DETROIT — Fr. John Nowlan was “a man of integrity who had a lot of compassion,” said his longtime friend, Fr. Norman Thomas.

“Any kind of problem people had, he not only listened to it, but it affected him. If there was something he could do about it, he would do it; or he would go to someone else to get something done,” said Fr. Thomas, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit.

Calling Fr. Nowlan an “extraordinary man,” Fr. Thomas said he was always ready to do whatever he could for the cause of social justice.

Fr. Nowlan died May 22 at the rectory of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Oak Park. He was 81.
He made the newspapers in February 1989 when he resigned as pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish, Detroit, in protest over the announced closings of 30 Detroit parishes.

“With John, it was like he would get his marching orders from his conscience, and that was what he would have to do. Whether you agreed or disagreed with him, you knew that he was doing what he felt was right,” Fr. Thomas continued.

Fr. Nowlan’s passion for activity on behalf of causes he believed in was sadly quelled in his last years as the result of a debilitating stroke from which he never recovered, Fr. Thomas added.

Born May 14, 1931, in Detroit to Howard and Genevieve (Gilleran) Nowlan, he attended Epiphany Grade School, Detroit; Catholic Central High School, Detroit; Wayne State University, Detroit; the University of California at Berkeley; Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; and St. John’s Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township.

He was ordained June 4, 1966, in Detroit.

Fr. Nowlan served as associate pastor of St. Henry Parish, Lincoln Park (1966-69); and briefly at St. Agatha Parish, Redford Township, during 1969. He was associate director of human relations for the Archdiocese of Detroit (1969-74).

He then served brief assignments as associate pastor of St. Dennis Parish, Royal Oak (1974-75); administrator of St. Andrew Parish, Rochester (1975); and administrator of St. Aloysius Parish, Romulus (1975).

Fr. Nowlan was named pastor of St. Rita Parish, Detroit (1975-88); and of Most Holy Trinity Parish, Detroit (1989-90). He then served as associate pastor of Guardian Angels Parish, Clawson; and as chaplain to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Oakland in Pontiac (1989-92). During that time, he also served as temporary administrator of St. Perpetua Parish, Waterford Township (mid-1989); and following that period, he served briefly as associate pastor of St. Anne Parish, Warren (late 1992).

He was assigned to the archdiocesan Central Services (1993-94), during which time he was also an associate pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Redford Township. He served as pastor of St. Hilary Parish, Redford Township (1994-2008), after which he was granted senior priest status.
Fr. Nowlan was predeceased by his parents, and siblings, Margaret Howard, Joe and Mary Grace Nowlan.

He is survived by his sister, Janet Nowlan, and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 25 at St. Hilary Church, Redford Township.

Condolences may be sent to Diane Pearsall, 1447 Hillsdale Drive, Sterling Heights 48313.