Fr. Jim Rooney

My name is Father Jim Rooney. I was born and grew up in Glasgow Scotland. My mum and dad, Robert and Betty Rooney, had one girl and nine boys. Both my parents have passed now but I am the proud Uncle and Great Uncle of many of my sibling’s children and Grand Children.

I entered Scotus College Seminary in Glasgow, Scotland in 1987, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1994; I earned my bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Theology from St. Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, Ireland. My pastoral ministry has given me many years of experience of empowering families to discern, prepare, and celebrate their particular ceremonies. While a member of the Roman Catholic clergy, I spent 5 years as canonical priest in the Diocese of Glasgow, Scotland and 8 years as a chaplain for patients, families and staff at St. Vincent’s Catholic Hospital and Memorial Sloan Cancer Center in Manhattan, NYC. I left the Catholic Church (but not the priesthood) primarily over the issue of mandatory lifelong celibacy. Today I live in Beacon NY with my husband.

I am a member of Citi Ministries and The International Council of Community Churches; www.citiministries.org and www.icccusa.com. We provide services throughout the United States and internationally. Our mission is to be available to current and former Catholics as well as those of other faiths who wish to be married with some element of spirituality but cannot or choose not to be married in the Institutional Church.

As Founder and Director of Beacon Hermitage, I minister to people from all walks of life. I am available to celebrate and officiate at weddings, baptisms, Rite of Passage and funerals of any faith, for civil or religious ceremonies. I also conduct retreats for individuals and small groups; as a trained Chaplain in Clinical Pastoral Education, I offer chaplaincy/counseling to people from all faith traditions. People offer us blessed insights into the intense dynamics that make up the creative process. Consequently, my Faith and Ministry have matured to be accepting and welcoming of all Faiths and Beliefs systems.