Benedictine Fr. Lawrence Phelps served abbey, archdiocese

Benedictine Father Lawrence Phelps, a monk of St. Joseph Abbey, died Sept. 12. He was 92 and had recently marked the 65th anniversary of his first profession of vows as a monk.

Born Joseph Charles Phelps, he was the eldest of three sons of Charles Joseph Phelps and Rosey Vanney Phelps of New Orleans. After graduating from Redemptorist High School, Father Lawrence worked for a time in the banking industry before enrolling in St. Joseph Seminary.

In 1956, he entered St. Joseph Abbey and made monastic profession in 1957, when he received the name Lawrence. He completed his studies for the priesthood at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and a few years later earned a master’s degree in education from Loyola University. He was ordained in 1963.

Over the years, Father Lawrence held numerous offices in both the Abbey and at St. Joseph Seminary College. Most notably, he was a professor of education, later registrar, then academic dean and alumni Director in the seminary college; and master of ceremonies, guest master, treasurer, secretary to the abbot and the chapter and almoner in the monastic community.

Throughout his priestly life, Father Lawrence gave pastoral assistance to Archdiocese of New Orleans parishes. His longest service being at St. James Major Church in New Orleans from 1981-99, where  he was a faithful visitor to the elderly until the end of his active ministry.

In 1999, Father Lawrence became pastor of Annunciation Church in Bogalusa, a position he held until his retirement to St. Joseph Abbey in 2008. In his last years, he lost much of his hearing, and, later, his mobility, though he continued to attend Offices in the Abbey Church and meals in the abbey refectory. As he needed more skilled attention, he was transferred to Lacombe Nursing Home, where he died.

Father Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Gerard Edward and Alfred Anthony Phelps.

The monks of St. Joseph Abbey received Father Lawrence’s body Sept. 15 at vespers in the Abbey Church. A Funeral Vigil was held that evening. His Funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 16, followed by burial in the Abbey Cemetery.