A Life of Faith, Service, and Compassion
The Xavier community is deeply saddened to share the passing of Brother Philip Revell, C.F.X., who entered eternal life peacefully on October 5 after a courageous year-long battle with cancer. Brother Philip devoted more than four decades of his life to serving others with compassion, humility, and unwavering faith. His journey of service carried him across three continents and countless lives, all positively impacted by his kindness, intellect, and commitment to the Xaverian mission.
Born on April 1, 1957, in Glossop, Derbyshire, England, Brother Philip first encountered the Xaverian Brothers as a student at Xaverian College in Manchester. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History and French from the University of Kent and continued his studies in education at Manchester Polytechnic. On September 1, 1979, he entered the Congregation at Xaverian College in Manchester and professed perpetual vows in 1985 on the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier. It was the beginning of a lifelong vocation built on love, faith, and trust.
Brother Philip’s ministry took him through classrooms and communities across the world. He spent twelve years teaching Religion and French at Xaverian College in Manchester before responding to a new and profound calling, to serve as a Catholic chaplain in England’s prisons. At HM Prison Brixton and later HM Prison Manchester, Brother Philip worked with compassion and courage among those who society too often forgot. Fluent in French, he connected with refugees and asylum seekers, becoming not just a chaplain but a voice of empathy and understanding. “The prison work was the one with the biggest responsibilities and challenges for me professionally,” he once reflected. “It required being compassionate and firm, a shoulder to cry on and a voice of reason.”
In 2002, Brother Philip’s path led him to Lubumbashi, Congo, where he served as Director of the Scholasticate House, Regional Superior of the Xaverian Brothers, and a teacher of Biblical Theology and English. There, his brothers recall him as un ami des pauvres, a friend of the poor. He was known for his humility, his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and his willingness to welcome and accompany those on the margins. His influence in the Congo was profound, one marked by music, language, and faith that transcended boundaries. “He loved being in the Congo and cried the eve before he left,” one Brother recalled. “He left with the Congo in his heart.”
In 2016, Brother Philip joined Xavier High School, where he spent the last eight years of his ministry teaching Religion and French and serving as Assistant Campus Minister. His colleagues and students knew him as a gentle, joyful presence, a man of great humor, intellect, and empathy. Whether leading prayer, guiding a discussion, or simply pausing for his cherished 3:45 teatime, Brother Philip embodied the Xaverian spirit of simplicity and presence. He often reminded others, “There is still a place in this unbelieving world for Catholic Christian schools… creating a community based on the Gospel is so important.”
Brother Philip’s life was marked by a deep interior peace, even in illness. His faith, rooted in daily prayer and devotion, sustained him. He once shared with a colleague, “I’ve lived a good life, one without regret.” In his final months at Xaverian House in Danvers, he continued to give of himself, even as his strength waned, remaining a vital and beloved member of his community.
Brother Philip is predeceased by his father, Richard, and survived by his loving mother, Mary, and brothers Michael, Paul, and Stephen. His legacy lives on through his students, colleagues, and the countless people he inspired throughout his ministry.
From Manchester to Middletown, from prison chapels to classrooms, Brother Philip lived the vision of Brother Francis Xavier Ryken to follow the Lord wherever He led him. His life was a testament to the power of faith, compassion, and the enduring call to serve.
We thank God for the gift of Brother Philip Revell, C.F.X., whose presence among us was a blessing beyond measure.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Brother Philip Revell, C.F.X. will be celebrated on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Saint Richard Church, 90 Forest Street, Danvers, Massachusetts. Visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Committal will follow at the Xaverian Brothers Cemetery.
May he rest in God’s loving peace.
To share a memory, story, or photograph please CLICK HERE.