Fr. Rookey Priesthood (1995-2014) Fr. Peter at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica Praying at the famous cross at Queen of Heaven cemetery in Hillside, Illinois Photo taken by a professional photographer in Medjugorje Holding his famous healing cross he used to bless countless people Sitting portrait photo of Father In Medjugorje with Fr. Svetozar Kraljevic Praying at the grave of Fr. Slavko Barbaric in Medjugorje With present day singer David Parkes in Medjugorje. Healed miraculously through Fr. Peter there decades ago With the late Fr. Joe Whalen who had a powerful St. Raphael’s healing ministry Standing with security officials in Jordan Riding a camel in Jordan when he was around 90 years of age Hugging his loving brother, Tom Rookey Speaking with Chicago’s Francis Cardinal George at Our Lady of Sorrows Greeting Fr. Michael Lightner. Father would have called him a “High Priest” Blessing Tony and Betty Pesavento at their 50th anniversary Mass Processing from the altar after his 60th anniversary of ordination Mass in 2001 In his Servite habit praying the Rosary as he did many times every day Playing one of the hundreds of pianos he played during his lifetime Humorous photo of Fr. Peter. He always said that he was “just a Rookey priest” Consecration of the Eucharist in his International Compassion Ministry chapel Helping a handicapped young boy to walk at a healing service Blessing hospital patients in Poland in December of 2004. His very last healing services were held that month in packed out churches all over Poland Polish priest is blessed by Fr. Peter Beautiful photo of Father before a talk he gave in Poland Celebrating Mass during his 2004 Polish healing crusade With Fr. Zlatko Sudac, a Croatian priest with the stigmata Father’s birthday party with the late Fr. Ermelindo di Capua, OFM, who helped take care of St. Padre Pio during his last year of life Standing with nephew Tim Rookey in front of his Berwyn, Illinois priory where he lived for over 20 years until about 2012 Standing in the doorway of his Berwyn priory With the late healing priest, Fr. Fernando Suarez from the Philippines At his office desk with his highly cherished niece, Anne Rookey Group photo of Father with his fellow pilgrims in Jerusalem. He traveled to the Holy Land many times during his life Walking the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem where Jesus carried His cross to Golgatha Visiting the grave of Servant of God, Maria Esparanza, in Venezuela in December of 2006 Celebrating his 65th anniversary of ordination Mass in the side chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago in May of 2001 Banquet in May of 2006 to commemorate Father’s 65th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on May 17, 1941 Consecration of the Eucharist at Mass on his basement altar at his Berwyn, Illinois priority. Many would join him there for Mass on Saturday mornings for several years after 2002 and would go out for coffee with him later Preparing for Mass at the apartment of his nephew and niece, Tim and Anne Rookey, who he visited many times just after Christmas Father takes a little catnap during a drive to the St. Paul, Minnesota area to visit his relatives there Visiting his sister Kathryn in St. Paul, Minnesota along with his brother Tom and nephew and niece, Tim and Anne Rookey. Father had 12 siblings and Kathryn preceded him in birth by little more than a year Speaking to a group of Canadian pilgrims at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago Praying during Mass at his Olympia Fields, Illinois office chapel where he worked in his International Compassion Ministry for over 20 years with his volunteer office staff At his office desk, holding baby Emmanuel O’Donnell, whose parents, Dennis and Annette O’Donnell, were very close friends of his Office Mass with his right hand man, the late Servite Brother, Jim Hrechko, doing the readings Father with “healing of the family tree” Fr. John Hampsch Autographing books at the Radio Maria table at a Marian conference At his Berwyn priory table holding his coffee mug. He always had his morning cup of coffee “to get the grouch off” Posing at Our Lady of Sorrows with nephews Tim and John Rookey Chatting with the late Fr. Andrew Apostoli of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal Celebrating his 70th anniversary of ordination Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows in Chicago in May of 2011. Many of his closest relatives and friends were present 95th birthday banquet in October, 2011 with his bagpiper friend and Fr. James Holup Reading his Bible while wearing his favorite leather jacket Posing with Tim and Anne Rookey, his nephew and niece, in October, 2012 at his 96th birthday banquet With visiting priest, Fr. Joseph Awoyale, in his ICM office. They celebrated Mass together that day In front of Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica with his faithful driver and close friend, Bob Benson, and niece, Anne Rookey With the hosts of one of the many families he had home dinners with during the last years of his life. His schedule was always full The Eucharist is consecrated by Father in his office chapel towards the end of his life Saying Mass at Kathy Gearhart’s home in Berwyn, Illinois with his devoted friends. He celebrated Mass here many times on Saturdays after moving to Our Lady of Sorrows to live the last few years of his time on earth Visiting an AIDS clinic in Chicago on August 9, 2014. He blessed every room with holy water and prayed for all who would receive treatment there. With him are Karen Salas Blancas, Anne Rookey, and a clinic worker Fr. Peter in his room at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica on the evening of August 9, 2014. He would pass on to heaven in his sleep, on the bed shown here, one month later with a Rosary on his chest. He was truly a saint who walked in the footsteps of Christ and under the holy mantle of Our Sorrowful Mother Back to Gallery