Farewell for Dominican Fr. Denis Reilly

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Fr. Denis Reilly is greeted by wellwishers at a farewell reception at St. John the Baptist Parish on May 27.

SANDY — On May 27, Dominican Father Denis Reilly celebrated his last Masses at St. John the Baptist Parish, where he has been assigned as parochial vicar for the past five years. Ordained a priest for the Western Dominican Province in 1970, he has ministered in Utah for much of the past 30 years but now, in retirement, he will return to St. Dominic Priory in Los Angeles, Calif.

“This parish has been a really good experience for me, but 54 years ago I joined the Dominicans, and it’s time for me to return to my home,” Fr. Denis said in his remarks to the congregation after the 8:30 a.m. Mass on May 27. “I’m going to miss you folks and the joy that you’ve brought in my life, but at some point we all have to go home.”

The parish has grown spiritually through Fr. Denis’ ministry, said Msgr. Terence Moore, pastor emeritus of St. John the Baptist Parish.

“I know we’re all going to miss him very, very much,” Msgr. Moore said. “We thank the Lord for all of the blessings he’s brought to us, all of the counseling and reconciliation services, all of the Masses he’s presided at, and his marvelous homilies that have just been spiritually edifying.”

 Speaking directly to the other priest, he said, “Denis, we thank you, and you’ll always be in our hearts.”

Fr. Denis has been a constant presence at the parish, said Fr. Rick Sherman, the pastor, in an interview. The Dominican handled many of the hospital calls and offered personal counseling, so “the deep personal connection he’s made with people is what’s going to be missed,” Fr. Sherman said.

During classes for the Sacrament of Confirmation, Fr. Denis “would always come into the classrooms and speak to the kids,” said Debbie Kessler, who taught the classes. “At eighth grade kids are inquisitive and have just the hardest questions to answer, and he always handled it with such … love and grace.”

When Fr. Denis first arrived, there was the question of how he would fit in to the parish, and “we found out that we both loved each other,” said Joe Trujillo, who regularly attends daily Mass.  “He’s a wonderful, wonderful man, and I think we’ve all grown by leaps and bounds because of Fr. Denis.”

The priest not only preaches the Gospel message, he lives it and is very compassionate, Trujillo said. “He can see through you sometimes, that you need extra prayer or a pat on the back. We’re going to miss him a lot.”

Fr. Denis was a good confessor, said Lorena Allen. The priest heard her confession when she first returned to the Church, and he made her feel welcome, was kind and open, helped her express what she needed to say, and gave good counsel, Allen said.

John Novile agreed. He once told Fr. Denis that he didn’t like a certain person, and the priest told him, “‘You don’t have to like them, you’ve got to love them.’ … Those were his famous words.”

At the reception that followed the Mass, Fr. Denis received a photo album that was complied by parishioner Linda Holmes. The album contained not only photos but messages from parishioners.