Rev. Msgr. J. Warren Holleran 1928 – 2023

Rev. Msgr. J. Warren Holleran, after a long illness, died on July 30, 2023 at the age of 95.

Monsignor Holleran served as a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco for over 70 years. As a young student, he studied at St. Joseph’s and Saint Patrick’s seminaries. He was then sent to Rome to study at North American College and the Gregorian University. Four years later he was ordained there on December 20, 1952. He was a professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Patrick’s Seminary for several decades. During that time, he also worked regularly with the sabbatical programs at both the Vatican II Institute for Clergy Formation in Menlo Park and the Hesburgh Center for the Continuing Formation in Ministry at the University of Notre Dame.

Over the years, Monsignor Holleran conducted many scripture courses, workshops and retreats for laity, religious, and clergy in the United States, Canada, and abroad. Before joining the full-time faculty at St. Patrick’s Seminary, he had spent several years as a parish priest, a campus minister, a college teacher, a spiritual director at North American College in Rome, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and director of Vallombrosa Center, the Archdiocesan retreat and conference center in Menlo Park. As time went on, he earned graduate degrees from different universities in philosophy, counseling, psychology, and scripture. He published a book and numerous journal articles, mostly in the field of scripture. Even after retiring, he continued to counsel many who came to him for spiritual direction. For the last several years, he has lived in residence at the Serra Clergy House in San Mateo.

On his days off and when on vacation, Monsignor Holleran made time to enjoy some personal interests. He loved nature. He hiked and climbed the trails of the high Sierras and Santa Cruz Mountains. While working in Italy, he successfully climbed the Matterhorn in the Swiss Italian Alps. In winter, he would put away his hiking boots, grab his skis, and head for the snow covered slopes. Monsignor Holleran loved music and was an accomplished pianist, playing the great works of many classical composers. His sense of humor was outstanding, as demonstrated by the rhymes he created when writing poems for his friends and family on special occasions.

Monsignor Holleran was preceded in death by his loving father and mother, John and Margaret Holleran and his dear brother Gene. He is survived by his sisters, Patricia Holleran and Claire Latham, his brother-in-law, Ray Latham, his nephew, Dan Latham, his nieces, Karen Latham (Richard Zink), Teresa Latham-Rosenthal (Patrick Rosenthal), Patricia Althaus (Harvey Althaus), Carolyn Connant (Michael Klevos), and seven great nieces and nephews. Monsignor Holleran’s family is eternally grateful for his unconditional love and acceptance, and for his constant support throughout the years.

Friends are invited for visitation on Thursday, August 10, 2023 beginning at 9:00 am at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 1 Notre Dame Ave. in San Mateo. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am. Monsignor Holleran will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma.