Father John King, S.J.

Father John King, S.J., who served for 30 years at Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House on Staten Island as a spiritual director and retreat master, died June 13 at Murray-Weigel Hall, the Jesuit health care center in the Bronx. He was 87.

Before being assigned to Mount Manresa in 1978, he was a counselor at Regis High School in Manhattan and gave retreats and assisted at parishes in and around Cornwall. Previously he served for 22 years in the Philippines as a counselor, teacher and prefect of spirituality at the Ateneo de Manila University and a seminary, Loyola House of Studies.

On Staten Island he also assisted the leadership team of a Charismatic prayer group, Lamb of God; was a spiritual guide to an Alcoholics Anonymous men’s group; assisted at local parishes; and was active in ecumenical affairs. At Mount Manresa he worked with an HIV group that meets regularly.

In 2002 he and the other Jesuits on the staff at Mount Manresa moved to the rectory of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Staten Island, where Father King resided until recently.

Born in Jersey City, N.J., he graduated from St. Peter’s College. and entered the Jesuits in 1942 in Poughkeepsie and professed vows in 1944. He studied at Woodstock College in Maryland and was ordained there June 21, 1953.

He is survived by a brother, Vincent, and a sister, Marie King. A Funeral Mass was offered June 18 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta Church on Staten Island. Burial was at the Jesuit Cemetery in Auriesville.