Father Philip Michael Tracy

Please join in praying for the soul of Father Philip Michael Tracy, a priest of the Diocese of Portland who died on September 1, 2025, at the age of 94..

Father Tracy was born in Portland on April 6, 1931, the third child of Patrick Joseph Tracy and Catherine Elizabeth Earles Tracy. He attended St. Dominic School in Portland, then Holy Cross School in South Portland. He graduated from Cheverus High School in 1949.

He then In 1952 he entered Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky of the Order of Cistercians of the Stricter Observance (Trappists) and was one of the founders of Our Lady of New Clairvaux Abbey in California. However, with permission, he left the monastery in 1967 and returned home to serve as a diocesan priest.

For the Diocese of Portland, Father Tracy served in parishes in Houlton, Saco, Portland, Presque Isle, Lyman, Calais, Sabattus, and South Berwick. He also spent seven years as Newman chaplain at Bates College in Lewiston. While serving in the above parishes and Bates College, he served also, for 20 years as director of the Apostolate to the Catholic Deaf Catholics of Maine.

He retired in 2001. In February of 2002 he began serving the Spanish-speaking Catholics of Portland, later expanding to include those of Lewiston, Bangor, and Milbridge.

Reception of the Body

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a reception of the body and Liturgy of the Hours on Wednesday, September 10, at 4 p.m.at Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland. Fr. Tracy will lie in state at the church until 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial

A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Holy Cross Church with Bishop James Ruggieri as the principal celebrant. Rev. Philip A. Tracy will be the homilist. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of South Portland. To view Fr. Tracy’s memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In lieu of flowers, South Portland Food Cupboard, 130 Thadeus Street, South Portland, ME  04106