Father Roll
‘A good soul, a man for others’
From staff reports
The Rev. Robert J. Roll, who once served as pastor at Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, as well as St. Maurice Parish, both in McKinley Park, died on Nov. 21. He was 71 years old.
Father Roll was born on Jan. 14, 1951, in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College in Niles and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.
Father Roll
He was ordained to the priesthood on May 11, 1977 by Cardinal John Cody, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 13 of the same year at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Rosemont.
Father Roll served the people of the archdiocese as assistant pastor at the following: St. Constance Parish on Strong Street, St. Cornelius Parish on Foster Avenue, and St. Josephine Bakhita Parish on 72nd Street, all in Chicago, and St. Giles Parish in Oak Park.
After serving as a pastor in McKinley Park, he became pstor of St, Bride Parish n the South Side. He also served as vicariate dean for three years, 1998-2001. He retired in 2021.
The Rev. Francis Kub, associate vicar for Canonical Affairs, said, “Father Roll gave a great example of unheralded care and generosity while serving for many years in urban ministry.”
“He served the poor and abandoned,” said the Rev. Jim Clavey, S.J., a good friend of Father Roll. “He was just a good soul, a man for others.”
All funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Hope Mission, 9711 W. Devon, Rosemont. Visitation hours will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5, and the funeral Mass will take place immediately afterwards, at 11 a.m. Bishop Robert Casey will be the celebrant of the Mass and Father Kub will be the homilist. Interment will take place at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.
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