About St Philip Neri Church · Fort Mill, South Carolina
St. Philip Neri Catholic Church is a growing Roman Catholic parish in Fort Mill, South Carolina, serving the Fort Mill/Tega Cay area of the Rock Hill Deanery in the Diocese of Charleston. Founded in 1993 by 44 families who first celebrated Mass in local Protestant churches, the parish is administered by priests of the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri (the Oratorians) — the only such Oratory house in the United States. Today the parish counts over 3,400 registered households, worships in a sanctuary dedicated in May 2013 on Munn Road, and is known for its contemporary Sunday Mass, robust youth and family faith formation, and a thriving Italian festival tradition rooted in the Northeast transplants who built the community.
- Established
- 1993
- Patron
- St. Philip Neri (founder of the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, the 16th-century apostle of Rome known for his joy and humor)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Fabio Refosco, C.O.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Rock Hill Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Philip Neri offers a vibrant, growing Catholic home in the Fort Mill area with multiple Sunday Masses (including a 5:30 pm contemporary Mass), daily Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Saturday, and one of the most extensive formation programs in the region — King's Kids K–5 Faith Formation, EDGE middle school, Life Teen high school, Confirmation prep, SPRED for persons with developmental disabilities, and Vacation Bible School. With more than 65 ministries spanning Hospitality, Formation & Evangelization, Liturgy/Prayer/Worship, and Service & Outreach, plus a parish school (Preschool/Child Development Center) and a beloved Italian festival, parishioners of every age and background can find a place to belong and serve.
Mass times at St Philip Neri Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 7:00 pm
- Or by appointment through the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Monday through Saturday in the Adoration Chapel, commencing Monday at 10:00 am and ending Saturday at 4:00 pm
Parish History
St. Philip Neri was founded in 1993 by 44 families who met under the prayerful leadership of Fr. John Giuliani, C.O., initially celebrating Mass at Lake Wylie Lutheran Church and Philadelphia United Methodist Church. On January 8, 1994, Bishop David B. Thompson formally established the community and named it after St. Philip Neri, founder of the Oratorians. The parish purchased eight acres on Munn Road in 1995, broke ground in 1997, opened the Parish Center in 1998, weathered a severe roof collapse in 2004, and dedicated its current sanctuary in May 2013. The parish marked its 30th anniversary in 2023 and now counts over 3,400 registered families.
- 1992: Fr. John Giuliani, C.O. conducts feasibility study
- 1993: 44 families found the Fort Mill/Tega Cay Catholic Community
- 1994: Bishop David B. Thompson formally establishes and names the parish
- 1995: Eight acres purchased on Munn Road
- 1998: Parish Center opens (dedicated later that year by Bishop Thompson)
- 2004: 'Snowfall of the century' collapses roof; repairs last 8 months
- 2013: New sanctuary dedicated in May
- 2023: 30th Anniversary celebrated; over 3,300 families
- Today: 'Rebuild 2 Serve' capital campaign underway for new Parish Center / Child Development Center
The Oratorian Fathers (C.O.)
Since its founding, St. Philip Neri has been served by priests of the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, designated C.O. after their names. The Oratorians are a pontifical society of apostolic life — Catholic priests and lay-brothers who live together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity. Saint Philip Neri established this religious community in 16th-century Rome, and the Rock Hill Oratory (which staffs St. Philip Neri in Fort Mill) is the oldest Oratory house in the United States. The parish's name honors St. Philip Neri because of this direct Oratorian connection.
- Founded by St. Philip Neri in 16th-century Rome
- Members are priests and lay-brothers living in community
- Known for prayer, reflection on Scripture, and collaboration with the laity
- Rock Hill Oratory is the oldest Oratory house in the United States
- Current pastor Very Rev. Fabio Refosco, C.O. serves as Provost of the Oratory
Mass and Sacramental Schedule
The parish offers daily Mass Monday through Friday at 9:30 am, a Saturday Vigil at 4:30 pm, and four Sunday Masses — 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am, and a 5:30 pm contemporary liturgy that serves as the Life Teen youth Mass. Holy Day schedules include a 5:30 pm Vigil, 9:30 am, and 7:00 pm Mass. Confessions are heard Wednesdays at 7:00 pm or by appointment; Eucharistic Adoration runs continuously Monday at 10:00 am through Saturday at 4:00 pm in the Adoration Chapel. Anointing of the Sick is available on request through the Parish Office.
- Weekday Mass: Mon–Fri 9:30 am
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm
- Sunday: 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 5:30 pm (Contemporary)
- Holy Day: 5:30 pm Vigil, 9:30 am, 7:00 pm
- Confession: Wed 7:00 pm or by appointment
- Adoration: Mon 10:00 am – Sat 4:00 pm
Clergy, Staff, and Leadership
The parish is led by Very Rev. Fabio Refosco, C.O., Pastor (who also serves as Provost of the Rock Hill Oratory), with Rev. Quang D. Pham, C.O. as Parochial Vicar. Six deacons — Jon E. Dwyer, Steven Rhodes, George Johnston, David Bartholomew, Justin Barraco, and Jose Estevez — assist with sacramental life and ministry. A full lay staff supports operations, music, formation, communications, outreach, finance, and IT.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Fabio Refosco, C.O.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Quang D. Pham, C.O.
- Deacons: Jon E. Dwyer, Steven Rhodes, George Johnston, David Bartholomew, Justin Barraco, Jose Estevez
- Director of Office & Operations: Noah Makubuya
- Director of Music and Liturgy: Linda Liberty
- Director of Formation and Evangelization: Tayler Culbertson
- Director of Communications: Jen Fredenberg
- Director of Ministry and Outreach: Stephanie Gallaher
- Parish Secretary: Jenifer Badillo
- Manager of Finance and Assets: Felicia Orange
- IT & Audio Visual Coordinator: Lucas Guatura
- Care Coordinator: Karen Wiley
- Family Faith Formation Coordinator: Lisa Krebs
- Middle School Coordinator: Faye Sevel
- Confirmation Coordinator: Trisha Brown
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Philip Neri offers a full spectrum of formation for every age. King's Kids Faith Formation serves children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade, meeting three times a month across three weekday or Sunday sessions, and prepares students for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion (typically in 2nd Grade). SPRED provides religious education for persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities on the 2nd and 4th Sundays from October through April. Adult Formation and Spiritual Direction are available, and the parish runs an annual Vacation Bible School each June or July for children ages 4 through rising 5th graders.
- King's Kids Faith Formation (K–5)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion preparation
- SPRED for persons with developmental disabilities
- Vacation Bible School (children ages 4–rising 5th grade)
- Adult Formation
- Spiritual Direction
Youth Ministry
The parish's youth ministry includes EDGE for middle-schoolers in grades 6–8, Life Teen for high schoolers in grades 9–12, and a Confirmation Preparation Program for 10th-graders. The Sunday 5:30 pm contemporary Mass serves as a youth-focused liturgy where teens are encouraged to sit as a community and serve as lectors, ushers, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. A Youth Ministry Prayer Warriors ministry provides weekly intercessory prayer for the parish's teens.
- EDGE (grades 6–8)
- Life Teen (grades 9–12)
- Confirmation Preparation (10th grade)
- Sunday 5:30 pm Contemporary (Life Teen) Mass
- Youth Ministry Prayer Warriors — weekly intercessory prayer, three Holy Hours per year
Preschool / Child Development Center
St. Philip Neri operates an on-site Preschool (also called the St. Philip Neri Child Development Center). A key element of the current "Rebuild 2 Serve" capital campaign is to replace the original Parish Center and Child Development Center with a single, larger, more efficient facility on the existing site, providing dedicated space for the parish's youngest children and school families.
- Preschool at St. Philip Neri
- St. Philip Neri Child Development Center — currently slated for replacement under Rebuild 2 Serve
Parish Life, Outreach, and the Italian Festival
With more than 65 ministries, groups, and organizations, the parish is organized into four major categories: Hospitality; Formation and Evangelization; Liturgy, Prayer and Worship; and Service and Outreach. Many founding parishioners were transplants from New York and New Jersey, giving rise to a beloved annual Italian Festival that recalls St. Philip Neri's own love of joyful communal picnics and pilgrimages. Outreach is led by the Director of Ministry and Outreach, Stephanie Gallaher.
- More than 65 ministries, groups and organizations
- Four ministry categories: Hospitality; Formation and Evangelization; Liturgy, Prayer and Worship; Service and Outreach
- Italian Festival (annual parish tradition)
- Director of Ministry and Outreach: Stephanie Gallaher
- Contact: [email protected] · 803-548-7282 Ext 229
Rebuild 2 Serve Capital Campaign
After more than 30 years of growth, the parish's original Parish Center and Child Development Center no longer provide adequate space for its ministries and programs. Guided by feasibility studies, professional consultation, financial analysis, parish input, and prayerful discernment, parish leadership has launched the "Rebuild 2 Serve: Strengthening Our Foundation for the Future" campaign. The goal is to construct a new Parish Center — including dedicated space for the St. Philip Neri Child Development Center — on the existing site, replacing two older buildings with one larger, more efficient facility.
- Goal: new Parish Center + dedicated Child Development Center
- Single facility replacing two older buildings on the existing site
- Builds on the earlier "Mission Continues" campaign that funded the 2013 sanctuary
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Giuliani, C.O.1993–founding pastor
Led the 1992 feasibility study and established the Fort Mill/Tega Cay Catholic Community; reported in parish history as founding pastor served by the Oratorians.
- Very Rev. Fabio Refosco, C.O.current
Current pastor and Provost of the Rock Hill Oratory (the oldest Oratory house in the United States).