News December 20, 2012
Seminarian Daniel Phillips Killed in Automobile Accident
The Diocese of Dallas sends sincere condolences to the family of John "Daniel" Phillips, 19, a seminarian at Holy Trinity Seminary for the Diocese of Little Rock, who was killed in an automobile accident December 18th near Danville, Arkansas.
The Diocese of Dallas sends sincere condolences to the family of John "Daniel" Phillips, 19, a seminarian at Holy Trinity Seminary for the Diocese of Little Rock, who was killed in an automobile accident December 18th near Danville, Arkansas.
The son of John and Catherine Phillips of Booneville, Arkansas, Daniel entered Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving this past August where he was a first year philosophy major. The family attends Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville. The rosary for Phillips is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. in the Abbey Church in Subiaco.
"Let us pray for Daniel, that his soul will be welcomed by the angels and saints into the Kingdom of God in heaven. And let us also pray for his family and friends as they deal with the sudden and tragic end to his young life," Bishop Anthony B. Taylor wrote in an e-mail to diocesan staff on December 19th.
In a profile for the Diocese of Little Rock website, Phillips described his desire to be a priest since he was young.
"I remember every Sunday morning staring up at the pastor, thinking, 'That would be so cool.' I practiced holding my hands like the priest as he consecrated the bread and wine. I played priest when my siblings practiced for their first Communion, handing them potato chips, proclaiming, 'The Body of Christ.' At night, I would quietly whisper to myself, 'Father Daniel.' ... Each day I pray a prayer I learned at the 'Come and See' retreat: 'God, I will go where you want me to go. I will do what you want me to do. And I will be who you want me to be. All you have to do is show me the way.' Today my desire for the priesthood is stronger than ever. Whether I am led all the way to ordination or not, I trust in God and will continue to seek his will for me.'"
To learn more, read Daniel's profile in English or Spanish or watch his story on video.
Sources: Holy Trinity Seminary blog and Arkansas Catholic