A Requiem Mass was said Tuesday morning at St. Anthony’s Church for Father Henry E. Phillips, 82, who served churches in the Archdiocese of Atlanta as chaplain at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary.

Father Phillips, who had retired in 1955 died Nov. 25. He was ordained a priest June 29, 1910 and was a native of New Orleans.

The concelebrated Mass was said by Msgr. Michael Manning, celebrant, Msgr. Michael J. Regan, Fathers R. Donald Kiernan, Walter Donovan, Raymond Beane. O.F.M., and Robert McCrief, C.SS.R. Burial was in the priests’ plot in Arlington Cemetery.

In the eulogy, Father Kiernan said, “We have met to pay our last tribute of respect to a venerable priest, who has ministered so many years to our spiritual wants in this diocese.

“He was our common father in God, and we meet round his bier to testify to the honor and respect we owe him as children.”

Tributes to Father Phillips were also paid by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan and Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin.

In a statement from Rome, Archbishop Hallinan said, “The death of Father Henry Phillips means that the archdiocese has lost a fine priest. Looking back over his 57 years as a priest we find an illustrious record of devoted pastoral service. In the 1920s he was a missionary in the truest sense, from Oregon to the Gulf of Mexico and began his work for souls in Georgia in 1930. Father Phillips will long be remembered for his service as chaplain at the federal penitentiary for nearly 20 years.

“During his illnesses since his retirement, especially the most recent one, his example of patience in suffering was most obvious to those who knew him. I have offered Mass for him in St. Peter’s Basilica that he may find rest and peace in Christ, the great high priest.”

Bishop Bernardin, who is in Buenos Aires, said, “I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Father Phillips. We have lost a man who was a great priest and who inspired those who visited him during his illness. I am sorry that I will be unable to attend his funeral Mass, but I have offered Mass for his great missionary soul in Buenos Aires.”

After his ordination, Father Phillips served as a missionary in Oregon, California, Iowa and Texas until 1931. In April of that year, he came to Atlanta and served as assistant pastor of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. In 1936, he was appointed pastor of St. Peter’s Church in LaGrange where he stayed until 1939 when he became chaplain at the penitentiary.

Father Phillips retired in 1955 but still served at Immaculate Conception and at St. Anthony’s.

The Divine Office and rosary were said Monday night at St. Anthony’s.

Father Phillips is survived by a sister, Mrs. A. W. Moore of Bay St. Louis, Miss., and a brother, Joseph Phillips of New Orleans.