In Memoriam: Rev. John J. Killoren SJ

22 Apr 2008

by: Michael G. Harter SJ

Rev. John J. Killoren SJ died peacefully at 9:30 pm Sunday, April 20, 2008, at the Fusz Pavilion in St. Louis, Missouri, where he had lived since 1995. Fr. Killoren entered the Society of Jesus at Florissant, Missouri, in 1932 and was ordained at St. Marys, Kansas, in 1945. Jack taught briefly at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City before he was sent to Omaha, Nebraska, where he faithfully served as pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Parish for 21 years. Jack was then assigned to St. Stephen’s Mission in Riverton, Wyoming, where he labored over a period of 13 years as assistant pastor, superior, director of fund raising and editor of Rendezvous magazine. From 1983 through 1995 he did extensive research on the life of Peter DeSmet. The University of Oklahoma Press published the completed biography under the title Come, Blackrobe. Jack was a quiet man who loved the outdoors and was loved and fondly remembered by the Arapahoe, Shoshone and African American people he served so faithfully. Jack was 92 years old and a Jesuit for 75 years.

As a final act of generosity, Jack donated his body to the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Arrangements for a Memorial Mass are as follows:

Wednesday, April 23, 2008
St. Francis Xavier (College) Church
7:00 PM

Messages of condolences or memorial contributions in honor of Jack’s faithful service and ministry may be made to support the works of his Jesuit colleagues. Please mail to:

Jesuits of the Missouri Province
4511 West Pine Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63108-2191

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