Abbot Philip Anderson, born in 1953, is the current abbot of the Benedictine monastery,
Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, situated in Hulbert, Oklahoma. Born and raised in a
Unitarian family, he converted to Catholicism during his university years and later pursued a monastic life. After serving in monasteries in France, Anderson helped establish Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma, which is known for its adherence to traditional monastic life and liturgy, including the 1962 Roman Missal and Gregorian chant.
Early life and conversion
His early life was spent in Prairie Village, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. For his higher education, he attended the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
, where he was part of an innovative undergraduate course known as the
Pearson Integrated Humanities Program from 1971 to 1973. This program was instrumental in leading a wave of students, including Anderson, towards conversion to the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
.
Monastic vocation
Following his academic pursuits, Anderson served a two-year enlistment in the
United States Marines Corps from 1973 to 1975. Subsequently, he joined a contemplative Benedictine monastery in France, Notre Dame de
Fontgombault Abbey
Fontgombault Abbey, otherwise the Abbey of Notre-Dame, Fontgombault (french: Abbaye de Fontgombault; Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Fontgombault), is a Order of St. Benedict, Benedictine monastery of the Solesmes Congregation located in Fontgombault in th ...
, along with other graduates of the Pearson program at the University of Kansas.
Upon completion of his monastic formation and receiving ordination to the priesthood in 1984, Father Anderson, along with a group of others, was sent to establish a new monastery in southern France,
Notre Dame de Triors. Here, he held several roles including prior, novice master, and lecturer of moral theology, and also contributed to the daily running of the monastery, including overseeing the chicken coop and vegetable garden.
Return to the United States
In 1999, Father Anderson and twelve other monks were sent back to the United States to establish the Clear Creek Monastery in the
Diocese of Tulsa
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa ( la, Dioecesis Tulsensis) is a particular church of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in the Ecclesiastical province of Oklahoma City covering the eastern region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It ...
, Oklahoma. This monastery has since flourished into a vibrant community of over sixty monks. In addition to the growth of the monastic community, a number of families have relocated to live in the vicinity of the abbey, leading to the formation of a burgeoning Catholic village.
In 2010, the monastery was elevated to the status of an abbey, and Father Anderson received the blessing as the first abbot of Our Lady of Clear Creek on April 10, 2010, from Bishop
Edward Slattery
Edward James Slattery (born August 11, 1940) is an Americans, American prelate of the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, Diocese of Tulsa in Oklahoma from 1993 to 2016.
Biograp ...
. This marked a significant milestone in the history of the monastery and in the life of Abbot Philip Anderson.
Abbot Philip Anderson's life journey, from his early days in Kansas to his leadership of a thriving Benedictine monastery in Oklahoma, is a story of faith, commitment, and service. His contributions extend beyond the spiritual guidance of the monastic community to include the development of a Catholic community around the abbey. His life's work continues to serve as an inspiration for many on their spiritual path.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Philip
1953 births
Living people
Benedictine abbots
American abbots
American Benedictines