The Port Elizabeth Oratory is a Congregation of the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Walmer, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The Congregation serves the Catholic parish of St Bernadette in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Elizabeth and also runs the St Philip Neri Propaedeutic Seminary or "Collegium".
Contents
History
The Port Elizabeth Oratory was founded from the Oudtshoorn Oratory when, in 2002, a group of Oratorian priests and brothers took up residence in Port Elizabeth. After the period of formation, the new Oratory in Port Elizabeth was canonically established on 12 May 2008 by the Holy See. In addition to the Oratory parish of St Bernadette's, the Congregation runs the St Philip Neri Collegium which is a propaedeutic seminary preparing young men from all over South Africa for major seminary.
Notable members
Fr Phillip Frederick Vietri, a South African composer born in 1955, is a member of the Port Elizabeth Oratory. His compositions are largely classical and liturgical in nature. He is currently a member of the Bloemfontein Oratorian Community-in-formation, which is a project of the Port Elizabeth Oratory.