By Paula Day

Catholic's involvement in their church -- that's what surprised and impressed Irish seminarians who worked in the archdiocese this summer.

Richard Brennan, who was stationed at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Atlanta, observed that Catholics "claim the Church as their Church and make sure they're part of it. Everyone knows what they're doing -- people are a part of the Church's mission. I am really surprised."

Chris Williamson, who helped with youth ministry at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Kennesaw, found great hope for the Church in its young people who are "interested enough to question their faith in a constructive way."

According to Williamson, his fellow seminarians found the same thing in the Atlanta archdiocese: "All are overwhelmed by the interest of Catholics in their Church and by the number who get involved in it."

Georgians' spirit of welcome also impressed the Irish seminarians. Gerry O'Connor, who ministered in Holy Spirit parish, Atlanta, said the kind of welcome he received made coming to a strange land easier.

Williamson acknowledged that while Ireland is known for its warm-hearted people and is called the "land of 100,000 welcomes" it "doesn't hold a candle to the welcome" he experienced in Georgia.

Georgians are "very, very similar to the Irish" according to Brennan. He admitted, "The pace of life is a bit quicker -- just a tad." He "loves the sense of 'get up and go,' " and "the warm smell of the land and the fireflies against the trees at night. Georgia is a beautiful place."

The three men were part of a group of nine from the Emerald Isle who ministered in the archdiocese. Seven returned from previous summers, two were newcomers.

Richard Brennan, 26, a native of Ballyroan, County Dublin, was one of the first-timers. He is a year away from ordination to the diaconate and he looks forward to returning to the area after his ordination to the priesthood. "I like it here a lot," he said. "I feel very, very fortunate -- the Lord has blessed me. Brennan's parents live in Ireland: his father is semi-retired. He has two brothers and four sisters living there.

The summer experience was the second time around for Chris Williamson, 43, who came from Dublin. He admitted having had preconceptions of the south based on "Smokey and the Bandit" films. Stereotypes of hill people making moonshine, feuding families, and romantic ladies sitting on the veranda sipping mint juleps had to be unlearned. He was glad for a 'second chance' so he could "contribute more and receive less."

Williamson likened his preconceptions to those of Americans whose first question of Irishmen concerns the fighting in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics. He pointed out that this violence occurs in a relatively small area of the island and that citizens of the Republic of Ireland are not involved in it.

After spending six years in a Benedictine monastery in Ireland, Williamson decided to study for ordination as a diocesan priest. He has completed the required coursework and has returned to Ireland to study sacred liturgy for a year. If all goes as planned, he will be ordained a deacon in June, return to Atlanta for the summer months, and be ordained a priest in December, 1988. His 80-year-old parents live in Ireland. He has two brothers in Australia; one is a member of the Carmelite Order. A sister lives in Upper Montclair, N.J.

Gerry O'Connor, 25, from Dublin, has completed his academic preparation for the priesthood and will spend the coming year at Holy Spirit parish as a pastoral minister. He wants to "experience Atlanta a little closer" and looks forward to celebrating major feasts like Christmas and Easter with Georgians, as well as getting a taste of cooler weather.

"O'Connor's previous experiences include a four-month stint teaching the lowest level of classes in a Christian Brothers' high school in Ireland.

Other seminarians from Ireland who spent the summer in archdiocesan parishes were Patrick Collum at St. Thomas Aquinas, Alpharetta; Brendan Doyle at All Saints, Dunwoody; Paul Flood at St. Thomas More, Decatur; James Foley, Sacred Heart, Milledgeville; Michael O'Connell, Corpus Christi, Stone Mountain; and Philip Ryan, St. John Neumann, Lilburn. With the exception of O'Connor, all the seminarians returned to Ireland August 19.