We share this with a heavy heart. Br. Philip will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
Brother Philip Ripley, OSB, 83, Evansville, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, passed away Saturday, April 16, 2016, at his residence.
Br. Philip was born in Paducah, Ky., Aug. 6, 1932, and was given the name Clarence Henry.
He attended St. Mary’s Academy in Paducah for one year and then entered Saint Meinrad Seminary High School, where he graduated in 1950. He then began a period of candidacy, assuming work in the monastery tailor shop. He professed his simple vows Aug. 10, 1952, and his perpetual vows Aug. 10, 1955.
He worked in the tailor shop for five years and in the seminary high school library for five years. In 1977, he began nearly 40 years of service to
St. Mary Parish in Evansville, working as housekeeper and launderer, assisting in the sacristy and caring for many of the parish’s sick and elderly as a Eucharistic minister.
The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. CDT Saturday in Saint Meinrad Archabbey’s church. Burial will be in the archabbey cemetery.
The Office of the Dead will be prayed at 7 p.m. CDT Friday in the church. Visitation will be until 9 p.m. CDT Friday and 8 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday in the church