In Memoriam: Rev. Paul D. Minnihan

18 July 1966 – 24 February 2019
 
Ordained A Priest
11 September 1993
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
 
Pastor
The Catholic Community of Pleasanton
2013 - 2019

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Fr. Paul D. Minnihan was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Oakland in 1993. After an additional year of graduate studies, he was assigned to the Catholic Community of Pleasanton in 1994 as parochial vicar (associate pastor).  After further educational and pastoral experience, in 2006 the Bishop of Oakland invited Fr. Paul to serve as first Provost for the yet-to-be-built Oakland Cathedral of Christ the Light and be the Bishop of Oakland’s master of ceremonies.

As Provost, he sat on the diocesan cathedral design team, given charge of certain aspects of liturgical art and environment.  Fr. Paul had oversight of the month long dedication events for the Diocese, both ecclesial and civic gatherings.  He was chief spokesperson for the bishop on the Cathedral highlighting the interaction of architecture, art and theology.

In addition, he was named Director of Worship for the diocese in 2010.  At that time, Fr. Paul oversaw the preparation and implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal in Oakland.  He coordinated programs of formation for parishes on the celebration of the mass and to pray the new missal.

Prior to this particular ministry, Fr. Paul was the Pastor at St. Paschal Baylon parish in Oakland, St. Monica parish in Moraga and St. Jerome parish in El Cerrito.  He served on Priest Councils for the Diocese of Oakland.  Also, he was California State Chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, is a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and was appointed a member to the United States Bishop’s Commission on Evangelization.

Fr. Paul earned a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Master’s in Theology and an STD/PhD in Systematic Theology from the Catholic University in Louvain, Belgium.

In March of 2013, he was appointed Pastor of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton where his priestly journey began. Fr. Paul passed away on February 24, 2019. 

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Prayer For Fr. Paul & The Catholic Community of Pleasanton

​God our Creator,
We come to you in our time of loss, disappointment and grief.
Yet we praise you because you are the God of compassion and consolation.
You created Father Paul,
and you gave him the mission to serve you by serving us.
We acknowledge that, for six years,
Father Paul has brought us closer to you.
We are grateful for all you have done for us through him.
As in the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
you have shown us that trials and tribulations,
death and sorrow are not the end,
but that you are the God of both the living and the dead,
who will fulfill our hope for blessedness and perfection.
And now, as you have called home Father Paul
from us and from this life to yourself,
help us to better understand your will for us here,
So that we may cooperate with your Spirit
To guide our way into a future of peace, love and glory.
Through Christ our Risen Lord.
Amen!

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FR. PAUL'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

FR. PAUL'S WEEKLY HOMILIES

FR. PAUL FUNERAL RITES

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Eulogy For Fr. Paul Minnihan
Matt Gray - Director of RCIA
The Catholic Community of Pleasanton
Vigil For Fr. Paul
March 7, 2019