By Paula Day

In soft-spoken brogue, Father Paul Reynolds, pastor of St. John Neumann parish in Lilburn, sums up his 25 years as a priest: “I’ve a deep sense of gratitude for the fact that I’ve been a priest in the United States because it has given me the opportunity of working with the people – the people are an inspiration. I’ve found it a great blessing after 25 years to be a priest here.”

Father Reynolds celebrated the anniversary of his ordination June 17 with a special parish liturgy followed by a dinner-dance. Father Walter Foley, pastor of St. Joseph’s parish in Dalton and formerly in Lilburn, was homilist. A graduate of All Hallows Seminary in Dublin, Father Reynolds was ordained June 16, 1963, by Bishop Dennis Moynihan in Kerry, Ireland, for the U.S. diocese of Mobile-Birmingham. After serving seven years in Alabama, he requested and was granted a transfer to the Atlanta archdiocese.

The example of priests in the high school he attended in Dublin first inspired the young Paul Reynolds to consider a vocation to the priesthood. An older brother, now deceased, was a priest. A sister, who is a Medical Missionary religious, works in South Africa. Father Reynolds is one of nine children of Patrick and Brigit Reynolds.

After transferring to the archdiocese in 1970, he served as assistant pastor in Sts. Peter and Paul parish in Decatur, and St. Thomas the Apostle in Smyrna. He was appointed pastor of St. Thomas in June 1974. In 1977 Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan entrusted him with the formation of a new parish in Lilburn. The parish became St. John Neumann.

Three hundred seventy-five people attended the first parish meeting in Lilburn’s City Hall. When the parish celebrated its tenth anniversary last year it numbered 3,000 families.

Parishioners speak of their pastor as being “a very private man” about his personal life, but one who gives of himself to others without consideration of time.

“It’s as if the 24-hour day isn’t in his vocabulary,” observed Jim Phelan. Parishioners also comment on Father Reynolds’ sermons. “The main message, gospel-wise, is being able to get across in every one of his sermons that the following of the Gospel – the following of Christ – is done by ordinary people doing ordinary things on a daily basis. He always puts the Gospel in the context of today’s life,” Phelan said.

Father Reynolds says he tries to provide at least one renewal event every year for the parish. Last year the parish sponsored three such renewals. For him personally, his acquaintance with the late Father Anthony deMello, S.J., internationally known spiritual writer and lecturer, had a great impact.

“It is one of the great blessing of my life to have met him,” Father Reynolds said. “He emphasized being aware of Our Lord’s unconditional love for both beginning and renewing one's “spiritual life."” Father Reynolds pointed out the scriptural source for this awareness is the evangelist John’s statement that God has first loved sinful humanity in all its unworthiness.

Parishioners showed their gratitude to Father Reynolds on the tenth anniversary of the parish’s foundation with the surprise gift of a new car.

Father Reynolds hesitates to predict the future of the parish. He quotes the late Archbishop Donnellan who would respond to questions about the state of the archdiocese with “it’s fine today.”

“Almost daily the parish has evolved into what it is today,” Father Reynolds said. “You never know in this day and age what will happen, how it will go. I hope the community life and spirit of the parish will develop and grow and continue to be shared with those in need.”