History:

Woodlands first Catholic Mass and Baptism was celebrated in the home of F.N. Goerig in 1872 by Father Billet a French Missionary priest among the Indians of Western Washington. Father Billet baptized William Goerig son of F.N. Goerig

Between that first Mass and 1879, Father Schram from St. James Cathedral in Fort Vancouver came to the Goerig home and held Mass for the small congregation. In 1879 a Missionary from Milan, Italy, Fr. Cesari, who attended to the needs of many Catholic Churches in Clark County came to the Goerig home. He left a Missal to be read by Mr. F.N. Goerig on Sundays when no priest was available. For many years area Catholic Families assembled at the Goerig home as he read from this Missal, selections from the Bible, and led them in prayer.

Regular Catholic Mass did not begin until 1909 when the Franciscan's Province of Santa Barbara were assigned Western Washington by Bishop O'Dea. It was not until 1912, however, that Mass was said with any regularity at Woodland and there was still no church. Mr. L.N. Plomondon, grandson of Simon Plomondon, founder of the first Catholic Mission in Washington, offered his home for church Mass. Father Clement Berberich, assigned from the Friary in Kelso, was the permanent priest in Woodland.

As the congregation grew the need for a church was evident to Father Clement. The Woodland Athletic Club Building was bought for $600.00 and remodeled into a church for a cost of $2,500.00 which was paid for by parishioners. The chief donor, Mr. Plomondon, without whose generosity the congregation could not have bought the building, donated large sums to keep the church in a state of good repair. This church was named St. Philip and had a fifteen member choir which sang a four voice High Mass every Sunday. The Church of St. Philip was served by the Franciscan's who lived at Kelso until 1940. Mass was held at St. Philip on two Sunday's each month with Religious Education (Sunday school) being held after each Mass.

In 1940 the Franciscans were replaced by Diocesan Priests and the first priest assigned to the Parish was Father William Lee. Father William conducted Mass at St. Philip from 1940 until 1942 when Father Patrick McNerney and Father Walter Mortek were assigned as Pastors from 1945 until 1948. From 1948 to 1950 Father Patrick Lyons of St. Mary's in Kelso, celebrated at St. Philip.

St. Philip was established as a Parish in 1950, when Father Thomas Pitsch was appointed the first Resident Pastor by Bishop Connolly. A neighboring house, the old Brick Rectory, was bought and remodeled by Fr. Pitsch. During his term as Pastor the parish continued to grow and several improvements were made to the Church building.

Father John Doogan was appointed to succeed Father Pitsch in 1952 and Fr. Doogan was replaced by Father O'Brien July 1954. Church Mass are held every Sunday and Mass was offered daily in St. Philip Church. As Fr. O'Brien settled in anew program for giving religious instruction to elementary and high school pupils was introduced: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine [CCD]

In 1956 Ms. Lee Chester organized a new choir and purchased a new electric organ for the church. As the congregation grew over the next 20 years seven more priests's watched over the St. Philip community. In 1962, under the leadership of Father Patrick Godley, St Joseph Parish in Kalama and St. Mary Parish in Ridgefield became Missions for St. Philip. Fr. Godley retired in 1969 and was replaced by Father Donald Piro who was the Pastor until 1971.

From 1971 until 1974 Fr. John McMullen celebrated Mass at St. Philip Missions of St Joseph and St. Mary. In 1974 Father Richard Hayatsu assumed the Pastorship until Father Jim Westenhaver arrived at the parish in 1975. Father Jim oversaw the parish until 1979 when Fr. Ron Knutsen arrived. Father Knutsen managed the parish until 1985. Fr. Steven Roman assumed the Pastorship in 1985 until he retired in 1991.

In 1990, during a full remodel, the original St. Philip church suffered from a terrible fire and was destroyed. Father Joseph O'Shea came to the parish in 1991 and assumed the responsibility of building the present St. Philip church. The brick Rectory was sold to gain enough funds to purchase land to expand the current parish property and build a new church. On May 1, 1994 the new church building was dedicated by Bishop Thomas Murphy and Father O'Shea remained the Pastor until he retired in 2002. O'Shea Hall of St. Philip is named in honor of Father O'Shea.

Our Present Pastor, Father Jerry Woodman, has been celebrating Mass and the Sacraments at St. Philip since 2002 and we look forward to many more years with Fr. Jerry as our Celebrant.