Fr. Ken Phillips, TOR, MS, Remembered for a ‘Life of Healing’; SLI Charitable Fund Named In His Memory
Posted on: February 9, 2026
Saint Luke Institute (SLI) staff, board members, staff alumni, former clients, family members, community members, colleagues and friends of Fr. Ambrose Kenneth (‘Ken’) Phillips, TOR, MS gathered for a Memorial Mass to celebrate what many called his ‘life of healing.’ Fr. Phillips passed away January 2, 2026, at the age of 80. In over four decades of care for our clients, Fr. Ken served in a number of roles at SLI, most recently as Coordinator of Continuing Care. He was honored at the 2025 Annual Benefit for SLI with a Special Service Award.
The Memorial Mass was held at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, where Fr. Ken lived in community with the friars for many years. Others joined online for the livestream of the Mass.
Fr. Patrick J. McDevitt, CM, PhD, SLI President & CEO, presided at the liturgy and offered the homily, reflecting on the ways in which Fr. Ken touched the lives of people through his pastoral and welcoming presence.
After the Communion Rite, Marianne Durgavich, RN, Chief Operating Office of SLI, shared reflections from Fr. Frank Scornaienechi, TOR, the provinicial of Fr. Ken’s religious community, the Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular (TOR), Province of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Frank spoke of him as a kind and dedicated caregiver, referring to Fr. Ken by his chosen religious name, Ambrose. (The TOR community offered Fr. Ken’s Mass of Christian Burial at their parish in Altoona, Pennsylvania in January, not far from their monastery. Fr. Ken was interred in their community cemetery near the monastery grounds at that time.) Ms. Durgavich also shared a message from the Chair of the SLI Board of Directors, Sr. Salvatrice Murphy, DC, LCSW, referring to Luke 12:37, “Blessed are the servants whom the master finds vigiliant when he comes …” and highlighting Fr. Ken’s vigiliance in “love, compassion, and caring.”
Fr. McDevitt also announced that SLI had named its charitiable fund as the Father Kenneth Phillips, TOR, MS, Charitable Fund. In a letter announcing the memorial, McDevitt noted: “In his name, this fund will continue Father Ken’s Franciscan charism and the apostolic work of his ministry. It will ensure that financial hardship never prevents priests, deacons, or women and men religious from receiving behavioral health and spiritual care support at SLI.” He also said that SLI has had a long standing mission commitment to not deny cruicial mental health and spiritual support to clergy or religious who would otherwise not be able to afford the professional mental health services offered at SLI. “Through this fund, we can provide timely access to clinically exceptional providers, spiritually integrated care, psychological and psychiatric services, addiction recovery, spiritual assessment, and continuing care,” he continued.
He concluded by noting with gratitude that Fr Ken’s TOR community has made the lead gift to the Charitiable Fund. Donors to the fund can make gifts online or by printable mail-in form at SLI.org/charity.
The day of remembrance concluded with a simple reception following the Mass which included a video sharing photos of Fr. Ken over the years at SLI, and a video of an interview with him (featured below) discussing his ministry and the work of SLI.
