Fr. Philip Williams (1869-1920)

Father Philip Williams passed away on August 28, 1920.

Father Philip was born in Leavenworth, Kan., and after the death of his father was placed in St. Vincent Orphanage, managed by the Sisters of Charity.  He later was sent to St. Benedict’s where he entered the community, did his novitiate at St. Vincent Archabbey, studied theology in Atchison and was ordained priest July 26, 1893.  Sacred Heart, Atchison, was his first assignment.  Later he was sent to Kansas City, Kan., and was the founding pastor of St. Benedict’s Parish that later was the source of many vocations to our community. 

Poor health made it advisable that Father Philip be allowed to go to California that his health might be given a chance to improve.  It did.  He built churches and buildings in various places like Del Mar, Alhambra, and Catalina Island.  Father Philip had this to say to a confrere about his time in California, “Now I am getting rooted in the new soil.  Would to God it were the soil of my birth, Kansas.  I may be planted, as the psalms put it ‘Like a tree planted by the rivers of water.’  That will always mean the great Missouri for me.  Twelve years in paradise of exile have not won my heart away from Kansas and sequent time never will.  When praying for the absent brethren remember me that I may be present soon.”  From overwork Father Philip suffered a nervous breakdown and tuberculosis.  He died in San Diego August 28, 1920.