Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI

Denomination: Catholic Church (N/A)
Organization: Oblate School of Theology

Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, is a Roman Catholic priest, theologian, and spiritual writer whose work has shaped contemporary Christian reflection on desire, discipleship, prayer, and hope. He serves on the faculty of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, where he also served as president. A member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1972.

Born in Macklin, Saskatchewan, Canada, Rolheiser was raised in a large Catholic family and went on to study at the University of Ottawa, Newman Theological College, the University of San Francisco, and the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, where he earned advanced theological degrees. Over the years, he has combined teaching, formation, writing, and leadership in a vocation centered on helping readers and students connect the deep longings of the human heart with the life of God.

He is widely known for books such as The Holy Longing, which has introduced many readers to a thoughtful, accessible vision of Christian spirituality. His long-running weekly column, In Exile, appears in publications around the world and reflects on faith, culture, scripture, and the inner life with pastoral clarity. In addition to his writing and teaching, he has helped lead initiatives in spirituality studies at OST, including the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Spirituality and the Forest Dwelling program.

Rolheiser remains a sought-after speaker, retreat leader, and teacher whose work continues to serve clergy, students, and lay readers across traditions.