SAINT PHILOMENA
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Prayer for the Intercession of Saint Philomena

Shrine of Saint Philomena

Perpetual Novena in Honor of Saint Philomena

Directions to St. Philomena Church

Annual Novena to St. Philomena

The pious use of Blessed Oil is meant to help us implore Gods' loving tender mercy for the sick, and to affirm our faith in the Communion of the Saints. We pray that Saint Philomena might intercede for us to Almighty God as we express our faith in God's power over all illness of mind, body and spirit.

Saint Philomena Oil is available at her Shrine in the main Church.

The Vigil Candle Chapel is open for prayer from 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Monday - Saturday and on Sunday until 1:30 PM.


The Vigil Candle Chapel was a later addition to the Church and was dedicated to the members of the parish who served in the Military. The insignia of each branch of the service can be seen in the stained glass windows in this chapel.

Click on Liturgical at the left for Current Events

God of all goodness,
Look with love on those who protect our freedom in the Armed services as well as on those who wait
for the safe return of their loved ones.

In faith and hope, we turn to you for comfort.
Grant that we may trust in your mercy
to sustain us as we await their safe return.
Grant us peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Read the Scriptures for Daily Mass by clicking the link at the top right of this page.

Please be sure to register in the parish as soon as possible after moving into the area. Contact Sister Marge, Parish Services Director at 610-622-7255

If you are moving out of the parish please notify out parish office and register as soon as possible in your new parish.

Young people who go away to college need to contact the Campus Ministry Office or Newman Apostolate Center to make themselves known there.

On moving back home, they should register as adults on their own.

Not much is really known about Saint Philomena.

On 25 May 1802, excavators in the Catacomb of St. Priscilla in Rome found a tomb sealed with terra cotta slabs in the manner often reserved for martyrs.

The tomb was marked with three tiles, inscribed with the following: LUMENA / PAXTE / CUMFI. Not really forming words, they were confusing. However, whenthe tiles are rearranged a Latin sentence emerges: Pax tecum, Filumena, which means "Peace be with you, Philomena."

Also inscribed on the tiles were symbols: a lily, arrows, an anchor and a lance, traditional symbols of virginity and martyrdom.
Inside the tomb was found the remains of a girl of about twelve or thirteen years of age.

The body was transferred to the Treasury of the Rare Collections of Christian Antiquity in the Vatican until in 1805, a priest, Don Francesco di Lucia, traveling to Rome, received the relics of this martyr "Philomena" to enshrine in his village church at Mugnano, near Naples.

Unusual events immediately began to occur. Graces and miracles occurred, even before her remains arrived at Mugnano and she quickly became known as "Philomena, Powerful with God."

In 1837, Pope Gregory XVI elevated this "Wonder-Worker of the Nineteenth Century" to sainthood. Saint Philomena thus became the only person recognized by the Church as a Saint solely on the basis of her intercession after her death.

St. Philomena has been successfully invoked in every sort of need, such that she has become another patron of "hopeless" cases, together with St. Jude and St. Rita. For more information click on "About Us" and "Patron Saint"

Saint John Vianney, the beloved Cure' of Ars, France, perhaps more than any other person, has brought to the world's attention the power of his favorite patron - Saint Philomena.

He called upon her for every kind of favor, and Saint Philomena solved his financial worries; she converted sinners; she healed malignant diseases; she worked numberless wonders in answer to his prayers.

Saint John Vianney recommended novenas to her for the needs of every kind. The Litany of Sainit Philomena is attributed to him. He admonished the sick to pray to her, he would bless them and join them in the novenas. He always impressed on them that all cures were due to the intercession with God of this little saint.