Société des Missions Africaines –Province des Etats-Unis

né le 28 juillet 1927 à Astoria dans le diocèse de Rockville Center, USA serment perpétuel le 2 février 1955 prêtre le 5 février 1955 décédé le 3 avril 1986

1955-1960 missionnaire au Liberia 1960-1986 Tenafly (New Jersey, USA) décédé à New York, USA, le 3 avril 1986, à l'âge de 59 ans

Philip Charles Jr. Bagnasco was born in Astoria, at 327 Hallett St., in the Borough of Queens, in the diocese of Brooklyn, in the parish of Immaculate Conception, New York, on July 28, 1927.
He died in Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan, New York, NY, on April 3, 1986.

Philip Bagnasco was one of three children born to Philip C. and Henrietta A. (nee Tortora), in Astoria, New York City. The family address was 58, Yale Street, Williston Park. Philip attended Cross Street School and Corpus Christi Grade School, Mineola, New York. He received his second level education at Xavier High School, NYC. Later he attended Fordham university, graduating in 1947 with a B.S. degree - he majored in biology and chemistry - and 12 seminary credits in education. During 1950-1951 he spent eight months in the Sacred Heart Seminary (MSC.), at Shelby, Ohio, leaving of his own accord in April 1951, finding it difficult to adjust to the life of a novice. Some months later Philip reconsidered his decision and, unable to return to the MSC because of their rule forbidding re-admission, applied to join the Society of African Missions and was accepted. He came with excellent references from his MSC superiors who recommended his suitability for priesthood. Philip began his ‘spiritual year’ with the Society at Queen of Apostles Seminary Washington, D.C. on September 27. He received his theological formation at the Catholic University of America (1951-55). Philip was admitted as a member of the Society on February 6, 1953 and was ordained a priest in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C., by John M. McNamara, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, on February 5, 1955. Ordained with him on that day were five other SMA priests, Albert Cooney, Owen O’Sullivan, Kevin Scanlan, Philip Carrigan and James Hayes. Philip celebrated his first Solemn High Mass in St. Aidan’s Church, Williston Park, on February 13, 1955.

After ordination Philip was appointed to the Mission of the American Province in Cape Palmas, Liberia. His first assignment, given to him by Msgr. Francis Carroll, the Prefect Apostolic, was to a teaching ministry in a high school and teacher-training college Fatima at Cape Palmas. The school had an enrollment of some 300 boys and girls while there were some 50 aspirant teachers in the college. Philip not only taught academic subjects but took a keen interest in technical education. In his second assignment, in the town of Pleebo, he started a small trade and agricultural school for boys. Another task given him by Msgr. Carroll was to seek teaching congregations to help in the Prefecture’s growing education sector. In 1957 Philip was instrumental in recruiting the Bernadine Sisters of Philadelphia - - from Villanova, Pa. constructing suitable buildings in which the Bernadines could live and teach was another task undertaken by Philip. Lack of funds was a persistent problem, so much so that on a number of occasions the building of a school and convent had to be halted. To remedy this situation Philip, with the encouragement of his superiors, established the Sacred Heart Mission League in America. Members of this League pledged to contribute 25 cents per month for the support of the Liberian Mission. The League proved its worth in subsequent years. As well as funds Philip was also on the look out for lay volunteers who might help in the Prefecture’s building projects. At the conclusion of a promotional talk which he gave in Albertson, NY, a young man called Anthony Riggio came forward and offered himself as a volunteer. A qualified electrician, Anthony came out to Liberia in 1960 and supervised the building of a new trade and agricultural school in Pleebo. This was the first of several construction projects he undertook for the Mission. (Anthony eventually settled, married, and raised a family in Liberia).

In 1962 Philip’s superiors asked him to consider acquiring a Masters Degree in Chemistry at Villanova University, while teaching in a Philadelphia High School. This was to prepare him for further contributions to the education apostolate in Liberia, in the jurisdiction’s third-level institutions. However at this time Philip was unsettled and requested and received permission to withdraw from the active ministry for a year. On his return in June 1964 he was assigned to SMA Fathers Promotion House, at Dedham Mass. He was to spend the remaining years of his priestly life in promotion and administrative work for the Society, all most all of it in Society Headquarters at Tenafly.

Philip was a talented, sensitive man, an excellent pianist and organist, a regular contributor during his early years to the African Angelus and other Society publications, a good communicator and promoter, interested in using the most modern methods such as film. He celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his priesthood in 1980. He died six years later after a long and debilitating illness.

He is in the SMA Community Plot, Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly, NJ.