WASHINGTON, DC – Paulist Fr. Richard Colgan entered eternal life on Monday, May 25, 2020 in Washington, D.C.  He died of complications from COVID-19.  He was 68.

Fr. Rich was born in Ellenburg on February 19, 1952, to the late Robert Colgan and Marguerite (LaBombard) Colgan.

He had served since 2011 as Paulist Fathers director of novices, accompanying men in the first year they lived at the seminary in Washington, D.C.

Fr. Rich was also the assistant director of formation, helping to guide all of the seminarians.

He made his first promises to the Paulist Fathers on August 16, 1975.  He was ordained a priest on May 19, 1979.

In his first priestly assignment, Fr. Rich served as a campus minister at Clemson University in South Carolina until 1983.  He then had a one-year posting at McGill University in Canada.

From 1984 to 1987, he served as the Paulist Fathers associate director of novices. (The novitiate was then based at Mt. Paul in Oak Ridge, NJ).

Fr. Rich also served as associate pastor of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City;  associate director of St. Lawrence Parish and Newman Center in Minneapolis, MN; associate director of the Paulist Center in Boston;  pastor of St. Philip Neri Church in Portland, OR;  and as pastor of St. Peter's Church in Toronto.

We pray that Fr. Rich, and all those around the world who have died from COVID-19, are now in God's warm embrace.

In addition to his brother Paulist Fathers, Fr. Rich is survived by his mother, Marguerite Colgan;  siblings, Barbara (Ricky) Roberts, Mark (Rev. Marion Moore) Colgan, Audrey (Paul) Bashaw and Pastor Paul (Jody) Colgan;  nieces and nephews, Michelle (Neil) Hamel, Jennifer (Jason) Plumadore, Daniel (Nick) Colgan, Robert Bashaw, and Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Sarah Colgan;  and great-nephews, Austin and Gabe Plumadore and Nathan and Nolan Hamel.

Fr. Rich was predeceased by his father and a great-niece, Anna Hamel.

Due to COVID-19, it is anticipated that a Memorial Mass will be held at St. Edmund's Church in Ellenburg in August.

Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.rabideaufuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted into the care of the Rabideau Funeral Home, 5614 Route 11, Ellenburg.