What is distinctive about your parish? It is easy to overlook St. Philip, tucked away behind Falls Church High School, in the midst of a neighborhood. The parish features quiet and spacious grounds, and a playground behind the school, all ringed by trees. Benches and statues allow for relaxation and reflection. Deer, foxes, racoons and even turtles share the grounds. Amid a busy area just about a mile from the Beltway, St. Philip is a small oasis.
St. Philip has three choirs (one English, two Hispanic). The English choir sings mainly polyphony, from the 16th century to the present. Rather than an entrance hymn, we sing Propers, a simple call-and-response form with the congregation composed by our music director, Tim Dusenbury. The same format is followed during Communion, followed by a traditional hymn.
Visitors should see the renovated church. The worship space started out as a gym and a place for parish events. A major renovation in 2007 brought a full baptismal pool and nine stained-glass windows. The baptismal pool is eight-sided to signify the “eighth day” of re-creation, when Jesus rose from the dead. In the four corners of the pool are beautiful mosaics of the four evangelists. The pool is located at the entrance, to signify baptism as the door to the Church and the other sacraments.
Eight stained-glass windows feature Jesus’ parables. Priests and deacons refer to them in their homilies on the parables. The ninth, the “St. John Window,” illustrates five vignettes of the life of St. Philip the Apostle, which appear in the Gospel of St. John. Thanks to that beautiful, colorful window, parishioners have much more knowledge of the parish patron.
What’s new with parish ministries? Post-pandemic, we have had some significant new initiatives. One is Heaven in Your Home Gatherings, a program started by Trinity House Community, for families to strive to imitate the Trinity in various ways, share their progress and learn from each other in adult discussion. The ministry is offered in English and Spanish.
Initiatives based on the popular podcasts “The Bible in a Year” and “The Catechism in a Year” have attracted all types of parishioners.
How do you support faith formation? The parish offers the usual forms of faith formation, most under Director of Religious Education Pamela Copley, in English and Spanish. Each month during the academic year, there are presentations for the parents of children in religious education.
To support the catechesis of children with intellectual disabilities, we offer a dedicated class, overseen by parents whose children are in the program and other volunteers with instructional and related expertise.
Each year around Pentecost, there is a special Mass where the children receive their sacraments, followed by a lunch to celebrate this spiritual milestone.
Another blessing of faith formation is Director of Youth Ministry Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist Marie Benedict Elliott, whose convent is on the parish grounds.
For many years, the parish has hosted weekend retreats and spiritual outreach presented by the People of Praise, a covenant, ecumenical community of Catholics and other Christians. Recently, an Exodus 90 group of parishioners attended a weekend retreat in preparation for Lent.
What should we know about your clergy? The clergy highlight the various phases of the priesthood, from the time when they first discern their call to be a priest, through the various years of ministry as they live out their sacred vocation. Father Philip D. Briggs, parochial vicar, was ordained less than a year ago; Father Denis M. Donahue, pastor, has been a priest more than 30 years; and our priest-in-residence, Father Michael C. Isenberg, diocesan vocations director, has been ordained for 10 years, where he oversees the men discerning and being trained for the priesthood.
Is there a standout volunteer you would like to recognize? Like most parishes, St. Philip relies heavily on volunteers. Among those is Roberto Melendez, who has for many years conducted a rosary group in his house to pray for the parish. The group outgrew his home and began meeting at the parish, where study of the Bible, the catechism and various spiritual works follow the rosary. Roberto serves as a sacristan on Sundays and at funerals, and is a member of the parish “Grupo de Oración,” where for years he has served as an unofficial spokesman and leader for the Hispanic community.
Quick facts
St. Philip the Apostle Church
7500 St. Philip’s Court
Falls Church, VA 22042
703/573-3808
Website: stphilipsparish.com
Social media: facebook.com/StPhilipCatholicChurch
Pastor: Fr. Denis M. Donahue
Parochial vicar: Fr. Philip D. Briggs
In residence: Fr. Michael C. Isenberg
Deacons: Vincent Cong T. Nguyen, Robin W. Sardegna
Mass schedule:
Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. (Spanish), 4 p.m. (bilingual)
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m., 7 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.
Confession:
Sunday: 12:30 p.m.
Monday: 7 a.m.
Tuesday: 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 7 a.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m., 4 p.m.
Year established: 1962
Total parishioners: 4,528
