Fr. Jim Rooney

Father Jim Rooney is a priest, chaplain, and pastoral minister dedicated to serving people of all faiths, backgrounds, and life experiences. Born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, he is one of ten children in a close-knit family. His early formation in faith and community continues to shape his inclusive and compassionate approach to ministry today.

Father Jim entered Scotus College Seminary in 1987 and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1994. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Theology from St. Patrick’s Pontifical University in Maynooth, Ireland. His early ministry included serving in the Diocese of Glasgow, followed by eight years in New York City as a hospital chaplain at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he supported patients, families, and medical staff through some of life’s most profound moments.

While he remains deeply committed to his priesthood, Father Jim stepped away from the institutional Roman Catholic Church, guided by his personal convictions, particularly regarding mandatory lifelong celibacy. He now lives in Beacon, New York, with his husband.

His ministry is rooted in a simple but powerful mission: to provide meaningful, spiritually grounded ceremonies for those who may feel excluded from or disconnected with traditional religious institutions.

As Founder and Director of Beacon Hermitage, Father Jim offers a wide range of services, including weddings, baptisms, funerals, and rites of passage, for people of all faiths—or no formal faith tradition. He also leads retreats for individuals and small groups and provides pastoral counseling as a trained chaplain in Clinical Pastoral Education.

Known for his warmth, openness, and deep respect for each person’s journey, Father Jim creates space for authentic, meaningful moments that honor love, loss, growth, and transformation. His ministry reflects a belief that the sacred can be encountered in every life story and that all are worthy of welcome.