Saint Philip Church Updates
-
-
Background on the pending sale of Saint Philip Church
Our Lady of Hope Finance Committee and Pastoral Council met together with Fr. Anthony to review a proposal that would address the parish’s current and projected operating losses as well as its excess facilities capacity. The proposal was made and accepted by the Bishop to sell Saint Philip Church. You can read the full letter under the links section on this page. We will also post future updates to this page and links to other documents as they are created and distributed.
Updates will be provided through several mediums, including bulletin, website, Flocknotes and occasionally with mailings to homes and on Facebook. Sign up for Flocknotes texts and email with the link on this page. -
Special Mass of Transition
On Saturday, November 23rd at 4:00 PM, we honored the final weekly Mass at Saint Philip Church and its founding 155 years ago in November 1869 (see the history section below). We invited parishioners of Our Lady of Hope Parish to join in celebrating a Special Mass of Transition at the church on West Street in Grafton Center.
The conclusion of the Mass included a closing prayer as parishioners held small candles. The first 2 candles were lit from the Paschal Candle. Then the "Light of the World" was shared to all. After all parishioners had their candles lit, the Litany of the Saints was sung, including the name of Saint Philip Benizi, the saint for whom Saint Philip Church was named in 1869.
A final prayer was said, followed by a blessing and an invitation for parishioners and their friends to attend a special gathering at Saint Philip Church in early 2025 that will feature a gathering, a meal, and a time of fellowship and music to reminisce and remember the legacy and people of Saint Philip which is our 'mother church.'
You can watch the Mass video HERE.
We thank all of you who joined us in prayer and fellowship on Saturday, November 23rd, 2024.
-
-
History of Saint Philip Parish 1830s 'til now
-
The original chapel was built in the 1850's.
The construction of the current church was completed in 1977.
-
The story of Saint Philip Church began in the early 1830s when a group of Grafton families was visited by Rev. James Litton, “the missionary of New England”. The Grafton church was a mission of Christ Church in Worcester, Saint Brigid in Millbury, Saint Mary in Uxbridge, and Saint Ann in Worcester.
During the 1850's, a small chapel was constructed on West Street in Grafton center and dedicated in 1861 to the patronage of Saint Philip Benizi. The church was enlarged during the 1860's and in 1869 became a parish by itself with the appointment of Rev. Angelus Baret as the first pastor.
Since its founding, Saint Philip has been the mother church of four parishes — the former Holy Angels in Upton (now part of Saint Gabriel in Mendon), Saint James in Fisherville (South Grafton), Saint Mary in North Grafton, and Our Lady of Lourdes in East Millbury. The parish priests of Saint Philip also tended to the Grafton State Hospital and Crescent Manor Nursing Home.
Through the years, Saint Philip has been served by 19 pastors and more than 25 curates and associates. Rev. James Boyle, the second pastor, expended his energy in building the rectory and churches in the other parts of town. His successor, Rev. John Murphy, beautified the church and cemetery.
Among the longer serving pastors during the twentieth century were Rev. John Casey (1925-1945), Rev. James Ruddy (1952-1968), Rev. Raymond Lange (1969-1977), Msgr. Richard Collette (1979-1985), and Rev. Anthony Marteka who served from 1985 to 2010 and led the parish into the twenty-first century.
While the “old Saint Philip Church” building served the parish for well over 100 years, it was replaced in 1977 by a new, modern building designed to better serve the needs of the growing parish. Additions to the church through the years include outdoor statues, illuminated starburst crosses, carillon bells, and stained glass windows.
Today, as through the long history of Saint Philip Church, the pastor and parishioners work and pray together as they build for the future a parish family in the long and honored tradition of dedication to “the glory of God and the service of His people”. This tradition is carried on through Our Lady of Hope Parish which merged the 3 Grafton churches of Saint Philip, Saint James and Saint Mary into one parish in July 2022, serving the Catholic community of Grafton and beyond.
In the Summer of 2024, Fr. Anthony Mpagi, with the Pastoral Council and Finance Committee, made the difficult decision to move forward and sell Saint Philip Church. This was due to the parish’s current and projected financial loss and excess capacity. Of the three Our Lady of Hope churches, Saint Philip was chosen due to its marketability and limited impact to the parish mission. Bishop McManus gave his conceptual blessing for this on August 29, 2024. The parishioners were informed on October 19, 2024.
The final, weekly mass was held on November 23, 2024. Saint Philip Church and its founding 155 years ago in November 1869 was honored. Many parishioners of Our Lady of Hope Parish joined in celebrating a Special Mass of Transition at the.
The conclusion of the Mass included a closing prayer as parishioners held small candles. The first 2 candles were lit from the Paschal Candle by Patti Hart and Rita Whiting, long-time parishioners and great servants to Saint Philip Church. Then the "Light of Christ" was shared to all. After all parishioners had their candles lit, the Litany of the Saints was sung, including the name of Saint Philip Benizi, the saint for whom Saint Philip Church was named in 1869.
-