Summer of 2014 – Father Alberto, C.O. (at the time a Diocesan Priest), Fr. Nicholas, C.O. (at the time a seminarian for the Diocese of Trenton) and a group of seminarians discussed the life of parish priesthood. During that discussion, it was suggested by one of the seminarians that Fr. Alberto should start an Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. This began a yearlong time of prayer and discernment on behalf of Father Alberto and Father Nicholas.
September 2015 – after a year of prayer and discernment an incorporating elements of Oratorian life and spirituality, our Provost, Father Alberto, C.O, met with our Bishop who approved the request to found a new Oratory of St. Philip Neri in the Diocese. The Procurator General who oversees new Oratories was also contacted and gave his consent. This and our prior discernment year was phase 1 in the process of establishing the Oratory.
March 2016 – The Bishop and the Procurator General (Fr. Mario Aviles, C.O., now Bishop Aviles, C.O.), our Provost, Fr. Alberto, C.O. and the Bishop’s then-secretary, Fr. Jason, met to determine the location for the new Oratory and other practicalities and agreements between the new Oratory and the Diocese. The location chosen was where Father Alberto, C.O. and Fr. Nicholas, C.O. had already been serving for a year and a half, St. Anthony of Padua in Red Bank. Other letters of agreement were signed which helped to secure the future stability and viability of the Oratory and its permanent establishment at St. Anthony’s and its permanent relationship to the Diocese of Trenton where all of the priests and brothers would serve. Fr. Mario and the Bishop also agree that the Oratory is ready to enter the second phase and officially become an “Oratory-in-Formation.”
May 2016 – The Bishop comes to St. Anthony’s to sign the Canonical Decree establishing the Oratory and setting in place all those agreements which would become official and permanent upon the Canonical erection of The Red Bank Oratory as a Congregation of Pontifical Right. This signing took place on May 29, 2016, the Feast of Corpus Christi during a Mass at which the Bishop also vested the founders in the habit of our holy father, St. Philip Neri.
From 2016 to December 2023 – The community continued to grow, learn and live the Oratorian vocation. This time allowed the community to grow in numbers and stability, to learn from mistakes and challenges and to prepare for recognition from the Holy Father, the Pope. We also used this time to establish new ministries to serve the parish and our neighbors.
December 2023 – The Red Bank Oratory received word from the Procurator General that he believed that we were sufficiently formed to petition the Holy Father, Pope Francis for canonical erection as a Congregation of Pontifical Right. The necessary documents were prepared to examine the community, it’s stability, it’s Oratorian character. Letters from the fathers and brothers were compiled and a letter of recommendation was written by our Bishop giving his permission for us to be named as a Congregation of Pontifical Right and for authority over our community to transfer to the Holy See. A letter of recommendation and permission was also submitted by the Procurator General.
April 7, 2024 (Feast of Divine Mercy) – The Decree erecting The Red Bank Oratory of Saint Philip Neri as a Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri of Pontifical Right was signed in Rome.
April 18, 2024 – We were notified by the Procurator General that on April 7, 2024, Divine Mercy Sunday, that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had erected us as a Congregation of Pontifical Right.
Structure of the Oratory and The Oratory Church of Saint Philip Neri
All Oratories are connected in a bond of charity, friendship and mutual support but each is independent and under the authority of the Pope who has a Legate (who is an Oratorian Father) who represents the Holy Father to each of the Oratories. This legate is elected by the Provosts of all the Oratories throughout the world and the delegates of each Oratory. Each Oratory, as a Congregation of Pontifical Right, always have direct recourse to the Holy See.
The Provosts also elect a Procurator General. The Procurator General is not the Superior General in that he does not have juridical authority over the Oratories. He is elected to oversee the establishment of new Oratories and, when requested to do so, he may represent an Oratory who needs to communicate with the Holy See (the Vatican) or the Holy Father. He also helps to keep the Oratories in communication with one another so that there is mutual charity and support among all Oratories.
The “Superior” of each Oratory is the Provost. He is the “Ordinary” of the Community. For example, the Bishop is the “Ordinary” of the priests and people of the Diocese. He governs there life in accord with the law of the church. The Provost governs the life of the priests and brothers of the Oratory in accord with the Constitutions for all Oratories and the Particular Statutes of that particular Oratory. The Provost acts under the authority of the Pope within his particular Oratory.
The Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua as a Parish Church and as the Seat of the Oratory
Our church is now both the “seat” of The Red Bank Oratory and remains a parish church. As such, it is permanently united to the Oratory.
As a parish, it is a parish of the Diocese and under the authority of the Bishop. This is true of all parishes anywhere. Therefore, the parish will continue to follow all the guidelines and rules of the Diocese and directives of the Bishop and act under his authority in all things related to parish life.
As an Oratory Church, it is the seat of the Oratory and, when serving as Oratory Church, is under the responsibility and authority of the Provost. The Provost also ensures that everything done in the Oratory Church, whether as the Parish Church or the Oratory Church, is in accord with the laws of the Church and the spirituality, Constitutions and General Statutes of the Oratory.
How is it decided who will be the pastor and priests of the parish?
When it is time to select a new pastor, the priests and brothers of the Oratory will vote to determine which of the fathers to present to the bishop. The Bishop then appoints that priest to be pastor for a term consistent with the Oratory. The same is true for the appointment of parochial vicars in the parish.
All the pastors and priests of the parish must be selected from the priests of the Oratory.
This is how all priests of religious are appointed to any ministry within the diocese. The Oratory members vote to present the priest to the bishop and the bishop appoints. It is a collaboration between the Bishop and the Oratory. The main difference between the Oratory and other religious communities (like Franciscans, Dominicans, etc.) is that we will be here forever serving in St. Anthony’s and serving in ministries that support and build up the Diocese of Trenton in accord with the charism of the Oratory and the needs of the Bishop and Diocese.
The governance of the Oratory and the life of the priests and brothers itself is under the authority of the Provost and the General Congress of the Red Bank Oratory which is made up of the aggregated (permanent) members.
Use of the word Oratory
St. Philip called everything related to the Community, “Oratory.”
- Each of the Congregations throughout the world is called The Oratory of (name of town). So, it is the name of the community of priests and brothers itself.
- The communal prayer times are called Oratory – Morning Oratory and Evening Oratory which is our times of prayer each days together.
- The House we live in is called The Oratory (diocesan priests house for instance are called rectories and Franciscan houses are called friaries, monks houses are called monasteries. Our house is called an Oratory).
- Finally, the church which is the “seat” of the Oratory is called The Oratory Church of (name of patron saint of the parish – for us, Saint Anthony of Padua).