Father Angelo Phillips RIP

Please pray for the repose of Fr Angelo’s soul and remember his family and friends in your prayers at this time.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

The funeral arrangements are as follows:

Monday 25th March 6.00pm.
Reception of Fr Angelo’s body into St Robert’s Church, Robert Street, Harrogate, HG1 1HP followed by Mass.

Tuesday 26th March 12.00 noon
Funeral Mass, St Robert’s Church, Robert Street, Harrogate, HG1 1HP.

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Fatherr Angelo was born on 29th March 1947 in Ajmer, a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. His family moved to England when he was still a child and he grew up in Sheffield, then the second city of the Diocese of Leeds. He trained for the priesthood at Ushaw College and was ordained at the Church of Our Lady and St Thomas, in Sheffield on 8th  July 1978.

From 1978 until 1989 Fr Angelo served as Assistant Priest in a number of parishes across the Diocese: St Theresa’s, Leeds (1978-79), St Austin’s, Wakefield (1979-84), St Brigid’s, Huddersfield (1984-85), St Mary’s, Bradford (1985), St Mary’s, Selby (1986-87) and St Clare’s, Bradford (1988-89).

In 1989 Bishop Konstant appointed Fr Angelo as Parish Priest of Pateley Bridge where he remained until 1993 when he moved to St Mary’s, Carlton. In 1998 he left Carlton to become the Chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus at their convent in Harrogate. In 2002 he returned to parish ministry as Parish Priest of St Boniface, Bentham and then in 2006 Bishop Roche asked him to become the Parish Priest of St Joseph’s, Tadcaster. Unfortunately, by this stage his health was not good and he had to retire from Tadcaster two years later, in 2008, when he took up residence in Harrogate.

In retirement, and up to the time of his death, Fr Angelo served as Chaplain to the Leeds Province of the Knights of St Columba – an area that actually includes local KSC Councils in the Leeds, Hallam and Middlesbrough dioceses. In this role he was held in great regard and affection by the Knights. He also acquired a new ministry as a cruise ship chaplain. For several years he provided spiritual care for both passengers and crew (with many of the latter originating from strongly Catholic counties such as the Philippines), while enjoying a number of Christmas and Eastertime voyages to sunnier climes. For Fr Angelo it was a golden opportunity to enjoy both good company and good food – two of his great pleasures in life.

Fr Angelo died in Harrogate on 12th March 2019 after being unwell for some while. He was one of the great characters of the Leeds diocese in recent times. He was a humorous, warm-heated and good natured priest much loved by his fellow priests and by his parishioners over the years. His presence enlivened many a diocesan or parish gathering. With his death at the age of seventy-one life for Fr Angelo’s many friends in the Diocese of Leeds will now become somewhat the poorer.

May He Rest in Peace.