Paul Mollan Obituary

November 6, 2021 -- My wife Pam and I appreciated this 'reminder' of the day our dear Father Mollan went to Heaven. Fifteen years later, we still talk about him often at the table. We remember the stories of burnt toast (his recurring order at local dining establishments) and other distinctive preferences. He admired Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and when she died he delivered an eloquent sermon about her life, tied to the Scripture readings for the particular Saturday evening Vigil Mass for that day. He was kind to take note of the several pages of 'extra coverage' the local daily devoted to her life, and credited me because I worked there. The truth I shared with him was that I suggested the extra coverage to an old Calvinist for whom I worked, the late E.L. Gaylord, and he gave the directive to the news editors for the additional coverage. Father Mollan was attentive to the world at large, with deeply informed opinions and analyses of great events, as they transpired. He was generous to those with whom he disagreed, to a point, yet always within the context of the Roman Catholic faith traditions we shared. So long as we live, Pam and I will remember him, and honor all the memories.

I only knew you briefly, but I looked forward to the Catholic classes you were giving each week at Saint Paul the Apostle Church in Del City, Oklahoma. I wish I had told you that in person. I miss the humor you brought to your serious teaching of the Catholic faith. I wish I could have heard the rest of what you had to teach us. Rest in peace, Father Paul, for you have done well.

Paul (Small Paul as I called him then!) was my neighbor during my first two years at Holy Trinity in Okarche. I saw him as a role model then and as a benevolent Defender of the Faith in the nearly fifty years since June 25, 1957.

Father, we will miss getting together with you for a night out at "Chinese". You were a great friend who we will remember for a long time.

Father Paul Mollan was for this era what we called -- when I was a boy -- "a holy priest." He lived his vocation in every way. He was a friend, too, but a priest, first. I had many wonderful conversations with him on politics and public issues. He was a tolerant liberal in such matters, but an orthodox man of the faith. The best conversations I was blessed to have with him were on matters of faith and on our friends at Our Lady's parish. I sat in on his seminar on the Roman Catholic faith in the late 1990s, and it was world-class education. My wife loved his humane and engaging sermons, delivered at daily Mass. "Grant him Eternal Rest, O Lord. And let Perpetual Light shine upon him."

Dearest Father Mollan-
You were a good priest and dear, dear friend to my Sweet Darling Mom-Rosemary Morales. Thank you, Father Mollan. She is deeply saddened by your passing and will miss you greatly and so will I. Rest in Peace with our Eternal Father in Heaven. Love to you- Janie Miles (nee Newman).

Father Paul,

May your soul rest in peace as you enter the kingdom of heaven to be with the God you served so faithfully for so many years. Thanks for caring for me and my family at St. Eugene Parish. We will miss you.

John and Rita Knight