Rev. David Jerome Paul S.M.

The Marianist Province of the United States recommends to our fraternal prayers our dear brother, DAVID PAUL, priest, of the Cupertino Marianist Community (Cupertino, California), who died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on February 22, 2017, in Cupertino, California, USA, at the age of 78 with 59 years of religious profession.

Father Dave was an educator and administrator known for his gregarious nature and independent spirit. In the later years of his ministry, he was a passionate fundraiser for Marianist ministries in India and Eastern Africa.

David Jerome Paul was born on March 22, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was one of five children of Charles and Cora (Strebler) Paul. He attended Epiphany parish school and St. Mary’s High School in his hometown. It was at St. Mary’s that he first encountered the Marianists. He entered the Marynook Novitiate in Galesville, Wisconsin, upon graduating from high school, and professed first vows there on September 8, 1957.

Father Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in English at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, in 1960, and began teaching that autumn at William Cullen McBride High School in St. Louis. He professed perpetual vows on August 22, 1961, at Our Lady of the Pillar Church in St. Louis.

In his early years of ministry, Father Dave taught at Our Lady of Victory High School in Fort Worth, Texas (1961 – 1962) and at Nolan High School, also in Fort Worth (1962 – 1965).

Later in 1965, Father Dave moved to Fribourg, Switzerland, where he taught at Villa St. Jean International School before entering the Regina Mundi Seminary. Although he served at Villa St. Jean only briefly, he made a lasting impact on students there.

“This forward-thinking man touched many of our lives at the Villa, and contributed to many of the changes at the Villa that improved our experience there and our lives going forward,” wrote alumnus Brian Lawler. Another alumnus, Jim Craig, wrote: “I am grateful for everything he shared with me, in the very short time I spent with him. Father Paul has had a profound impact on my life. Metaphorically, he lifted a stone from my heart.”

Father Dave began seminary studies in 1966. In 1967, the seminary program for Americans was moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and Father Dave completed his seminary studies there in 1970, earning a master of arts degree in theology and a master of divinity degree from Saint Louis University. He was ordained on January 24, 1970, at Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, as part of that school’s 60th anniversary celebration.

Father Dave taught and was the chaplain for one year at Don Bosco High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1971, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he began one of his longest stretches of ministry at Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School. He served at Gross Catholic in the roles of teacher, chaplain and assistant principal. In 1974, he became Gross Catholic’s second principal and guided the young school until mid-1981.

That autumn, Father Dave returned to Texas to become the president of St. Mary’s University. During his tenure, the university embarked on an ambitious residence hall building plan. He remained in the post until mid-1985.

“Dave was blessed with gifts of leadership, vision, courage and initiative wherever he was called to serve,” said Father James Tobin, who knew Father Dave from their earliest days of teaching in the 1960s. “He touched many lives, and served the Marianists well in leadership positions.”

Throughout his ministry, Father Dave demonstrated an independent spirit. The next span of his career is evidence of this. In 1985, Father Dave began studies at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He earned a law degree in 1988, and from there, served as associate dean of the Creighton Law School for the following four years.

In 1992, Father Dave returned to secondary education and to Texas. He served as president of Nolan High School, where he had taught as a young brother 30 years earlier. He remained at Nolan for two years.

Beginning in 1995, Father Dave worked for St. Michael’s Center in St. Louis, a program of the Servants of the Paraclete. He served in administrative and fundraising roles, and was highly successful in obtaining grants and donations for a major building project. He also worked part time as a fundraiser for Marianist ministries.

As he entered his fifth decade of ministry, Father Dave realized his skill and passion as a fundraiser. In a jubilee reflection, he wrote: “As much as I loved ministry in education, it is what I do now in development work that is the most meaningful. The poverty and human misery in Africa, Bangladesh, India and Mexico, where Marianists minister to the poorest of the poor, are extremely disturbing. It motivates me, like nothing else has, to be truly a brother.”

From 1999 until late 2016, Father Dave used his natural people skills and strong convictions to promote Marianist ministries to key donors across the United States.

“Father Dave had a deep love of our ministries in developing regions,” said Allison Hewitt, director of development for the Province of the United States. “He founded our Partnering with the Poor initiative. Dave’s efforts have left a lasting legacy by helping to raise thousands out of poverty every year through education to those most in need.”

In his final years, Father Dave continued his ministry as best he could, despite battling cancer and Parkinson’s disease. His deep commitment and close personal ties to donors kept him on the job.

“On a number of occasions, I have seen Father Dave interact with benefactors of the Society of Mary. He brought a warmth and caring that our supporters found respectful and genuine,” said Father Martin Solma, provincial. “Recently, one family told me they greatly appreciated the way he gave them a true sense of sharing in the mission of the Marianists. We are deeply grateful for his life and vocation.”

May he rest in peace.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 11 at Our Lady of the Pillar Church, 401 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. Visitation before mass beginning at 10:45 am. Following Mass a reception will be held in the Church’s Parish Life Center. Interment is planned for 3:00 pm at Maryhurst Cemetery, Kirkwood. Memorial donations may be made to the Marianist Province of the United States, 4425 W. Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108.