Paul K. Rourke, SJ, two New York Jesuits ordained at Fordham University Church

Paul K. Rourke, (at right) a Jesuit of the Maryland Province, was ordained Saturday, June 12, at Fordham University Church, Bronx, New York. John P. Mulreany and Robert J. Pecoraro, both Jesuits of the New York Province, were also ordained at the liturgy.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York presided. The Rev. Mr. Rourke, a native of St. Louis, Mo., is a graduate of Georgetown University. After earning his law degree from Washington University School of Law, he worked at a think tank in Washington, D.C. In 2000 he entered the Society of Jesus and earned a graduate degree at Fordham University.

During his regency, he spent two years missioned at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia. In 2007, Mr. Rourke resumed his studies in Rome, earning a degree at the Pontifical Gregorian University. After his ordination to the deaconate in April 2009, he began new studies at the Augustinianum in Rome. He will continue his studies following ordination. He celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 13, at the Fordham University Church.

The Rev. Mr. John Mulreany, SJ, (at left) is a New York native. He will continue his studies at Boston College School of Theology after ordination. He celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday, June 13, at Resurrection-Ascension Church in Queens.

The Rev. Mr. Robert Pecoraro, SJ, (at right) also a New York native, will spend a year doing pastoral work after ordination. He celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday, June 13, at St. Joseph's Church in Staten Island.

Obituaries

James P. Bradley, SJ; high school teacher, college administrator

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for James P. Bradley, SJ, Tuesday, June 14, at St. Matthias Church in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., Fr. Bradley, who died of cancer on June 11 at Manresa Hall, in Merion Station, Pa., was a Jesuit for 64 years and a priest for 51. He was 82.

Fr. Bradley, a native of Philadelphia, entered the Society July 30, 1945, following graduation from St. Joseph's Preparatory School. He was ordained a priest at Woodstock College June 22, 1958.

Fr. Bradley ministered at high schools and colleges across the province. He began in 1952 as a teacher at Georgetown Preparatory School, where he taught for three years. He was at Loyola High School from 1960 to 1965 where he was a teacher for a year and principal for four years. He went to Wheeling Jesuit University for six years to serve as associate director and director of admissions before joining the Maryland Province staff for eight years where he was minister and also assisted the Assistant for Formation and Studies.

In 1980, he returned for six years to Georgetown Prep where he was rector, minister and Latin teacher. Fr. Bradley's next assignment took him to Loyola College (now University) where he was rector from 1986 to 1992. From there he served five years as superior at Carroll House in Washington, D.C., before returning to Loyola as a minister and Latin teacher in 1998. He remained there until 2003. Before becoming ill in early 2010, he was serving as a pastoral minister at the site of his first assignment, Georgetown Preparatory School, a position he had held since 2004.

A private Mass of Christian burial was also offered at Manresa Hall on June 14. After a viewing at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15, the funeral Mass will be offered at St. Matthias Church, 128 Bryn Mawr Ave., Bala Cynwyd, Pa., at noon. Burial will follow at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Fr. Bradley is survived by two nieces and a nephew.

John J. Keenan, SJ; Burma missionary, math teacher, pastor

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered June 9, for Fr. John J. Keenan, SJ. A Jesuit for 68 years, Fr. Keenan died June 5 at the Jesuit Center in Wernersville, Pa., after a long battle with cancer. He was 86.

Born in New York City on January 25, 1924, Fr. Keenan entered the Society of Jesus at the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville on January 1, 1942. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1955, and completed his studies in 1957. He earned his bachelor of arts and bachelor of sacred theology degrees from Woodstock College, Woodstock Md., and later, in 1970, his masters of education from the University of Scranton.

In 1958, Fr. Keenan was sent to Rangoon, Burma, as a missionary, where he served in the major Catholic seminary as a teacher of Latin, math and biology, as well as in other roles. In 1964, the Burmese government expelled all American missionaries serving at the seminary, including Fr. Keenan, from Burma.

Returning to the United States, Fr. Keenan spent many years teaching mathematics, with assignments at Scranton Preparatory School, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, and Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C. He served as a hospital chaplain at Georgetown University Hospital, St. Agnes Hospital in Philadelphia and Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore.

In addition he served in several parishes, including St. Mark in Fallston, Md., and St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in Woodstock, Md., St. Lucy in Scranton, Pa., and in St. Joseph in Jim Thorpe, Pa.

He is survived by a sister, Rose Ingram of Floral Park, N.Y., and a brother, Peter Keenan of S. Huntington, N.Y., and by many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and nieces.