Parish Mission 2026

Bringing the Desert Fathers and St. Philip Neri to Merchantville

This year, our Lenten Mission will feature Fr. Ninian Doohan, an Oratorian priest from Edinburgh, Scotland. Father Doohan was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1981, before migrating to Australia in 1993, and then subsequently returning to Europe at age 21 to pursue the discernment of his vocation. For eleven years, he was a Norbertine Brother, living in England, Ireland and Belgium, but would return to Scotland to be ordained a Priest of the Diocese of Dunkeld in 2016.

Pursuing a desire to live in community with other priests, he is a founding member and the Moderator (superior) of the Edinburgh Oratory in Formation, a group dedicated to living according to the inspiration of St John Henry Newman, who desired to found a Pontifical Oratory of St Philip Neri in Scotland’s Capital City. His Church of St Patrick’s in the heart of the Old Town of Edinburgh called "Little Ireland," was opened in 1774, firstly as an Episcopalian Chapel, then turned into a Presbyterian Kirk, before becoming Catholic in 1856. Situated near the famous Castle, historic Royal Palace of Holyrood, and the current Scottish Parliament, this community of three years standing has much to hope for in being a beacon of the Gospel to both locals and tourists alike.

Fr. Ninian Doohan

Fr. Ninian’s topic for the mission is: “Bringing the Desert Fathers and St. Philip Neri to Merchantville.” In pursuance of this theme, Father plans to talk about the wisdom of the early (desert) Fathers and their influence on St Philip Neri. The purpose of this is to bring the theme of penance in Lent into light with the asceticism of the desert, whilst highlighting the radical and sometimes comical common-sense holiness that the early Fathers possessed, and blending this with the life of St Philip Neri.

It’s bringing the desert into the city, so to speak. Ultimately, it’s about living the life of mercy, because the most radical lives/unusual miracles reflect the loving forgiveness of Our Lord. Having read a little about Merchantville NJ online, Fr. Ninian has noted that Merchantville, “is not a 'city’ per se but more a ‘borough?’ It appears to be more of a small town or a genuine suburban extension of the neighboring Philadelphia.”

He said, “a catchy title has eluded me but something like ‘St Philip Neri, Patron Saint of the Holy Spirit, and last of the desert Fathers (yet in the city of Rome),’ or very short ‘St Philip Neri and the Desert brought into our Borough.’” Ultimately, we decided on, "Bringing the Desert Fathers and St. Philip Neri to Merchantville."

St. Philip Neri, pray for us!

Fr. Tim Byerley, Pastor

Annual Parish Mission: March 2, 3 and 4

Mission Theme: “Bringing the Desert Fathers and St. Philip Neri to Merchantville”

Monday – Tuesday

March 2 – 3 at 7:00 p.m.

Exposition and Sermon

Wednesday, March 4

Closing Mass at 7:00 p.m.

Preacher: Fr. Ninian Doohan