Fr. John Rooney entered peacefully into eternal life on Monday, November 9, 2026, at his home at St. Mary of the Expectation in League City, Texas. He was 74 years old.

A proud son of New Jersey, Fr. John was born in Jersey City on August 19, 1952, to John and Helen Rooney. The oldest of eight children, he carried his deep love of family throughout his life. He was a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and a professed member of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Dominic. Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza ordained him a permanent deacon in 1986 and a priest on December 15, 2001. His initial formation was with the Eastern Dominican Province. He earned a Master of Religious Education with a specialization in Spirituality from the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

Fr. John arrived in Houston in 1979 and began his ministry in youth ministry and adult formation. He served at Christ the Good Shepherd from 1982 to 1984, followed by St. Frances Cabrini, where he was ordained a deacon and served from 1984 to 1999. From 1999 to 2001, he helped establish St. Edith Stein alongside founding pastor Fr. Bob Barras. Following his ordination to the priesthood, he served at St. Michael the Archangel from 2002 to 2007. He then became the founding pastor of St. Angela Merici Parish in Sienna Plantation, where he served from 2007 to 2014. In July 2014, Cardinal DiNardo appointed him Director of Spiritual Direction at St. Mary Seminary. In November 2020, Fr. John returned to parish ministry as pastor of St. Mary of the Expectation, where he served until his death.

Throughout his priesthood, Fr. John was deeply committed to nurturing the spiritual lives of others. From the earliest days of the Cenacle Spiritual Direction Institute, he served on its faculty alongside Sr. Mary Dennison, R.C., helping form those called to the ministry of spiritual direction. He continued to support the work of the Emmaus Spirituality Center and its mission of forming skilled and compassionate spiritual directors and companions. For Fr. John, the invitation to talk about faith was often an invitation to something deeper. A conversation with him could become an experience of spiritual direction, as he helped people recognize their own goodness, discover God’s presence in their lives, and come to know more deeply the extraordinary love God had for them. He accompanied countless people on their journeys of faith, offering wisdom, compassion, and the kind of attentive listening that helped people find healing, hope, and a renewed sense of God’s presence.

Fr. John’s early formation as a Dominican had a lifelong impact on him, and he remained deeply inspired by Dominican life, spirituality, and charism throughout his priesthood. He treasured his brotherhood with the priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Dominic and was actively involved in forming those who aspired to live their priesthood through preaching and teaching shaped by the spirit of St. Dominic. His affiliation and ministry with the Dominican Family of Houston were among the great joys of his life. The Dominican commitment to seeking and preaching Veritas—the truth of God’s love and goodness—was woven into the very fabric of his life and ministry.

A preacher to his core, Fr. John had a singular gift for bringing the Gospel to life. His preaching was moving, inspiring, often unforgettable, and always rooted in his deepest desire: that people would come to know, not simply in their minds but in the depths of their hearts, how profoundly they are loved by God. He understood that preaching extended beyond the pulpit. Through spiritual direction and accompaniment, he walked alongside countless people in their journeys of faith, helping them recognize their own goodness, encounter God’s healing presence, and discover a deeper, richer relationship with God. His words and actions brought healing, hope, and renewed courage to people
at moments when they needed it most. In the finest Dominican tradition, he met people where they were, listened deeply, and helped them see the truth of their lives through the lens of God’s extraordinary love.

To know Fr. John was to encounter a man of irrepressible joy, a remarkable zest for life, and a wonderfully mischievous sense of humor. He could be outrageous in the very best sense of the word, bringing laughter, surprise, and a little craziness wherever he went. Yet beneath that exuberance was a man of profound faith and uncommon compassion, someone who knew how to listen with his whole heart and meet others with tenderness, honesty, and grace. He made friends wherever he went and had a remarkable ability to make people feel seen, welcomed, and loved. He invited those around him to embrace life, love, and the journey of faith with their whole hearts. In his preaching, his spiritual accompaniment, his friendships, and his delight in life itself, Fr. John made the love of God tangible to thousands. His was a life that preached—and a love that will continue to bear fruit in the lives of all those he touched.

Fr. John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Rooney; his sister, Diane Andrews; and his brothers, Tommy Rooney and Ricky Rooney.

He is survived by his beloved children, who were among the greatest joys of his life: Kelley Davis and her husband, Scott, and their children, Morgan, Julianne, Lindsay, and Brianna; and Tim Rooney and his wife, Bailey, and their children, Olive and CJ. He is also survived by his sisters, Colleen Martin and Pat Giudice, and his brothers, Jimmy Rooney and Bruce Rooney, along with countless friends whose lives were enriched by his presence, ministry, and love.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at St. Mary of the Expectation Catholic Church, 1612 E. Walker St., League City, Texas. The Vigil for the Deceased will begin at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 16, 2026, also at St. Mary’s.

Internment will follow immediately at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 7801 Gulf Fwy, Dickinson, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Houston https://domhou.org/support-us/donate-online/, the Emmaus Spirituality Center https://emmausspiritualitycenter.com/donate, or the charity of your choice in Fr. John’s memory.

“To Praise, To Bless, To Preach”