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 Homepage | The person | The family | The friends | Sitemap | Search | Contact  News  Year 2003 Français | English | Español |  Print10th anniversary of Father Thomas Philippe's entry into Eternal Life A celebration for the 10th anniversary of Father Thomas Philippe’s entry into Eternal Life was held at « La Ferme » in Trosly Breuil, in Oise, on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February. Prayer, Eucharist and conferences (Jean Vanier and Xavier le Pichon) were held during these two days. Who was Father Thomas ? Father Thomas Philippe was born on 18 March 1905 in Cysoing, near Lille (France) into a family of 12 children, 7 of whom would enter religious life. On 21 November 1923, he entered the Dominican order. He made his vows on 1st December 1924 and was ordained a priest on 25 July 1929. He taught theology at Saulchoir and at Angelicum (Dominican faculty of theology in Rome). In 1941, he was nominated rector at Saulchoir. After the war, he formed a group made up of students from different countries, in a community called “'L'Eau Vive'', in order to give them a theological and spiritual training. Jean Vanier joined this group in 1950. In 1963, Father Thomas became the chaplain of the ''Val Fleuri'', an institution for some thirty persons with intellectual disabilities situated in Trosly-Breuil in Oise (France). He invited Jean Vanier to visit him there and encouraged him to “do something” for these people. In August 1964, Jean Vanier, inspired by Father Thomas, founded l'Arche. In 1971, Father Thomas founded ''La Ferme'', a place of prayer and welcome at the heart of the community. He celebrated the Eucharist there every day. He advised and accompanied people from l’Arche and many others came to seek his support. Father Thomas remained a priest in l'Arche until his death on 4 February 1993. He gave much support to the first pilgrimage of Faith and Light, then to the birth of the movement in Easter 1971 and its growth throughout the whole world. He is buried near the Chapel at “La Ferme” in Trosly-Breuil. “I give immense thanks to God to have been, through the grace of Jesus, a priest for those who are the weakest and poorest, a priest for the Dying and for those called upon to live that what Mary gave us in the Rosary upon this earth.” (60th anniversary of his vocation). |
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