Fr. Martin I. Rock, S.J., former pastor of St. Mary, dies

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Fr. Martin I. Rock, S.J.

Father Martin Irwin Rock, S.J., who was pastor of St. Mary Parish in West Haven from 1992 to 2010, died Oct 9, 2017 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos. He was 89 years of age and had been a member of the Society of Jesus for 72 years, 58 as a priest.

Martin was born in San Francisco Dec. 15, 1927, the son of Peter and Gertrude Rock. He graduated from Bellarmine College Prep, San Jose, and, along with his brother, Leo, entered the Jesuit novitiate at Los Gatos on Aug. 14, 1945. His training took him from Los Gatos to Gonzaga University, Spokane, for philosophical studies, and to Alma College, Los Gatos, for theological studies. He was ordained a priest in San Francisco on June 12, 1959.

His ministry was spent in three Jesuit high schools and in five parishes throughout the West. Prior to ordination, he taught English at Bellarmine Prep, San Jose, from 1953 to 1956. Subsequently, he served as chaplain at Brophy College Prep, Phoenix, from 1962 to 1965; teacher of English at Jesuit High School, Sacramento from 1965 to 1967; and religion teacher and counselor at Bellarmine from 1970 to 1974.

Fr. Rock spent more than 32 years in Jesuit parish ministry in Sacramento and  Santa Clara, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Ogden, Utah; as well as churches in Incline Village, Nev., and Bagdad, Arizona.

He was pastor of St. Clare’s Church, Santa Clara, from 1974 to 1984. At St. Mary Parish in West Haven, he oversaw the building of a new church complex.

His parish years were also noted for the presence of a succession of his faithful beagle-mix dogs, all of which were named “Mike.”

He retired from parish ministry in 2010 and resided at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos, with an extended assignment as chaplain at St. Joseph’s Health and Retirement Center, Ojai. His last years at Los Gatos were spent in a ministry of prayer; he was a familiar figure in the garden enjoying his pipe.

Martin was predeceased by his six siblings, including Fr. Leo Rock, S.J.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, 300 College Ave., Los Gatos, Calif. Burial will follow at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln St., Santa Clara.

Donations in memory of Fr. Rock may be made to the Jesuits West Province of the Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 68, Los Gatos, CA 95031, or to a charity of your choosing.