St. Agatha - St. James Parish/Roman Catholic Church

St. Agatha–St. James is truly one of the most beautiful and welcoming churches we’ve ever been to. Since moving to Philadelphia, it has become our spiritual home, and we’ve been attending regularly ever since. The church offers a vibrant community with many activities, and the Masses are always deeply meaningful and beautifully celebrated by both Fr. Remi and Fr. Carlos. Their homilies are thoughtful, and the atmosphere is always peaceful and uplifting. We love this church so much that we chose to have our wedding here. It was a small, intimate ceremony, but absolutely beautiful. Fr. Remi officiated, alongside Br. Michael, made the experience even more special with their warmth and kindness. We feel truly blessed to be part of this parish.

Our spiritual home—where we met, fell in love, and got engaged. We've been volunteering here for years and were beyond happy to be married here. The priests are wonderful, and this church will always have our hearts.

During my stay in Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to experience such a beautiful Holy Week. I met Fr. Remigio and Fr. Carlos, two excellent people who made us feel at home, and Patrick, too, the Newman director. It's a church full of spiritual energy and a very friendly atmosphere. I highly recommend it.

Absolutely beautiful church. The 9am Mass is somewhat traditional (bells rung during transubstantiation). The statues and stained glass are a joy to behold. But best of all, they have confession in the 30 minutes prior to every Sunday Mass. I hope I will have the chance to come here again in the future!

Since moving to Philadelphia a year ago, my spouse and I have been attending this church and have been truly impressed by the vibrant community of young adults—a rarity in many parishes. This dynamic environment has made it easy for us to connect with peers, participate in various activities, and feel a strong sense of belonging. We also took the Pre-Cana course, led by Fr. Remi, which profoundly deepened our understanding of both our relationship with each other and with the Church. The course emphasized meaningful communication, spiritual growth, and the sacramental nature of marriage. It not only renewed our commitment to one another but also inspired us to marry here in this very church. Inspired me to love my spouse with greater understanding and compassion. Additionally, both Fr. Remi and Fr. Carlos deliver homilies that resonate deeply with young adults. Their engaging and thoughtful messages inspire us to actively participate in church life and continue growing in faith. We wholeheartedly recommend this church and the Pre-Cana program to anyone seeking a vibrant, welcoming community and meaningful spiritual preparation.

A very beautiful church, an old building with carved arches and narrow windows, like a castle among the city skyscrapers. I know there is an organ inside, and I hope to hear it played.

This is a very pretty Roman Catholic Church with a very delicate and beautiful interior. However, the church has no air-conditioning, and it is incredibly hot in the summertime so you feel like you’re about to pass out during service.

What a beautiful and amazing church. Firstingbod out of state and wanted to attend Sunday mass. The church is beautiful and welcoming.

I'm reviewing this specifically as a venue, not a religious affiliation, so take from this what you will. My cousin recently had her wedding ceremony in this church, and the architecture was stunning. The space itself is vast and ornate. The stained glass windows were gorgeous. We all snapped some great photos. Comments: There is no air conditioning. Doors are left open, which raised the decibel level substantially. Hearing city traffic, police sirens, etc during a wedding ceremony is a bit of a bummer. However, the space was so beautiful it is well deserving of 4 stars.

I went here to witness my cousin's wedding, and the priest and the church simply made for a moving ceremony. I am not an architecture expert, but I found this church to be simply beautiful. The details were intricate and exquisite. I especially loved the gorgeous stained glass windows. It is spacious and yet intimate. My only caveat is that it gets stifling hot because there is no air conditioning. But then again, I am supposed to be humble in a house of God so perhaps I should not complain much...

St. Agatha St. James Church has been a crucial part of my faith journey while in the Philadelphia area. It is a beautiful Catholic community in so many ways. I highly recommend this church to anyone visiting Philadelphia or anyone who has just moved here and is looking for a parish that will make them feel welcomed and at home.

https://youtu.be/vXFE_H--QTk A nice church in the University City area. Limited parking availability, but has an extended parking in the back. Holy Water is available to parishioners for their personal containers.

There are really nice people here, very welcoming and warm. The Church is beautiful!!! And you really can find God in every mass.

The building itself is a traditional stone church with interior dominated by large granite pillars and traditional catholic artwork. It has a very large space for the congregation so there has never been a problem finding a seat. This Catholic Church primarily serves the students from the nearby universities. From the couple of masses that I have been to, this tends to give it a more 'progressive' feel and message in most of the homilies. Everyone seems pretty friendly and have been very welcoming, so I would definitely recommend this church to those looking to get involved with a new church community.