Fr. Philip Waters, OSB Appointed Abbey Administrator

On April 9, 2025, Abbot Jonathan Licari, O.S.B., President of the American Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine monasteries, appointed Fr. Philip Waters, O.S.B., a monk of Newark Abbey in Newark, NJ, as Administrator of St. Mary’s Abbey for a three-year term, effective August 1, 2025.

Fr. Philip was born in Bayonne, NJ, and grew up in Westfield, NJ.  His parents were members of Holy Trinity Parish, and he graduated from the parish elementary school, then attended St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, NJ. After graduation, he began studies for St. Mary’s Abbey, first at St. Bernard’s College in Cullman, AL, and then at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN.

Following his sophomore year at St. John’s, in 1965, Fr. Philip entered the novitiate at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, NJ, under the direction of Father (later Abbot) Martin Burne, O.S.B. Following his first profession of vows on July 11, 1966, in the new St. Mary’s Abbey Church, Fr. Philip attended Seton Hall University, graduating in 1968.  After a year of Theology at St. Mary’s Abbey, he joined the Newark Abbey community, which was formed after the separation of the Newark and Morristown monastic communities into independent abbeys in 1968.  Fr. Philip attended Union Theological/Woodstock Seminary in New York City and was ordained a priest in the Newark Abbey Church on September 16, 1972. 

When St. Benedict’s Prep reopened in 1973 after a one-year reorganization, Fr. Philip taught English and coached track. He also earned a master’s degree in English from NYU, was president of the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference, served as a certified state track official and occasionally even drove a St. Benedict’s school bus. In the monastery, he spent several terms on the Senior Council and served as the Abbey sub-prior.  On weekends, he also assisted at several local parishes.

In 1984, the president of the Congregation sent Fr. Philip to St. Mark’s Priory in South Union, KY, where he served as Prior and Newman Chaplain at Western Kentucky University. Returning to Newark in 1987, he resumed teaching at St. Benedict’s, officiated track meets and served as Abbey Procurator. One of Fr. Philip’s proudest moments was Delbarton School’s invitation to start the first race during its inaugural meet at the school’s new Passarelli Track in 2010. 

In 1995, Fr. Philip was appointed pastor of the St. Mary’s, the Newark Abbey parish, and he served in that role for the next thirty years.  He continued to teach at St. Benedict’s, was chaplain at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center for twenty years and served the Archdiocese of Newark as Dean of Deanery 20: Central Newark.

Returning now to St. Mary’s Abbey as the Abbey Administrator, Fr. Philip’s wide range and depth of experience suit him especially well for his new role.  As Administrator, Fr. Philip holds all the usual responsibilities and authority of the Abbot of St. Mary’s Abbey, without the title of ‘Abbot.’  His chief responsibility will be to assist the monks of St. Mary’s Abbey as they plan for their future and discern what kind of person they wish to serve as their permanent abbot.