Fr. Daniel J. Jones

Father Daniel John Jones of the Archdiocese of Detroit was born on May 10, 1953, in Detroit and died at Angela Hospice in Livonia on the Feast of Pentecost, May 23, 2021. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald John Jones, sister-in-law Therese Jones, nephew D. Anthony Jones, and is survived by his Mother, Joan Jones (Chowning), siblings Donna (Michael) Trager, David Jones, Diane Jones, Denise Bechard, and Debra (John) Veneziano, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Father Dan served as a full-time Associate Professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and worked tirelessly on the formation faculty while training future priests. Father Jones also served as pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Detroit and later as pastor of St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish, Auburn Hills. He was also Moderator of the Detroit Oratory-in-Formation – an emerging Oratory of St. Philip Neri. He served on the Presbyteral Council, as a chaplain for the Courage and Encourage Apostolates and at the following parishes on weekends: St. Thomas More, St. Margaret of Scotland, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Sacred Heart, St. Anthony, Guardian Angels and Divine Grace.

Father Dan developed a deep prayer life after encountering God. Consequently, he was devoted to serving the poor and those in need. He offered Mass each week for the Missionaries of Charity in Detroit and often spent his summer vacation in third world countries with them. He also gave numerous retreats and seminars for other religious, priests, seminarians, and laity.

He was a graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School, received a B.A. from the University of Michigan (history) in 1975 and lived as a member of The Servants of the Word, a lay brotherhood, for 17 years. He served in a variety of apostolates, working in European missions (Brussels and London) for five years, and as a middle school teacher (Huron Valley Catholic School, Ypsilanti) for nine years. During those years he obtained an M.A. in Education and an M.A. in English from Eastern Michigan University.

He began priestly studies for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1992 and received a Bachelor’s in Sacred Theology Degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome). He was ordained to the priesthood in 1997, and then received a Licentiate Degree in Sacred Theology and a Doctoral Degree in Sacred Theology and Patristic Sciences from the Augustinianum Patristics Institute, Rome.

For the safety of all, the family is requesting that anyone that attends the visitation and/or funeral, please wear a facemask and follow social distancing guidelines.