From: The Monitor, November 1983 by Mike McCarthy
All down through the years since the first European colonization of Newfoundland, the Roman Catholic portion of the population have always been deeply indebted to their priests for providing leadership in obtaining and improving the educational opportunities of their children.
In the very early days the unnamed Irish priests who laboured under the harsh penal laws kept the faith alive and brought comfort to the lonely immigrants in an alien land. They were followed by priests like Father Michael Berney, Dean Patrick Cleary and Father Patrick Ward, men of vision and faith who with scant funds but an absolute trust in God, laid the foundations of Catholic Education in Newfoundland. They in turn were followed by priests like Father Michael Morris who furthered the cause of educating the orphans and outcasts of the island, and gave his life in making his dream a reality.
Today. one example of the worthy successors of these men is Reverend Philip J. Lewis, the present pastor of St. Paul’s Parish, St. John's. For more than 25 years, Father Lewis has given freely of his time and talents to further the advancement of the Catholic Education in this province.
Father Lewis’ interest and involvement in Ca tholic Education goes back to his seminarian days when during the summers he worked in the far flung communities of Bar Haven Parish, P.B. Following his ordination to the priesthood in 1957, Father Lewis was assigned as an assistant priest to St. Patrick’s Parish, St. John's West, and here too, Father Lewis became deeply involved in helping the students of Holy Cross Boys and St. Patrick’s Girls Schools. At a time when students were to be seen but not heard, Father Lewis had time to listen to their complaints and to answer their questions. All through his priestly career the hallmark of Father Lewis’ pastoral ministry has been an openness and honest approach to the problems of those who consult with him.
Following his stay at St. Patrick’s, where he made friends who hold him in great love and respect to this day, Father Lewis was transferred to the Basilica Parish. Then in 1960, he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Paris, Merasheen,P.B. Merasheen had a long history of academic excellence in the schools, but in the 60s, teachers were very scarce, and finding qualified teachers was no easy matter even for the urban areas not to mention the rural ones. Still through his personal charm and contacts and his ability to persuade people to serve the needs of Catholic Education, he was able to provide for the needs of his students. He was a daily visitor to his schools and sought in every way to aid and encourage teachers and pupils to excel.
In 1965, Father Lewis went to Holy Apostles Parish in Renews, and here again in a time of turmoil when the schools of the area were consolidating, his strength of character and openness succeeded in accomplishing what would have otherwise been an impossible task. He served as Chairman of the New District School Board and the Educational System of that area is today an excellent one, due in no small part to Father Lewis’ patience and skill as an administrator.
From Renews, Father Lewis went on to serve the parishes of St. Lawrence, and Freshwater, and as in his previous parishes, Catholic Education was the better for his coming and during his stay he contributed much to improve the existing educational systems that he found.
Today, Father Lewis serves the Parish of St. Paul’s in St. John's East, and here too the advancement of Catholic Education is very much his concern, and no Roman Catholic priest in Newfoundland keeps himself more abreast of current Catholic thought and educational practices than Fathe Lewis. Like the early priests who laid the foundations of our present Catholic educational system, the Catholic students of our province are the better for Father Lewis having chosen to serve God as a Roman Catholic Priest.
Additional notes:
In January 1991, Father Philip J. Lewis was granted early retirement for health reasons and applied to the Holy See for a dispensation from the obligations of the priesthood.
Philip Lewis completed his seminary training at St. Paul’s University, Ottawa, and was ordained to the priesthood by the late Most Reverend Patrick J. Skinner on June 15, 1957.
He served as assistant priest in St. Patrick’s Parish and the Basilica Parish in St. John’s from 1957 to 1960. He was appointed parish priest of St. Joseph’s Parish, Merasheen in 1960, taking over from Fr. Charles Greene. After serving in Merasheen he served as parish priest of Holy Apostles Parish, Renews; St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, St. Lawrence; Holy Rosary Parish, Freshwater and was the founding pastor of St. Paul’s Parish, St. John’s. In each of the parishes in which he served as pastor he expended much energy on the implementation of the reforms of Vatican II. He was involved in the reorganization of Roman Catholic School Boards in the Archdiocese and served as Chairman of Boards on the Burin Peninsula, the Southern Shore and the Placentia area. Furthermore, he played a leading role in the Archdiocese in promoting Stewardship and the Charismatic Renewal.
Since that time, Philip Lewis has married and been a resident of Mount Pearl.