5th Anniversary of the Community of St. John Founder, Fr. Marie-Dominique Philippe



Today is not only the birthday of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, but it is also the 5th anniversary of the death of the founder of the Community of St. John, Father Marie-Dominique Philippe, who died at the age of 93.

I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting our beloved founder, Fr. Philippe, just months before he returned to his eternal reward.

The following message from Sr Nirmala, the Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, was sent to the Community on the day of Fr Philippe's death:

"It is wonderful to hear that Fr Marie-Dominique Philippe returned to God on Aug 26, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the link with our beloved Holy Father John Paul II, and which is also the birthday of our Mother, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. With these three in Heaven, we can expect great things for the Church!"


Fr. Marie-Dominique Philippe (1912-2006), a Dominican priest from France, taught philosophy and theology at the Saulchoir at Etiolles (the Dominican House of Studies of the Paris Province) from 1939 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1962, and philosophy at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) from 1945 to 1982. In addition to his teaching, Father Philippe conducted theological and philosophical conferences and preached retreats to numerous religious orders, to Houses of Charity, but primarily at the home of Servant of God Marthe Robin. In Fribourg in 1975, at the request of some French students, he founded the Community of the Brothers of St John, he himself remaining a Dominican, followed a few years later by the Community of Contemplative Sisters and shortly afterwards of Apostolic Sisters. These three communities have been joined by a number of lay people – the Oblates of St John – and together these communities form a new spiritual family in the Church: the Family of St John.

For a full biography and to learn more about the Community of St. John go here.

Related Information/Links:

Marthe Robin: A Modern Day Mystic, by Jean M. Heimann, Canticle Magazine, Fall 2005

St.Jean.Com- International website

The Community of St. John - USA

Children of Hope

~ copyright Jean M. Heimann August 2011


~Photo Image: copyright Jean M. Heimann 2006
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