Our history began in the fall of 1908 when several young men attending St. Joseph Church realized the need for a new parish on the east side of Indianapolis. At that time the streetcar route on Michigan Street ended at Tacoma Avenue. Beyond that there were only fields, dusty roads or paths.
A census taken by these interested young men revealed that some seventy-five or more families lived in the area and plans were formed to meet with the Bishop in the hope of establishing a new parish at Rural and North Streets. Ground broke on February 1, 1909 with the cornerstone ceremony taking place around March 7, 1909 and the church opened on June 27, 1909.
The patron saint of our parish is St. Philip Neri, the great Italian saint, whose feast day is celebrated on May 26th. St. Philip Neri devoted all his leisure time to the study of theology and to the silent unobtrusive service of his neighbor. He gathered fourteen companions into a congregation which ultimately became the Congregation of the Oratory. He and his Oratory constituted the center of religious life in Rome. He is called the "Second Apostle of Rome." Philip died in 1595 after a long illness at the age of eighty years.
Philip understood that it wasn't enough to tell young people not to do something -- you had to give them something to do in its place. So at Carnival time, when the worst excesses were encouraged, Philip organized a pilgrimage to the Seven Churches with a picnic accompanied by instrumental music for the mid-day break. After walking twelve miles in one day everyone was too tired to be tempted! In order to guide his followers, Philip made himself available to everyone at any hour -- even at night. He said some of the most devout people were those who had come to him at night. When others complained, Philip answered, "They can chop wood on my back so long as they do not sin."
It is believed that our founder and first pastor, Reverend George J. Smith chose this saint to be our patron in memory of his years of study in Rome.
