Story by Jennifer Mauro | Correspondent
And Rayanne Bennett | Associate Publisher

A new chapter in the history of the Diocese was written May 29 when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., formally recognized and celebrated a group of three men – two priests and one seminarian – as principals of a new Oratory-in-Formation of St. Philip Neri. 

To see photo gallery on this story, click here.

To read a reflection on the establishment of the oratory, click here.

The Bishop celebrated Mass May 29 in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Red Bank, signing a decree that will be sent to Rome establishing the Red Bank Oratory-in-Formation. He also blessed the new Oratorians – Father Alberto W. Tamayo, St. Anthony pastor, Father Rafael Esquen-Odar, parochial vicar, and Nicholas Dolan, who has been a seminarian of the Diocese and will now be referred to as Brother Nicholas – all of whom were bestowed with their new habits.

According to Father Tamayo, the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri began in the 16th century with a group of priests and brothers who gathered around the great Italian saint, St. Philip Neri, the Second Apostle of Rome. The Oratory was founded as a family style community of priests and brothers, who live together, pray together and serve the people of God together.

Father Tamayo explained, “The heart of the community he established is found in its name, the Oratory, which refers to a place set aside for prayer. Prayer is the heart of the life of these communities. At the same time, these priests and brothers are active in various ministries with a special emphasis on the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; the Sacrament of Confession; ministry among the sick and poor, and a simple unadorned style of preaching the Word of God. Yet all of these works flow from the life of communal and personal prayer.”

Noting that St. Philip Neri is the patron saint of joy, Bishop O’Connell said to the three Oratorians, “It’s my hope that Philip Neri’s joy will become yours.”

A Blessed Journey

“This is the beginning of something wonderful for my spiritual life and, humanly speaking, a way for us brothers to support each other,” said Father Tamayo.

In a written interview with The Monitor, he explained the path that he and his fellow future Oratorians had taken with the approval of the Bishop, eventually being called to the spirituality and way of life of St. Philip Neri. Father Tamayo said, “About two years ago, three of us began to pray, learn and explore the possibility of establishing an Oratory of St. Philip Neri here in the Diocese of Trenton. First, we needed to see if we believed that God was in fact calling us to follow in the footsteps of St. Philip. This was made easier by the fact that the three of us were already living, working and praying together.

“After more than a year of prayer, learning and discussion, we each sensed that God is calling us to do this. At that time we approached the Bishop for confirmation of what we each felt is God’s will. The Bishop’s overwhelmingly enthusiastic support for this endeavor confirmed for us that this is what God desires. That began the formal journey toward recognition as an Oratory-in-Formation,” Father Tamayo wrote.

He continued, “This process culminated in a meeting between our Bishop, the Most Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., and Father Mario Alberto Aviles, the Procurator General of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. The result of this meeting was that this project was formally declared an Oratory-in-Formation by both our Bishop and the Confederation of the Oratory.”

Bishop O’Connell confirmed that the Oratory would remain at St. Anthony of Padua in Red Bank where it had been founded.

“God willing, this will be an aid for the Church,” Father Tamayo said. “I think the people want to see their priests supporting and growing in friendship with each other.”

A Message of Unity

The Mass celebrating the Oratory-in-Formation coincided with the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. In his homily, Bishop O’Connell focused on how Catholics “take the Eucharist with us.”

“The Eucharist unites us, most importantly, with Jesus Christ himself ... it also unites us with each other,” he told the several hundred worshipers gathered. “It’s the Eucharist that takes us from being strangers to being brothers and sisters.”

It was in this spirit of camaraderie that the Bishop then read and signed the canonical decree, taking the next step in creating the Red Bank Oratory-in-Formation. A smiling Father Tamayo also signed the decree, before the two priests and seminarian knelt before the Bishop to be vested.

“Most Rev. Father,” they said, “We ask that you receive us to wear the habit of our holy father, St. Philip, that we may live community life with you among the clerics according to the Constitutions and Statutes of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri and our Norms of Common Life.”

After the Bishop blessed the habits with holy water, the three men left to don their new black, ankle-length garment with buttons at the top and a white collar that folds down around the neck. They returned by walking down the aisle to thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

As the three men again knelt before the Bishop, he blessed them, saying, “May God, who has called you to imitate the example of his servant, St. Philip Neri, keep you always united in his love and may he who has begun this good work bring it to completion.”

“Because of the special life of these three good men, as members of the Oratory, hopefully God’s grace will be even more apparent – nourishing you, the parish,” the Bishop said.

True Sense of Family

After Mass, parishioners had an opportunity to congratulate the new Oratorians, who took time to reflect on the day.

“We are so happy today,” Father Esquen-Odar said. “We’ve waited a long time for this,” he said, echoing Father Tamayo’s sentiment that the men had been discussing for the last two years how to live and support each other as a fraternity of priests.

Brother Nicholas agreed. “I love the idea because it emphasizes the familial dimension in Church  – priests are living together as brothers, and we will be able to grow with people here as spiritual fathers. This is an exercise in spiritual fatherhood.”

Many of the parishioners discussed how the Oratory being the priests’ permanent home is a blessing that will be good for the priests and parish.

“I think our parish will be enhanced with a spirituality that wouldn’t be here if the Oratory wasn’t here,” parishioner Hélène Scipione said. “I feel it’s good for the priests – to help them serve the community by building themselves up. They need that camaraderie. They need each other,” she said. “And seeing them growing helps us become more active in the parish and helps our spirituality grow.”

With a heavy emphasis on prayer, spirituality is what the Oratory of St. Philip Neri is all about, Father Tamayo said, adding that it was perfect that the Oratory celebration fell on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

“In the Eucharist, we literally receive Jesus, and that’s what we’re hoping to bring to others through this vocation,” he said.