Rev Martin J. Gleeson, O.P.

Fr. Martin J. Gleeson, O.P., was born in Chicago, IL on April 6, 1951 and died peacefully on May 29, 2021 in Houston, TX.

Fr. Marty attended Maryknoll College, Glen Ellyn IL, 1969-1970, Kankakee Community College, Kankakee, IL, 1971-1972, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, 1972-1974, where he graduated with a B.A. (cum laude).  He also attended Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 1978, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 1988-1991; 1992, and Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO, 1993-1998, where he received a Master of Divinity.  While in formation, Fr. Marty was active in a musical trio, “Veritas”, writing religious music, singing and playing guitar.

Spending many years in the secular world mostly in Human Resources Management, Fr. Marty entered the Dominican novitiate in Denver, CO in August 1992.  He professed simple vows at St. Dominic Church in Denver on August 1, 1993, and solemn vows on June 6, 1996.  Fr. Marty was ordained to the Diaconate at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis, on May 10, 1997.  On June 4, 1998, Archbishop Gregory Aymond ordained Fr. Marty to the Priesthood at St. Dominic Church in New Orleans.

From 1998-2001 Fr. Marty served as Parochial Vicar at St. Dominic Church in Miami.  In 2001, Fr. Marty was assigned to New Orleans, where he would spend most of his ministerial career.  He was first assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Dominic in New Orleans.  After only a year, he was appointed Syndic for the Province of St. Martin de Porres.  In 2002, Fr. Marty was elected Prior Provincial and would serve two terms.  When his Sabbatical year was over, Fr. Marty became an Evangelizer/Preacher with the Evangelizing Prayer Ministry, “Lord Teach Me to Pray”.  He was active in this prayer ministry until his death.  From 2014-2020, he served as Prior of St. Anthony of Padua Priory in New Orleans.  In 2020, Fr. Marty moved to Houston to serve as Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish.  Throughout most of his life, Marty also served in prison ministry.

Fr. Marty was preceded in death by his parents, Martin Thomas Gleeson, Jr. and Therese I. Foody Byrne as well as his stepfather John Byrne and his brother Thomas Gleeson.  He is survived by his siblings, James Gleeson, Mary Catherine Causer, Therese Marie Cardosi and several nieces and nephews.  Visitation will be 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at St. Dominic Church, 775 Harrison Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124, with a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM, Thursday, June 10, 2021 at St. Dominic Church. Burial will follow in the Dominican Friars Cemetery (Rosaryville Cemetery), 39003 Rosaryville Road, Ponchatoula, LA 70454.  Memorials may be made to: Southern Dominican Province, PO Box 8129, New Orleans, LA 70182. Arrangements entrusted to Jacob Schoen & Son.

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