BELMONT — Benedictine Father Francis Phillip Forster, a monk and priest of Belmont Abbey, died peacefully in the Lord on Thursday, May 11, 2023. He was 90.
The body will be received at Belmont Abbey at 7 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2023, followed by vespers and visitation. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Mary Help of Christians Basilica on the campus of Belmont Abbey, followed by the funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow at the abbey cemetery.
Father Francis was born Sept. 2, 1932, in Willard, Ohio, the youngest of five children. He spent his early years on the family farm. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Air
Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict, achieving the rank of staff sergeant. Following his discharge, he entered Belmont Abbey College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1960.
While in college, he entered the novitiate at Belmont Abbey and made his profession of vows on July 11, 1958. He was ordained a priest on June 4, 1964.
Father Francis served for 51 years in the faculty and administration of Belmont Abbey College, from 1958 to 2009. His first appointment was as instructor in the Department of Philosophy. He then served for many years as registrar and director of institutional research, then as director of data processing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip F. Forster and Frances Leitz Forster, and his three brothers, Bernard Forster, Robert Forster and Eugene Forster.
He is survived by the monks of Belmont Abbey; his sister, Mary Ann Forster; and numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Memorial donations may be made to: Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road, Belmont, N.C. 28012.
Condolence messages may be shared at www.McLeanFuneral.com.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is in charge of the arrangements.
Read more
Read more about Father Francis Forster’s life at Belmont Abbey: https://belmontabbey.org/our-monks/