BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Father Gordon L. Sidler, affectionately nicknamed Gordy, had thoughts of entering ministry as a youth, which were encouraged by the strong example of his father and the support of his mother and St. Philip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro.

So in 1987 during his junior year at St. John Vianney Seminary, he felt surprised, excited and blessed when his father, Fred, decided to retire from a career in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and enter seminary himself in the wake of the 1985 death of his wife, Barbara.

Father Sidler believes that his father's decision was the will of God and he saw it as an affirmation of the continued active presence of God in their lives after the loss of his mother. With the support of his father, who is now pastor at St. John Church in Innes, Tex., Father Gordy Sidler, 30, begins his priesthood as parochial vicar at St. Pius X Church, Conyers.

As a youth, Father Sidler was profoundly influenced by his father's active lay involvement in his church, including service on the finance committee, and said, "He was always very ardent that we go to Sunday Mass and do all sacraments and attend all services."

His father's example of "putting his prayer into practice" inspired him, as did the ministry of then Jonesboro pastor, Father John Kieran, and the parish community of faith.

He feels that the presence of two priests in his family can be "a sign to the world that it (the Catholic faith) is alive and it's alive in families, and acting on that faith can produce marvelous things."

In the sixth grade Father Sidler recalls being inspired by a visiting priest who spoke and planted a mustard seed in him. He became involved in youth ministry and in high school participated in the Search retreat. The priesthood, in his growing years, is "something that's always been on the back of my mind."

Father Sidler studied philosophy and earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1991 from St. John Vianney Seminary in Miami, attended St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore the following fall through 1992, and earned a master's degree from St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa., in 1994.

Father Sidler has also had more mundane occupations, working as a stock boy at Winn Dixie and as a forklift driver and loader in the U.S. Army before college.

"All my jobs made me very attentive to the lifestyle of people," he said, and to their daily struggles.

He experienced a pastoral year at St. Joseph Church in Dalton where he assisted Father Ed Thein with youth and Hispanic ministries and hosted prayer groups and taught religious education.

His final year of seminary he ministered alongside Father John Haney at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin in Pittsburgh, assisting at Mass, offering Communion services, baptisms and visiting the sick.

Reflecting a more serene side of his energetic personality, Father Sidler is an Eagle Scout and enjoys fly-fishing, golf, hiking and canoeing.

Encountering nature is "a way of centering myself back in God. It's a very spiritual moment," he said.

In 1993 he worked as a counselor in Warm Springs with teenagers from single parent homes with problems of physical and psychological abuse. He says he experienced many adventures with the youth including kayaking, canoeing and rappelling trips. He looks forward to working in youth ministry, but adds, "I like it all to tell you the truth."

In addition to working with teens, he hopes to reach elementary school age children and looks forward to working with Hispanics. He studied Spanish in school, spent 10 weeks in Mexico while in seminary and believes he will celebrate the Spanish Mass at the parish.

Christ Our Hope Parish in Lithonia was chosen for Father Sidler's first Mass out of a fondness for its members. Father Sidler's father helped him to vest at the ordination. His entire family, including three older brothers and a sister, attended. He believes his mother was surely present in spirit as well. He was also to celebrate a Father's Day Mass June 15 at Father Fred Sidler's parish in Texas.