The Parish of St. Francis Xavier was founded by Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick on the 27th of May, 1839 in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia. The parish school was founded by our second pastor, Fr. Patrick Rafferty, in 1845.

The original parishioners were primarily Irish or German immigrants who worked at the many factories and shops that dotted the Fairmount neighborhood. The current church's cornerstone was laid in 1894. Its location predates the construction of the sweeping Parkway and Art Museum whose territory consisted of row houses and the Philadelphia Waterworks. Our current church, when built, sat toward the middle of the parish's territory, rather than its current spot on the edge of the park. The present church building, the parish's second church, was dedicated on the 18th of December, 1898.

In 1990, the Philadelphia Oratory was formed and its primary ministry is caring for and staffing the parish. In 2000, the Philadelphia Oratory was established as a Congregation of Pontifical Right.

Over time, Fairmount developed its own unique culture and lingo-- which some of our parishioners will still gladly show-off to any visitors. Through years of urban blight followed by renaissance, the Parish of St. Francis Xavier has remained a steadfast beacon in Fairmount, welcoming new parishioners along with descendants of our founding families.

Restoration and maintenance of our beautiful church is constant and displays the parish's love for their church-- indeed, a reflection of their devotion to Our Lord, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament through our parish's nearly two century history and for the years to come.