Parish History--from our early beginnings
Our pastoral leadership began in 1968 with Father Balthasar Szarka, the pastor at St. Francis of Assisi in Grapevine, who celebrated Mass with Catholics in Lewisville at Central Elementary School. Father Joseph Scantlin was appointed pastor in 1972, when we gathered for liturgy in a metal pre-fabricated building on I-35E just north of Main Street (where Grandy's headquarters in now located). Our first associate pastor, Father Tom Hauser, was welcomed in 1976, and served the community until 1980. The first permanent worship space (now the Community Life Center) was dedicated in 1977. As we bid farewell to Father Tom, we welcomed Father Dave Wallace, who served us until 1982. In 1982, Father Larry Breedlove became our pastor. Soon he was joined by Father Tom Craig as our associate pastor. In 1985, Father Rudy Renteria because pastor at St. Philip. In June 1987, Father Jonathan Scalone was appointed our pastor, and served this community until he was called to active duty in the U.S. Air Force Reserves in November 2001. In February 2002, we welcomed our current pastor, Father John Stasiowski, who previously served in four rural parishes in North Texas.
In 1989, 20 years after the first families of our parish began gathering for Mass at Central Elementary School, the parish decided to build a new worship space to accommodate our continued growth. In 1997, our present Worship Center was dedicated by the Reverend Joseph P. Delaney, Bishop of Fort Worth at that time. Our new Worship Center has received several architectural awards and accolades, and has been featured in several religious and trade publications.
From our humble beginning, we at St. Philip have always sought to put into practice the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Roman Catholic Tradition in holding true to the vision, values, and direction of the Second Vatican Council. Our desire is to be the Roman Catholic presence to Lewisville, Flower Mound, Highland Village, and the surrounding areas. With that in mind, everything we do--from administration to hands-on ministry--seeks to honor and practice God's Word as we remember that we are the church. We are committed to biblical justice and a preferential option for the poor. We are committed to empowering individuals to keep a right relationship with God, all our brothers and sisters, and the earth.
All are welcome here. We invite people with disabilities to become active in all aspects of parish life. We offer classroom accommodations and curriculum modifications in our religious education programs. All of our buildings are wheelchair accessible, and our Worship Center has a closed-loop amplification system for people with hearing loss. We also have gluten-free hosts for people with celiac disease. Don't let a disability stand in the way of becoming a part our of parish.
With the 2003 renovation of the Community Life Center, and construction of new offices, child services rooms and religious education/meeting rooms, we have seen a renewal of and further development of our ministries, including more adult education opportunities, and broader social and community life in the parish.
Our pastoral leadership began in 1968 with Father Balthasar Szarka, the pastor at St. Francis of Assisi in Grapevine, who celebrated Mass with Catholics in Lewisville at Central Elementary School. Father Joseph Scantlin was appointed pastor in 1972, when we gathered for liturgy in a metal pre-fabricated building on I-35E just north of Main Street (where Grandy's headquarters in now located). Our first associate pastor, Father Tom Hauser, was welcomed in 1976, and served the community until 1980. The first permanent worship space (now the Community Life Center) was dedicated in 1977. As we bid farewell to Father Tom, we welcomed Father Dave Wallace, who served us until 1982. In 1982, Father Larry Breedlove became our pastor. Soon he was joined by Father Tom Craig as our associate pastor. In 1985, Father Rudy Renteria because pastor at St. Philip. In June 1987, Father Jonathan Scalone was appointed our pastor, and served this community until he was called to active duty in the U.S. Air Force Reserves in November 2001. In February 2002, we welcomed our current pastor, Father John Stasiowski, who previously served in four rural parishes in North Texas.
In 1989, 20 years after the first families of our parish began gathering for Mass at Central Elementary School, the parish decided to build a new worship space to accommodate our continued growth. In 1997, our present Worship Center was dedicated by the Reverend Joseph P. Delaney, Bishop of Fort Worth at that time. Our new Worship Center has received several architectural awards and accolades, and has been featured in several religious and trade publications.From our humble beginning, we at St. Philip have always sought to put into practice the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Roman Catholic Tradition in holding true to the vision, values, and direction of the Second Vatican Council. Our desire is to be the Roman Catholic presence to Lewisville, Flower Mound, Highland Village, and the surrounding areas. With that in mind, everything we do--from administration to hands-on ministry--seeks to honor and practice God's Word as we remember that we are the church. We are committed to biblical justice and a preferential option for the poor. We are committed to empowering individuals to keep a right relationship with God, all our brothers and sisters, and the earth.
All are welcome here. We invite people with disabilities to become active in all aspects of parish life. We offer classroom accommodations and curriculum modifications in our religious education programs. All of our buildings are wheelchair accessible, and our Worship Center has a closed-loop amplification system for people with hearing loss. We also have gluten-free hosts for people with celiac disease. Don't let a disability stand in the way of becoming a part our of parish.
With the 2003 renovation of the Community Life Center, and construction of new offices, child services rooms and religious education/meeting rooms, we have seen a renewal of and further development of our ministries, including more adult education opportunities, and broader social and community life in the parish.