Fr. Paul Mary Vota, M. J. was called home to his eternal reward on November 26, 2009. He was born to Doris and Elmer Vota on August 7th, 1951. He professed perpetual vows in Miles Jesu on December 25, 1977, was ordained to the priesthood by Pope John Paul II on June 2nd, 1985 and served the Catholic Church as a member of Miles Jesu in Nigeria, the U. S. and Slovakia. Fr. Vota is survived by his parents and sisters Lisa, Cathe and Cristine and he will be greatly missed by them and his spiritual family, Miles Jesu. Visitation will be from 5:00-9:00 pm with a Rosary at 7:00 pm at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road. A Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 am, Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 3550 E. Knox Road, Phoenix. Interment will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.
Robert Makohin
So sorry to hear that Paul passed away. We were classmates at Jesuit High School. As I remember him, he was a very outspoken, energetic guy. He frequently made us laugh as we all tried to out-prank one another in the classroom and elsewhere. My sincere condolences to all his family.
Jim Lazansky
I was so sorry to hear about Paul’s passing. I was a classmate at Jesuit in the class ahead of Paul. Please accept my condolences.
Jim Lazansky
Salvador Osegueda
Mr. and Mrs. Vota:
I am very sorry to hear of your loss and the loss to the Catholic Community as a whole. I was a classmate of Paul’s at Jesuit High School and I have very fond memories of his whit, intelligence and his kindness. My prayers and thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.
Frank Leaden
I have be blessed to call Paul “friend” since 4th grade and we shared many adventures together all the way through the high school years. Always quick witted and ready with a smile, Paul was a delight and charmed everyone he came in contact with.
Ed & Doris and your lovely daughters are also with Paul part of many special menories. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Someday I will catch up with Paul and the adventures will begin again.
God bless
Chris Lorenc
Mr. and Mrs Vota,
Like the friends above, I have such delightful, important, and lasting memories of Paul — from his sharp wit as a cohort, fellow rabble-rouser, and friend in high school to seeing him as a young seminarian to exchanging important messages with him in his last weeks. I wish the spiritual life always had both the sincerity and sense of humor that Paul has! I hope to see you both at the celebration of Paul’s life this spring.
Thank you for raising such a wonderful son, friend, and priest,
Chris Lorenc
Bruce Baldwin
I was fortunate to share many classes and several adventures with with Paul at Jesuit over the four years. Chris had told us that Paul was gravely ill, and when I saw the photo of Paul and the rest of us in the Colonial Free Soul Movement that was posted on the reunion website, memories of Paul’s humor, joy, and creativity came flooding back. Those are the qualities that we all remember about Paul, and I know that his bright spirit endures.
I hope that the outpouring of feelings from those of us who knew Paul many, many years ago, and who still remember him with love, can be of some solace in this time of loss.
Bruce Baldwin
Stephanie Breaux
I just found out about Father’s death and I recall how he influenced my spirituality in the years of 1990 thru 1995.
He gave a retreat on the sacrament of Penance that has stayed with me until now. I had a mass said for him at my parish
Shrine of Christ the King (latin rite apostolate) at 6419 S woodlawn
in Chicago,Ill.He is a very humble joyful priest. I include him in my prayers frequntly.
Mark J. Grgurich
I love Paul Vota.
We learned about the Faith at the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky. Paul was an absolute joy to be around because he was filled with joy and love for all of us.
Earth just could not contain him.
So God took him to Himself and put Paul in Heaven where he would be able to more fully shine with joy and reflect the love of Jesus.
Requiescat in pace, dear friend.
Jaime R. Roman (Wilczynski)
In going through a yearbook from Jesuit, I wondered about the guy who sat two seats in front of me who, with Phil Warren, always made us laugh. I share Bruce Baldwin’s sentiment. Rest in peace, friend of my youth.
Rene’
Ron Fiorello
It’s been a long time since that dark, cold, winter night in early January, 1981. Paul coached me to drive up an icy hill in Front Royal, Virginia to the men’s community. Paul is with the angels now.