David Francis 'Rev. David F. Monahan' Monahan

Reverend David Francis Monahan died on October 28, 2010 in Oklahoma City. Father Monahan was born on March 6, 1927 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the second of two children born to Frank Monahan and Evelyn Connolly Monahan. Father Monahan received his education at Marquette High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma; St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Cardinal Glennon College in St. Louis, Missouri (now Kenrick Seminary) and St. John's Home Missions Seminary in Little Rock, Arkansas. He also received a master's degree from Notre Dame University in 1963. Father Monahan was ordained by the Most Reverend Eugene McGuinness on May 23, 1953 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Following his ordination, Father Monahan served as associate pastor at Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Oklahoma City for five years. In 1958, he became a teacher at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School where he became principal in 1963, a position he held until 1971 when he was appointed Superintendent of Catholic Schools. Father Monahan served as Superintendent of Catholic Schools until 1974. From 1966 to 1978 Father Monahan was also pastor of Saint Robert Bellarmine Church, Jones and Saint Theresa Church, Luther. Father Monahan was also the pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, Nicoma Park from 1973 through 1974. From 1979 -- 1994 he was associate pastor of the Church of the Epiphany of the Lord, Oklahoma City. From 1995 -- 1997 he served the parishes of Sacred Heart Church, Mangum and its mission Saints Peter and Paul Church, Hobart. From 1997 until his retirement in June 2002, Father Monahan served as the pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena Church, Pauls Valley and Saint Peter Church, Lindsey. During his long service to the Archdiocese, Father Monahan was also a member of the Priests' Council, the Pastoral Board and has served as a Consultor, Vicar of the West and Director of Communications. Father Monahan is probably best known across the Archdiocese for his work as founding editor of The Sooner Catholic where he served for twenty years (1974 -- 1994). As editor, he traveled throughout the state to find stories and news in the parishes and built the newspaper into an award-winning newspaper. Father Monahan genuinely enjoyed his work as editor and writing his whimsical, folksy column, For the Time Being. An avid historian, Father Monahan compiled and edited "One Family: One Century," a photographic history of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma from 1875 – 1975, published in 1977. He also wrote "Sacred Heart Church: The Story of the Catholic Community of Greer County Oklahoma" in the mid-1990's. Following the death of Reverend Stanley Rother on July 28, 1981 at the Archdiocesan mission in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, Father Monahan published "The Shepherd Cannot Run," a compilation of letters from Father Rother to friends and family. In 1994, Father Monahan took a sabbatical to research and draft a biography of Father Rother. This work became a passion for Father Monahan who found the personal story of Father Rother to be a great inspiration. Father Monahan was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Helen Monahan Perrine Nance and his nephew, Robert Perrine, Jr. He is survived by six nieces and nephews: Susan Perrine McHugh and husband Tucker, Edmond, Mary Helen Perrine Edwards and husband Bryce, Hilton Head, SC, William Perrine, Tulsa, Patrick Perrine and wife Julie, Seattle, WA, Michael Perrine and wife Susan, Longmont, CO and Richard Perrine, Tulsa, many grandnieces and grandnephews and many dear friends. Father Monahan's many lifelong friends remember him as an exemplary priest filled with humility and concern for people. They also remember his great sense of humor and sparkling smile.