REVEREND FATHER NICHOLAS PHELAN, REST IN PEACE; PASTOR EMERITUS OF ST. PATRICK'S PARISH, GRASS VALLEY...........

Reverend Father Nicholas Phelan, a native of South Kilkenny, Ireland; a 1952 ordinand of St. Kieran's Seminary, Kilkenny, and 59 years a Priest of Jesus Christ in the Sacramento Diocese, died this morning,  at a Mercy Healthcare center in Oakland.  Father Phelan was a very good priest, devoted to ministering well to the parishioners entrusted to his pastoral care.  He served long stints as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Maxwell, and then for 20 years as Pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Grass Valley, where he retired in 1999.  In addition to sharing the St. Kieran's Seminary alumihood with him, and being his brother priest the past two dozen years, two vivid memories with Fr. Nicky stand out in my heart and mind.  The first in 1986-87, when Fr. Phelan, who was then Chairman of the Priests' Personnel Board, who was among those members who recommended me to do my Deacon Year, at St. Joseph's Parish, Auburn.  Thus, he was our neighboring Pastor in Grass Valley.  A close friend and colleague of Father Tony Traynor, my Deacon Year Pastor, meant I saw Fr. Phelan at least once monthly, during that year.  In February 1987, before dinner in the Auburn rectory on a Wednesday evening, after their day off golfing,  Fr. Nick brought up the question of my fast approaching, first parish assignment as a priest, appointment.  A year earlier, I had provided the Personnel Board with their requested list of potential parish assignment preferences.  He quizzed me that night about whether I would consider being assigned to Holy Family Parish, Citrus Heights.  As we discussed it, he made it clear that he thought I would be well fitted to Holy Family, and to working with the Pastor, Msgr. Vito Mistretta, who had been their from the parish's founding, in 1949.  By late March, I had interviwed with Msgr. Mistretta, and before Ordination Day, May 2, I had been appointed Associate Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Citrus Heights.  Thanks in very large measure to Father Phelan.  Then, in 1991, when the Sacramento St. Kieran's alumni hosted, a Seminary Reunion, during Easter Week, with 45 priests and 3 bishops, from trhroughout the United States and Ireland present; Fr. Nick was a quiet, consistent, concrete, contributor, to coordinating and hosting the reunion.  His absolute cooperation, to facilitating the reunion at the Sacramento Hilton Hotel, the venue by the seminary - was stellar.  That was Nicky Phelan.  As a ecclesiatical student and prefect; as a trainer of the hurling team; as a priest, pastor; golfer; friend; colleague; and fellow believer; Nicholas Phelan was always calm and consistent; always there for those in need.  Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.  More soon, on this priest of God, who was a man of great faith and fidelity...........Eternal Rest And Peace Grant Unto Him O Lord - Fraternally In Christ Jesus,  Fr.  Troy