Roger Mullaney ’58

Gilmour alumnus Roger Mullaney ’58 shared an honor in September with the most Reverend Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland. Deacon Mullaney and the bishop were among those invested in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, one of the oldest ecclesiastical Orders in the Church. Investiture is by invitation. He was honored with the Papal title of Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. It is the highest papal award conferred upon clergy and laity. Since 2005, the Gilmour graduate has been a deacon with St. James Parish in Highwood, Ill.

 

During the ceremony at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland, Deacon Mullaney received the golden spurs of knighthood and a Grand Master dubbed each shoulder with a sword. The pope’s secretary of state must approve members, and his official seal is part of the document appointing knights.

 

Before his affiliation with St. James Parish, Deacon Mullaney worked at his home parish, Saints Faith, Hope and Charity, for 23 years. Throughout his religious career, he worked in a food pantry for Catholic Charities and as a child-care worker at Boys Town. He has served in the Diocese of Reno, Charlotte and Dallas and was in charge of a mission parish at St. Catherine of Siena in Atlanta. “I had the privilege to be Deacon of the Eucharist for the 100th anniversary Mass of Catholic Extension Society at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago in June 2005,” he says.

 

A student from Winnetka, Ill., the deacon lived in Tudor House during his freshman and sophomore years, St. Joseph Hall during his junior year and in Vincent Hall as a senior. Deacon Mullaney played football as a freshman and managed football, basketball and track the next three years.

 

“I waited on tables in Tudor House Dining Room during sophomore year and enjoyed music appreciation class on Saturday mornings,” he says. “We went to hear the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra under the direction of George Szell.”

 

In 1962, Deacon Mullaney graduated from Regis University in Denver, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in European history, and took an accelerated course in Latin at Glastonbury Latin School in Massachusetts. He completed his theology studies at St. Joseph/Newman Theological College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, earning a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1971, and was ordained as a deacon the following year in Reno.