In spring of 1972, the Viatorians who were administering Bishop Gorman High School needed to look for a new Director of Student Activities. The vacancy would not have been unusual, but the reason might have been: Mr. Nolan, an alumnus of the Class of 1966, was stepping down and moving to Illinois to enter the Viatorian novitiate. On Friday, Fr. Daniel T. Nolan, CSV died at the age of 76, in his 52nd year of religious life and 42nd year of priesthood.
Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial, presided over his memorial Mass earlier today, and Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV, Assistant Provincial offered the homily. “Fr. John Van Wiel told me Dan was a good worker, a hard worker, and could relate to students – and that’s why he made Dan the Dean of Discipline,” Fr. Rinn said, relating the shared ministry of his brothers at Alleman High School in Rock Island, Illinois. “Dan also loved the beaches of California, and since he lived his life with great intensity, the beach was his place to relax. He kept the faith, and he shared the faith. It was all in service of our God who he loved so much and served so well.”
Fr. Nolan in 1973, shortly after professing first vows.
Dan was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, but he later moved to Las Vegas and attended high school and college there. His vocation to Viatorian religious life then brought him to the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, Illinois. While Fr. Nolan would next spend the next several years away from Las Vegas, he would return in service again and again.
In addition to his BA in Secondary Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he studied at Loyola University Chicago and then earned a Master of Divinity from Viatorian-sponsored Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He next served for five years as Dean of Students and as a teacher at Alleman with Fr. Van Wiel.
Then, as he approached ordination, Las Vegas called once again: Fr. Nolan was ordained a priest in Las Vegas by Bishop Norman McFarland at St. Viator Parish in 1983. This time, Fr. Nolan would stay in Las Vegas nearly 20 years.
Fr. Nolan helped dedicate the new church at St. Thomas More with Bishop Daniel Walsh (top) and then enjoyed lively liturgy and parish gatherings in the beautiful worship space, including this 2017 LifeTeen kickoff (bottom).
After five years as parochial vicar at St. Viator, he returned to his alma mater as a campus minister, teacher, and counselor for five years. In 1993, he would once again leave Bishop Gorman, but this time he’d stay in the area: St. Thomas More Catholic Community in neighboring Henderson needed its second pastor, so Fr. Nolan followed founding pastor, Fr. Tom Long, CSV, and took the helm at this young and rapidly growing parish. Fr. Nolan oversaw the groundbreaking and construction of the new church, which was dedicated in 1996 and continues to serve the large congregation today.
After eight years as pastor, Fr. Nolan was called back to Illinois to step into roles serving his brothers in the congregation: he directed formation, mission appeals, and vocation ministry from the Viatorian Province Center.
His next stop was also in the midwest – in residential life at the University of Notre Dame, where he was rector of a men’s dormitory, Keenan Hall, for three years. John Kyler was one of his residents and became a Resident Assistant for Fr. Nolan. John has now gone on to a career of ministry in the Church, and in his most recent book, Welcome All as Christ: Reimagining Parish Hospitality, Fr. Nolan received a special acknowledgement from John.
“I always appreciated Fr. Dan’s kindness and the way he lived a life of prayer and ministry – humble and Spirit-filled. He was one of the first people to really teach me what authentic Christian hospitality looked like: creating a safe space where each person can share their God-given gifts and talents in service of others,” John said. “We must be mindful of the language and images we use to describe God, remembering that they have the power to either build up or destroy this sacred relationship. Fr. Dan taught me this and it is something I try to remember as I minister today.”
Fr. Nolan (right) with Keenan Hall staff, including John Kyler (second from left).
Fr. Nolan spent a few years in campus ministry and hospital chaplaincy before Las Vegas came calling one more time – once again, it was St. Thomas More, where Fr. Mick Egan, CSV had to step down as pastor after being elected Provincial Superior. So, Fr. Nolan returned in 2017 and served one more time as pastor. “He worked hard to form the sense of community and welcome that has been the hallmark of St. Thomas More,” Fr. Egan said.
Fr. Nolan retired due to health reasons, but he still got out from time to time to assist with Sacraments or work with young people, including this youth night with Associates Brian Barrett and Rosy Hartz (left) and teens at St. Viator Catholic Community (right).
During this last stint, he responded to the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas by helping to lead a moving prayer service, which included lighting 59 candles and tolling the church bells 59 times to symbolize each person who tragically lost their life in the shooting. Parishioner and staff member Amanda Dwyer recalled how the “beautiful” service “gave the community strength and pulled us together through prayer.”
He spent the first three years of his retirement in Las Vegas, assisting with Sacraments and visiting with young people at parish events before relocating to the Viatorian Province Center and its retirement community in 2022 as his health declined.
Fr. Nolan’s memorial Mass and visitation were held on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at the Viatorian Province Center, and he was interred in the Viatorian plot at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.
Eternal rest grant unto Dan, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
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Here is the video of our memorial Mass for Fr. Nolan on April 10, 2025 at the Viatorian Province Center.