The middle child  of thirteen, born to John Rooney and Mary Catherine Higgins. My father died in November 1999 and my mother continues to live in our family home surrounded by most of her 55 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. I was born and raised in Belfast, Ireland. I grew up there in a time of awful turmoil, hate and violence. It’s a time I choose not to think too much about because it was a time of much suffering and sorrow a time when hate ran rampant and the lives of many people destroyed. Now I’m here with you and looking forward to spending many years in your company, being with you, getting to know you and your children, and you getting to know me. Let me remind you once, and I promise never to remind you again! I’m not Al Miller, or am I Stephen Vileo and I’m not Dan Nusbaum. I’m Stephen Rooney and I’m my own person. I realize that some of you will be glad I’m here, others disappointed and the majority of the parish neither here nor there! I’m here with my own history, expectations, my own strengths and my weaknesses. What I ask from you is to give me the opportunity to serve you in a way that may very well be different from the other pastors who have gone before me. I have been sent to Mount Carmel by Cardinal Maida and entrusted with your pastoral care. That pastoral care extends to the spiritual and material welfare of the parish. I will try my best to be faithful to the mandate given me by the Cardinal and to your needs.

Facts about Father Rooney (Monroe Vicariate Newsletter, March 2009)

He was born February 10, 1954 in Ballymacarrett, Ireland, a city located near Belfast. It was not easy growing up in Ireland during this time as his childhood memories are colored by war. He is the middle child in a family of 13 children.  In college Father Rooney decided that he wanted to give God everything he could. For him that meant entering a Trappist Monastery in Ireland. He took his solemn profession as a Trappist Monk in 1974. After 10 years, the Abbot told him that he was to be a priest. Six months later on June 15, 1985 he was ordained. In 1987, the Abbott decided that he should go to Collegeville, Minnesota to a Benedictine Monastery. Before going to Minnesota, Father Rooney requested that he be given experience a parish.  He selected the Archdiocese of Detroit since he had a brother and a sister that lived in the area. He spent his first 3 years in America at St. Martin de Porres in Warren. After his assignment in Warren, he taught high school for 3 years at St. Alphonsus in Dearborn. He was then sent to Rome for four years to study Spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University. When he returned from Rome, he was assigned to St. Patrick parish in White Lake for one year. In 1996, Father Rooney was sent to St. Michael the Archangel parish in Monroe where he served as pastor for 13 years. Father Rooney has served as the Vicar of the Monroe Vicariate for the past six years. Since July of 2008, he has been the pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Temperance. Father Rooney's favorite saint is St. Philip Neri because St. Philip Neri was very bright but did not take himself too seriously. Monty Python films and Saturday Night Live make him laugh. he loves to cook and entertain. father Rooney feels that what is most misunderstood about him is that he doesn't function well in ambiguity. Sometimes people get upset when he pushes them to be clear. He would like everyone to understand that this is not about them, but rather about his need for clarity. His favorite part about being a priest is being "available to people," entering into the most sacred parts of people's lives at the most awful and exhilarating times. He learned the art of being available from his mentor Father John Hall. Father Rooney's advice to those considering the priesthood is that it is a tremendous and rewarding life, but that the academic requirements are demanding. "You must have an interest in study or should work to acquire this interest."