ABOUT US

Parish History

    On June 19, 1957, Father Joseph L. Teletchea was appointed pastor of a new parish in the area of Camp Springs, Maryland. On June 28, 1957, St. Philip the Apostle Parish was officially established, drawing an estimated 600 families from four existing parishes.
    For nearly two years, Sunday Masses were offered at a nearby school. Daily Mass, baptisms, religious instruction, and parish meetings were held at the rectory which was located in the neighborhood while negotiations were underway for the purchase of 9.98 acres nearby. In August 1958, ground was broken for the new church; its doors were opened for the Easter Vigil on March 28, 1959. In 1960, St. Philip the Apostle School was founded; classes were held at La Reine High School. Construction began in the spring of 1962, and the school opened in September of that year.
    The parish flourished through the 1960s and 1970s to a population in excess of 1300 families. The 1980s saw a decline the beginning of the demographic changes to the current 500 families.
    The dynamics which accompanied the establishment and growth of the parish still remain today. Though smaller, the parish is an active, vibrant faith community which ministers to Catholics as well as reaching out to the community in general. Its proximity to a new Metro station promises to maintain the vibrancy and promote growth as well.

Mission Statement

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Parish is located in Camp Springs, Maryland, within the Archdiocese of Washington. As a living part of the Universal Church founded by Jesus Christ, our Parish has the responsibility to spread the Kingdom of Christ for the glory of God the Father and to help mankind share in Christ's saving redemption. The fulfillment of this responsibility is the mission of the people of St. Philip's Parish to worship together; proclaim and hold fast to the sacred Scriptures; and use their lives to bear witness to Christ. Strengthened by prayer, the sacramental life, and the fellowship of the community, parishioners must reach out to others who have special or particular needs. We do this by:

1. Proclaiming the Kingdom of Christ to the community. We accomplish this by strengthening ourselves through reading and studying Scriptures. The light and strength of the Gospels will come to us and, through us, extend into the community of others.
2. Celebrating the Eucharistic Sacrifice. This is the primary source of the true Christian spirit. Our liturgical services and sacramental life must encourage a sense of community within the Parish. In our worship we pray for all mankind, including those outside the Christian family.
3. Helping others to find salvation in, with, and through Jesus Christ. We use our life in the Parish to bear witness to the good news and to be leaven to spread the love and teaching of Christ throughout the world. Each and everyone of us should develop and use the special gifts we have received from the Holy Spirit.


Our Way of Life

 We are a giving parish.  We have some very generous people who sacrifice their time, talent, and/or treasure to benefit the parish and themselves.  They realize that our Lord will not be outdone in generosity.

The acceptance of responsible stewardship as a way of life is more than just a practical issue of survival for the many activities of our parish.  It is also an issue of spiritual growth for those who recognize God's gift in their lives and seek to express their gratitude in action.  At St. Philip the Apostle Church, we attempt to provide structures for all our members to make a response to the Lord by sharing generously their gifts of time, talent, and treasure.