PASTORAL STAFF

Rev. James M. Oliver, J.C.D., M.A., M. Div
Pastor (Biography)

Rev. Francis Piro, S.T.L.
In Residence (Biography)

Rev. Edward Kuczynski , M. Div
In Residence

Colleen Jones
Business Manager

Dolores Lucano,
Parish Secretary
Dolores Lucano: Has been our parish secretary since April, 1998.  Dolores and her husband Frank have three children and three grandchildren.

Diane Cumberland,
Rectory Cook
Diane Cumberland: Has been a professional cook most of her life and began cooking privately in 1991. She became the cook at St. Philip Neri Rectory in May, 1995. Diane is married with two children and three grandchildren.

Ellen Labb,
Sacristan
Ellen and her husband Marty have been parishioners for many years. Ellen is a mother and grandmother. She works behind the scenes to set up for Mass and Devotions.

Ellen and Marty have been involved in many aspects of our parish over the years.

Father James M. Oliver was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on October 5, 1959.  He is the second of six sons born to Joseph M. Oliver and Beverly A. Pearsons.  Shortly after his birth his family moved to South Acton, Massachusetts where he was baptized at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church on April 3, 1960.  After two other moves, both with in the state of Connecticut, the family settled in Springfield (Delaware County), Pennsylvania (1965).  A number of his family members still live in Springfield.  Father Oliver grew up as a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Morton.  He graduated from Springfield High School in 1977. 

After attending Pennsylvania State University (Delaware County Campus), he completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.  After teaching elementary school for one year he entered Saint Charles Seminary in September 1983 where he earned a Master of Divinity in 1987 and a Master of Arts in Theology in 1988.  He was ordained a priest on May 21, 1988.

After ordination Father Oliver served for five years as parochial vicar, Saint Alphonsus, Maple Glen.  During this time he served part-time at the Metropolitan Tribunal.  He was assigned to further studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1983.  He graduated with at Doctorate in Canon Law in 1999.

From August 1999 until December 2004 he served as Vice Chancellor and Assistant Professor of Canon Law at Saint Charles Seminary.  In November of 2004, he was appointed Assistant to the Vicar for Clergy. 

On July 15, 2007 Father Oliver was installed as Pastor of Saint Philip Neri Parish, Philadelphia.  He continues on a part-time basis as Vice Chancellor.  

Return to top

Father Piro was born in Calabria, Italy.

He was ordained a priest for the diocese of San Marco Argentano on July 25, 1954.

He participated in graduate studies at the Jesuit-run Pontifical University, in Naples, Italy, where he earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology.

His assignments included Professor at the diocesan Minor Seminary and Pastor at the Abby/Parish of Sambucina, Calabria ( for 5 years).

In 1963, Fr. Piro came to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He served as Assistant pastor or Resident in several parishes in the Archdiocese while, at the same time, writing for the daily edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican official newspaper.

For the past 20 years, Father Piro has been the U.S. & Canada Correspondent for L’Oservatore Romano.

We are truly blessed to have Father Piro as a resident priest at St. Philip's and we are grateful to him for his service to our parish since he was assigned here in June of 2001.

Return to top