Home parish of St Matthew, East Belfast is praying
Father Stephen Rooney, believed to be from the Short Strand area of the city, was on the boat when the incident happened on a river in the Detroit area.
Prayers have been sent from Belfast to Monroe County as emergency services continue their searches today.
Father Stephen Rooney has served in the Monroe County area, in Florida, for over a decade, but was most recently serving at St. Joseph Parish in Trenton, Michigan, says WXYZ 7 Action News.
It is reported that he and local man Robert Chiles remain missing after the boat they were on with 12 others capsized near Stoney Island on Monday.
A statement on behalf of the Rooney family issued on Tuesday afternoon said: “Thank you to everyone who has sent their love and offered prayers for our brother Fr Stephen Rooney. The search commenced again today at 7am, please keep praying that his body and that of his friend is recovered soon.”
According to reports from Detroit the other passengers have been rescued.
St Matthew’s Parish, East Belfast said they are praying for Fr. Stephen’s family in Belfast and Mr Chile’s family in the USA.
A statement on their Facebook page said: “It is with great sadness that we share that Father Stephen Rooney, formerly of Anderson Street and pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Trenton, Michigan is missing along with longtime parishioner Robert Chiles after a boat capsized yesterday evening in the Detroit River, off Stoney Island.
“Several others were rescued from the water by a Good Samaritan nearby. Let us unite together in prayer for the missing, for the rescued, and for first responders searching the waters today.
“We pray for Fr Stephen’s family here in St Matthew’s Parish, Belfast and Mr Chile’s family in USA.”
Courtesy Belfast News and Tobar Mhuire, photo.
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