By Frank Ellis

Father John O’Brien, 30, had never been to the United States prior to this summer. The native of Cobh, County Cork, had only read about America or seen it depicted on Irish television. Beginning July 1 he substituted for Father Hugh Marren, of St. Theresa’s parish, while the Douglasville pastor vacationed in his native Ireland. Father O’Brien was quick to say he had unique experiences to relate to his own parishioners in Kilrossanty.

Ordained in 1987, Father O’Brien is assistant pastor in a 600-family parish in the diocese of Waterford/Lismore.

“I had expected America was going to be very big and sure enough it was,” he explained, seated in the parish rectory on Elizabeth Drive. “The very first place I saw, of course, was the Atlanta airport and that was overwhelming.”

On his second day in Douglasville, the young visitor was almost killed on the road. Exiting a supermarket on Highway 5, he “automatically got on the left side of the road. Suddenly there was a woman coming straight at me. I thought she must be some king of a lunatic before I quickly realized I was in America, not Ireland. She was forced onto the shoulder and a man behind her covered his face with his hands as he reacted to the scene!”

The immensity of grocery stores overwhelmed Father O’Brien.

“Their being open 24 hours a day amazes me. In Ireland, most shops, which are small, close by 6 p.m.”

Father O’Brien compared Douglasville to Dublin. “For a while I thought Douglasville was a very large city so you can imagine how I felt when I did see Atlanta. Where I live now is strictly rural and the main occupation is farming.”

What are the major thoughts Father O’Brien will convey to the people of his parish, his friends and relatives on his return to Ireland in August?

“The first thing I will tell the people is how happy I was in the weeks I was working in Douglasville and in Atlanta,” he said. “I will talk about the hospitality of the people, and the scientific advancements that I have experienced over here. Everything seems to be at the press of a button.”

“Maybe one constructive criticism I would say, is that American people, I hope that you realize how lucky and fortunate you are,” Father O’Brien said.