Those Who Knew Paul

One of the first members of Miles Jesu, who is now a priest, Father Romeo Salcido, MJ, lived in community with Paul for five years before Paul died. He admired Paul and says about him:

"My idea of holiness (at that time) had been walking around, a little depressed, looking at the ground with 200 scapulars around my neck. This guy was too normal, and that's why he was extraordinary. You never noticed his virtue. That's the difference between a professional and an amateur, right? The professional does things that are very difficult and makes them seem like they are very easy, and the amateur makes everybody say, "Oh, how hard that is!" Paul Murphy was a professional at virtue. You never realized how much virtue he had."

Paul was always joyful; he had a high respect for individuals, for their ideas, for their beliefs, and for their feelings. He knew how to make people laugh, and he could put anyone at ease.

"Many times i saw faces of people who disliked to be greeted either by a hug or a handshake, light up when Paul greeted them," Father Salcido recalls. Paul made such an impression on people that, as others say, it stayed with you for a long time.

Miles Jesu was few in numbers in the early years. Father Duran was worried that Paul might leave the Institute as some others had done because the Institute was still small. Father Duran wanted to know what Paul would do if only the two of them and Paul's brother, Don, also a member of Miles Jesu, were left. So, he asked him. Paulâ??s firm reply was, "I am not here because of numbers, nor am i here because of any human being. I am here because of God, and even if you and i are the only ones left, it doesn't make any difference to me." This is the reaction of a great soul.

The members of the Institute fast once a week. Paul used to fast twice a week, more than what was expected of him. He would eat a regular breakfast, a tiny lunch, and an almost regular dinner. By doing this, he could fast in a way that would not call the attention of the other members of the community. Paul did this for years, and no one knew except his spiritual director, Father Duran.

Paul was making a fair amount of money at his job as an architect when it was decided that some of the members in the community would go to Rome to talk to the General of the Claretians about our Institute. Paul was one of the ones chosen to go. He told Father Duran that if he went he would not be able to keep his job. Father Duran told Paul that if he trusted in God, everything would turn out fine. Out of obedience, Paul went to Rome. When they got back to Phoenix, Paul was right. He had lost his job. But, Father Duran was also right. In a few days, Paul found a better job.

During the last years of his life, Paul worked for Mr. George Christensen. Paul was extremely dedicated, organized and orderly. At the beginning they were the only two in the "office" which was actually just some rooms in George Christensen's house. In the years that they worked together, they built their own office and hired about five more architects. George Christensen attributed these accomplishments to Paul's hard work. Though not a man in a rush, Paul worked so well and efficiently, he accomplished a lot.

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