Meet The New Irish Lad In Town

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and although many of us correlate it with bearing kelly green and shamrock flare, gorging on corned beef and cabbage, and consuming pints of Guinness and shots of Jameson, it is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on March 17. Over the centuries it has become more of a secular celebration of Irish culture but it originated as a Catholic holiday, named after St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland and became an official feast day in the early 17th century.

In the spirit of the holiday, Stonington-Mystic Patch interviewed Father Kevin Michael Reilly of in historical downtown Mystic.

Strickland: Where were you born and raised?
Father Reilly: I was born and raised in East Lyme. I am still close enough to home to run home for food when the refrigirator is empty here.

Strickland: Where did you go to high school?
Father Reilly: I attended St. Bernard's School and graduated in 1987.

Strickland: Do you have brother and/or sisters?
Father Reilly: I am the oldest of three. My brother lives in Massachusets and my sister lives in Washington, D.C.

Strickland: Do you have any nephews or neices and are you close with them?
Father Reilly: Yes, my brother has three sons. The youngest was actually born on St. Patrick’s Day. My sister has a daughter. And yes, I am very close with all of them. I just spent a wad of money at Toy ‘R’ Us. I am in the store and I am like do I get this toy, this toy, or this one? Ah, just get all three.

Strickland: What is your background?
Father Reilly: I was raised Catholic and I am of Irish decent. Kevin Michael Reilly, yea, you could say I’m just a wee bit Irish.

Strickland: Was your family religious while growning up?
Father Reilly: Not terribly, we were more like cultural Catholics because it was part of our heritage.

Strickland: Since you are Irish, how will you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
Father Reilly: I have been to Ireland many times and the way we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day here in the States, it is more of a cultural thing. For Patrick himself, I will say prayer in the morning. Of course, we have the parade here in Mystic and I just found out I will be marching in it. We also have a dinner here at the Parish Center, which a couple hundred people will attend.

Strickland: How long have you been in Mystic?
Father Reilly: I joined St. Patrick’s church on Jan. 10 of this year, right around the time all the snow started falling.

Strickland: Why did you come to Mystic?
Father Reilly: I was sent by Bishop Michael R. Cote of the Diocese of Norwich to take the place of the previous priest, Father Brian Romanowski, who left the parish to practice Canon Law.

Strickland: Why did you decide to become a priest?
Father Reilly: I had a dramatic conversion experience. I was living a life that was completely opposite of my life now. I was living in Washington D.C. and working as a bartender when I had a vision that altered my life. I knew then that I had been created to become a priest and I would only find joy in becoming what God had intended me to be.

Strickland: What do you do for fun?
Father Reilly: I am a golf addict. I began playing in the semenary. I also like to ski in the winter.

Strickland: What do you do to relax?
Father Reilly: Having worked in the restaurant business, I like to go out and enjoy a nice meal. And with so many beaches nearby, you have to go out and veg on the beach every once in awhile.

Strickland: What is your favorite restaurant?
Father Reilly: I have not been to in awhile but that place was very good. So far, I would have to say is my favorite but I have been told I need to check out a few other places like .

Strickland: What is your favorite place in Stonington/Mystic?
Father Reilly: This is a very political question. Of course I have to say St. Patrick’s is my favorite place or I would get in all sorts of trouble. However, when my nephews come to visit, the or will be my favorite places. It’s difficult to narrow it down since this area has so much to offer.

Strickland: What is the last in-town restaurant that you ate at?
Father Reilly: I went to the with my parents on Valentine’s Day, which happens to be my mother’s birthday. I had tournedos of beef preceded by lobster lollipops, which is lobster wrapped in phyllo dough. It was delicious. 

Strickland: How do you get around town?
Father Reilly: Walk with a shovel seems to work best. No, seriously though, I am Chaplain at St. Bernard’s and often very busy so I am usually tearing out of here in my car by 6:30 a.m. each morning. Once the weather warms up, I will dust my bike off and take that out, it’s been awhile though.

Strickland: What are your responsibilties as Chaplain at St. Bernard's School?
Father Reilly: I conduct mass for the children and there is some teaching involved. I try to drop into classes when I can. I also try to attend as many sporting, drama and art events.

Strickland: What do you feel makes Mystic a great community?
Father Reilly: Any community comes down to the people. Mystic has a lot to offer but it is the people that make it a great community. Being a lad of Irish decent, I have visited Ireland and although Ireland is very beautiful and green, the reason you go there is for the people…and the food! But a great community is all about the people in it.

Strickland: What are you giving up for lent?
Father Reilly: I drink a lot of coffee with a lot of sugar so I am giving up sugar. When I am on my eighth cup of coffee of the day, many times Starbuck’s French Roast, I am reminded with every bitter sip that it is lent. I really look forward to enjoying my coffee with sugar on Easter Monday morning.