September 17, 2008

Father Philip Allen

Father Allen was born on March 13, 1928 in St. Louis, MO. He did his seminary training at St. Augustine Seminary, Bay St. Louis, MS; Divine Word Seminary, Epworth, IA; and Conception Seminary, Conception, MO. Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter ordained him for the Diocese of Wichita in the Kenrick Seminary Chapel, St. Louis, MO on May 31, 1958. He was an assistant at Kingman; St. Anne, Wichita; St. Francis of Assisi, Wichita; Blessed Sacrament, Wichita; and St. Thomas Aquinas, Wichita. As pastor he was assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas, Wichita; Christ the King, Wichita; and St. Anthony, Garden Plain. He was pastor of St. John Parish, Clonmel at the time of his death on September 17, 2008. Some of the other assignments for Father Allen were as chaplain of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus; of V.A. Hospital, Wichita; of Daughters of Isabella, Wichita; and of the Council of Catholic Women, Sedgwick Deanery. He also served on the Priests’ Council from 1967 to 1973. Father Ken VanHaverbeke, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Wichita, wrote of Father Allen, “He is an example of faithfulness to the people he served, his vocation as a priest, and to our Lord.” (the Catholic Advance, Oct. 3, 2008) Bishop Jackels was principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Allen at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on September 22, 2008. Father Allen was buried in the St. John Parish Cemetery, Clonmel.