Philip Anderson (abbot)
Abbot Philip Anderson, born in 1953, is the current abbot of the Benedictine monastery, Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, situated in Hulbert, Oklahoma. Born and raised in a Unitarian family, he converted to Catholicism during his university years and later pursued a monastic life. After serving in monasteries in France, Anderson helped establish Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma, which is known for its adherence to traditional monastic life and liturgy, including the 1962 Roman Missal and Gregorian chant. Early life and conversion His early life was spent in Prairie Village, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. For his higher education, he attended the University of Kansas, where he was part of an innovative undergraduate course known as the Pearson Integrated Humanities Program from 1971 to 1973. This program was instrumental in leading a wave of students, including Anderson, towards conversion to the Catholic Church. Monastic vocation Following his academic pursuits, Anderson served a two-year enlistment in the United States Marines Corps from 1973 to 1975. Subsequently, he joined a contemplative Benedictine monastery in France, Notre Dame de Fontgombault Abbey, along with other graduates of the Pearson program at the University of Kansas. Upon completion of his monastic formation and