘una sola comunidad.’ That is our goal.”
    He added, “As pastor of this wonderful parish and school, I am humbled by this opportunity to walk hand in hand with you as we follow Christ together in living our Christian faith.” He then asked those present to respond with the traditional “viva” to the church’s prayer, “¡Que viva San Felipe de Jesús!” and this was met with a resounding, “¡Viva!”

    Following the Mass, parents were invited to assist their children in taking with them the red and white balloons that decorated the foyer ceiling, as all processed out to the parish grounds for a barbecue dinner, with entertainment provided by Mariachi Toritos and Carolina Garcia. Also at this time, Professor Hank McDonnell, Amanda Burton and James Green of the Communication Arts Department at the University of the Incarnate Word were recognized for producing a parish documentary, which later ran continuously in the church for viewing.
    In this video, Father DeGerolami referred to the 90th anniversary celebration as not only a celebration of the past and those who have gone before, but a celebration of thanksgiving and looking to the future, as the church’s 100th anniversary draws near. “We hope that we can prepare the way for the 100th celebration,” he said. “It is a good shot in the arm for us to realize how much this institution, especially the parish school, mean to the people of this community and people who come from outside of this community.”