Rev Charles Rooks
Reverend Charles William Rooks, 91, of Villa Hills, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Madonna Manor in Villa Hills. He went to college at St. Gregory Seminary in Mt. Washington, OH, studied Philosophy at St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati and Theology at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and then did his Post-Graduate studies at the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies in Rome, the University of Toronto and the University of Cincinnati. Fr. Rooks was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1952 by the Most Rev. William T. Mulloy at the Church of the Resurrection in Lynch, KY. He was the Assistant Pastor at St. James Church in Ludlow and St. John’s Church in Covington. He became the Pastor of St. John Church in Wilder, KY, St. Julian Church in Middlesboro, KY, and St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton, NC. He retired in 1990. In the second half of his life, Fr. Rooks discovered the Charismatic Movement and embraced it wholeheartedly. The new relationship with God that he experienced transformed him. The most obvious manifestation of this was that the very proper and demanding professor became a true pastor, walking in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Theresa Mappes.
Survivors include his brother-in-law, William Mappes; nephew, Joseph Mappes; niece, Beth Eppstein; great-nieces and great-nephew.
Mass of Christian Burial is on Monday, December 14, 2015 at 7:00 pm in St. Joseph Heights, Provincial Center of the Sisters of Notre Dame, Park Hills, KY. Reception to follow at St. Joseph Heights.
Interment is on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 10:00 am in St. Pius X Priest’s Cemetery, Erlanger, KY.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Sisters of Notre Dame, 1601 Highway, Park Hills, KY 41011-2701.