The first world temple to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary as the patron saint of housewives stands before you. This is San Felipe Neri. Its humble beginnings started as an oratory in the early 20th century. It was housed in a family home in Mataderos. This small space is now the parish office.
San Felipe Neri’s story is deeply intertwined with the growth of Buenos Aires. The rapid population increase led to a need for more churches. Bishop Jose Maria Bottaro envisioned seventy-four new parishes. San Felipe Neri was one of them.
In 1929 Father Tomas Bertolotto became its first vicar. He was a cooperator of San Vicente de Paul the oldest church in the neighborhood. A telegram from Genoa announced the official acceptance of the parish. Father Bertolotto celebrated the first Mass in 1929. He then distributed flyers door to door. He asked people to help build the church and school.
The plans for San Felipe Neri’s first church were modest. It was only twenty meters by eight. The sacristy was behind the altar. A door was later added to connect them. The choir was part of the presbytery. The wooden altar was inherited from the old oratory.
The new church was blessed and inaugurated in 1930. The Bishop Auxiliary Monsignor Santiago Luis Copello officiated. The main altar has been modified several times. Originally it had a painting of San Felipe Neri with the Virgin and children. Around 2009 the painting was moved to a side wall. A crucifix was placed on the main altar. In 2016 elements of the Holy Mass were added.
The side altars once displayed the Immaculate Conception and San Felipe Neri. Later San Felipe Neri’s image moved to a side wall. San Jose’s image was placed there instead.
The church’s statue of the Virgin Mary is truly unique. Fernando Pugliese created the statue. He is also the creator of the Tierra Santa theme park in Buenos Aires. The Virgin Mary is depicted as a housewife. She holds her child close to her chest. She holds bread and a basket of clothing. The statue is a powerful representation of motherhood. It was blessed by Pope John Paul II in 2002.
San Felipe Neri itself is a testament to faith perseverance and community. It evolved from a humble oratory to a vibrant parish. It has served Mataderos for nearly a century. This church’s story is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about the people who built it and continue to maintain its legacy.