Six Friends, One Priest - Our Tribute to Monsignor Reynolds

Caitlin

Elizabeth

Eric

Rosemary

Sam

Sarah

Enter Rosemary's dad, Tim. 

"Father Reynolds was our Parish Priest when St. Thomas the Apostle got started back in the early 60's, in Smyrna, GA. We had Mass in the Belmont Hills Movie Theater. On Holy days we had to bring brooms to sweep up after the movie goers. My mother was his secretary and housekeeper when the church moved to it's present location. My brothers and I did the yard work at the church and my father bought the wine and others spirits for the Rectory. Father Reynolds said the Wedding Mass for one of my brothers and the Funeral Masses for my Mom and Dad." ~ Tim, Facebook,  Dec 18

Rosemary remembers family stories about Monsignor, and went on to attend Saint Mary's College.

Enter Eric and Sam.

They grew up in Saint John Neumann parish, another parish founded by the then Father Reynolds.  He was such an integral part of their childhood faith formation.  In fact, we thought Eric might have been baptized by him.  He wasn't, but his sister might have been.  Both boys went on to attend Notre Dame.

Enter Caitlin and Elizabeth.

Attended Sunday Mass and both had involved families at Saint Andrew.  Caitlin's mom even worked for Monsignor Reynolds for some time at Saint Andrew.  

Caitlin writes, 

I know mom is welcoming Monsignor Reynolds into the Kingdom of Heaven today...ready to talk Notre Dame football again! Eternal rest grant unto him, o Lord.

This picture is from this was from the notre dame/georgia tech game in 1997...the new notre dame stadium dedication game!  ~ Caitlin, Facebook Dec 18, 2010

The Corsetti family also spent time at Saint Andrew at this time.  I sponsored by brother when Monsignor Confirmed him. I remember sitting in his office for Advent confession and just being in awe of his simple faith and ability to love even strange little teenage kids!

While Caitlin and I didn't know each other at the time, it is evident that Monsignors time at Saint Andrew was a blessing and life changing for both of our families.

Enter Sarah.

Sarah's family met Monsignor when they first moved to Saint Brigid / Roswell.  Sarah parents were involved in the early planning and fundraising stages of the parish rectory, the last parish Monsignor called home.  Sarah's mom worked in the wedding ministry for some time  And Sarah was involved as a volunteer with the Life Teen program.  Sarah's family also bonded with Monsignor over his love of Notre Dame, as Sarah attended Saint Mary's College with Caitlin and Rosemary.

Enter Eric and Elizabeth.

Eric bonded with him regularly over football, and I had the honor and blessing of working for Monsignor during his entire stay at Saint Brigid.  On October 10, 2009, Monsignor Reynolds married us.

Over nearly three decades, the six of us have met and re-met a dozen times in countless ways and for numerous reasons.  We're all friends through the years on our own and in groups.  We've crossed paths and didn't even know it.  Yet, on December 18, 2010 through Facebook posts and Twitter feeds we discovered how truly intimiate the Catholic family in Atlanta is, and how one man could have changed the faith lives of six friends in six unique ways at six points in time.  Our meeting Monsignor Reynolds might have seemed random at the time, but today it is so clear how much God had His hand in our lives and how Monsignor's life was and is a witness to so many people.

Rosemary writes,

[Our friendship is...] such a great testment to his life and the people who were around and his ministry. It's just amazing. Like cait said when her mom died, if i can touch even half the people's lives that my mom did. Same with him. ~ Google Talk, Dec 21, 2010

Monsignor Reynolds,  we will all miss you so much.  Thank you for your laugher, smile, kind heart, compliments on a job well done, and  daily reminders not to worry but to stop and enjoy the simple things in life.  And above all, thank you for your witness by LIVING everything you ever spoke or taught us.