Priest studying in Rome, Italy has bittersweet visit back home

When Father Gregory Reichlen returned home this summer, he was in for a bittersweet reunion as he witnessed and even served as concelebrant during the closing mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Little Meadows, Pa. on June 19, 2010, and as celebrant at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in the Choconut Township, Village of St. Joseph, Pa. on July 18, 2010.
The 33-year old native of Forest Lake, Pa. is one of the few to be recently ordained into the Priesthood through the Catholic Diocese of Scranton, Pa. Studying currently at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy, the young priest, who initially pursued a degree as a medical doctor, is entering an era where difficult times and a shortage of new priests is forcing consolidations of churches and parishes across the nation, and around the world.
According to recent reports, the number of Catholic priests serving in 1975 was approximately 59,000. Today that number is hovering around 40,000. This shortage, according to Reichlen, is forcing the closure of many churches, with three in his own hometown recently affected.
In 2006, Bishop Joseph Martino of the Scranton Diocese began a process to reorganize and consolidate; and then in early 2009, it was announced that 90 Catholic churches would close within the next three years. These closures and consolidations affected St. Francis Xavier Church in Friendsville, Pa., St. Joseph / St. Augustine Churches in St. Joseph, Pa.; St. Patrick Church in Middletown, Pa., and St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Little Meadows, Pa.
According to Reichlen, Father Casimer Stanis assumed pastoral duties of all five churches just prior to their closing. And by July of 2009, St. Patrick Church closed, with St. Thomas and St. Joseph Churches closing shortly behind in June of 2010, and then July of 2010 for St. Joseph.
The remaining churches, St. Francis Xavier and St. Augustine - which is one of the oldest churches in the Scranton Diocese, comprised the St. Brigid Parish, with Father Casimer Stanis serving as Pastor, and Kenneth S. Brennan as Deacon.
According to Reichlen, the closings and consolidations created a mixture of sadness and anger. With 500 families in that area attending the five churches prior to the closing, people were left to decide where they would go when their church closed.
And the process that Bishop Martino began many years ago to consolidate and close churches, according to Reichlen, continues under the current Bishop, the Most Reverend Joseph Bambera. "Out of 220 churches within the diocese," he added, "90 will be closed."
He also explained that the reasoning behind the closure was primarily due to a shortage of priests, and the lack of attendance. "The populations of the communities is declining," said Reichlen, "so it affects the church population." The biggest area hit by this decline, he continued, was the coal mining area.
But in spite of the downward spiral that is taking an effect among the Catholic Church communities in light of the consolidations and closings, Reichlen spoke of his own journey into the priesthood, and gave an insight into the makings of a priest - and what the commitment to the church means to him.
Arriving back home to Forest Lake, Pa. on summer break from his studies in Rome, Italy, Reichlen found himself assisting Father Casimer Stanis during the final masses held at both St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Little Meadows, Pa. on June 19, 2010; and at his hometown church - St. Joseph's in St. Joseph, Pa. on July 18, 2010.
He talked of the reaction by some of the parishioners during that time, and how difficult it was on the church communities. "The wounds won't heal for some time," said Reichlen of those who attended both churches for many years.
But with a lack of ability to commit contributing to the decline in the number of men entering priesthood, Reichlen stood firm on his own - and described the journey.
　
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Gregory (Greg) Reichlen was born to Robert and Anna (Smith) Reichlen in Forest Lake, Pa. where he grew up and experienced his childhood. Reichlin's father, Robert, was born in New Jersey, but then transferred to the area to work for IBM - a company which he retired from after 38 years.
Reichlen graduated from the Montrose High School Class of 1995, and was known to be a high honor student - receiving exceptional grades throughout his education. Reichlen did note that while he attended public schools throughout his childhood and adolescent years, many who attended the seminary that he would eventually transfer to were brought up through a Catholic education.
But Reichlen's goals, at that time, were to pursue a medical degree, and eventually become a doctor. Reichlen was also interested in music, and studied classical and music theory. He also played trombone, and was involved in choir - to include serving in the choir at St. Joseph's, the church he would provide a final Mass last week.
Reichlen also served as an alter boy for a period of time - but stated that the priesthood, at that time, was never a question in his mind.
But we hear stories of profound things that happen in people's lives, and how things that have the most impact, emotionally, can also have the largest effect on provoking a change - sometimes a change of heart.
While in ninth grade, Reichlen experienced the death of his younger brother Aaron, who was three years old at that time. Reichlin described how going to church every Sunday was a priority for his family, and how the family would pray the Rosary together on Sunday nights.
But it was a cold day in March of 1992 when Reichlen's youngest brother slipped out of his mother's sight. Walking out into a nearby pond with another young boy, the warmth experienced that month had softened the ice and the young boys slipped through - the ice had broken beneath them.
Reichlen described the traumatic effect that this had on him emotionally, and that although there were signs of hope following his brother's rescue from the broken ice, he died - 12 hours later.
"I realized, at that point," said Reichlen, "that there was a bigger picture." "I thought of life, and I thought of death," he added. "It brought the family together in a spiritual way."
To comfort himself, even today, Reichlen has confidence that his younger brother Aaron is praying for him in heaven.
And then in Reichlin's senior year of school a Catholic Priest, Father Mark Rossetti, asked if he would be interested in the priesthood. Reichlen recalled stating, "maybe for a second." But Father Rossetti then told him that that second, like a seed, if planted would grow.
But Reichlen's seed was yet to be planted as he turned his thought on going to college, getting a wife, and making a lot of money. His pursuits, at the University of Rochester where he majored in biology, were to eventually become a doctor.
And the young man, with a bright complexion, pleasing smile and prominent stature, had plenty of girlfriends during that time - but nothing, he noted, that was serious.
"I was involved in studies and music," said Reichlen. "I was very driven."
And following five years of studies at the University of Rochester, Reichlen became even more driven to become a doctor, and began applying to medical schools. Reichlen recalled, however, writing an essay that would be distributed to prospective colleges that focused on why he wanted to be a doctor. "It was all lies," Reichlen admitted in later years. "It was self motivation."
While involved in the campus ministry, Reichlen made many Catholic friends, and that question that Father Rossetti asked him years earlier came up again - and the seed began to grow.
While waiting for a response from a college interview at the University of Pittsburg Medical School, Reichlen visited St. Pius X Seminary in Dalton, Pa. and met with Father Don Williams, the director of vocation for the Scranton Diocese.
Reichlen described walking into Williams' office, and how his heart was pounding. "It was at that time that I felt the invitation from God," he stated. A couple weeks later, Reichlen also went to retreat at the same place for an experience called "Life's Choices." "I tried to listen to God in a new way," said Reichlen.
Reichlen also described this period of time as a time of discernment - a time to find where God is leading. "God draws straight with crooked lines," said Reichlen, "and you look at your life and where it leads."
By March of 2000, Reichlen made his decision to pursue the priesthood; and would also soon be faced with telling his parents back home. "They were sort of dismayed when I told them," said Reichlen. "They thought I was going to be a doctor."
Reichlen's younger surviving brothers, Steve, Matt and Chris, went on to pursue careers in the military, chemistry and music. In August, Reichlen will perform the marriage ceremony of his brother Steve in Ithaca, N.Y.
By September of 2000, Reichlen was headed to the seminary, just one month after he received his acceptance letter to the University of Pittsburgh - an acceptance that he turned down to pursue a life committed to the church and to God.
Reichlen talked of the entrance to the seminary, which he attended in Dalton, and how extensive the intake process was. "There are many psychological evaluations along the way," said Reichlen. "They want to know everything about how you relate to people - both men and women."
He also noted that years ago the screening was not as excessive, but with the scandals within the Catholic Church that have highlighted the media over the last decade, psychological screening has become paramount.
"You can be assured," said Reichlen, "that with all the screening they do now - that stuff won't happen."
Reichlen also talked of the vow to celibacy, and how some are deterred from pursuing the priesthood. But according to Reichlen, that's not the primary reason that people aren't joining. "Celibacy is talked about from the very beginning," said Reichlen of the seminary. "Entering the priesthood is the same commitment as a marriage," he added. "To be celibate, you have to love people in a certain way."
He noted that only fifty percent of those who apply to the seminary get accepted, and of those fifty percent, only fifty percent go through with it. For Reichlen, it took eight years to reach ordination.
Reichlen entered St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton, in 2000 and enrolled at The University of Scranton, receiving a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the university’s Dexter Hanley School in 2002.
During 2002-04, he pursued graduate studies in theology at the Theological College at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and completed a pastoral year in 2005 at All Saints Parish in Plymouth.
The priest-candidate completed his seminary formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, where he earned a master of divinity in 2007 and, most recently, a master’s degree in theology.
On June 28, 2008, Reichlen was ordained as a priest at St. Peter's Cathedral with the former Bishop Joseph F. Martino serving as principal celebrant and ordaining prelate. Reichlan performed his first Mass on June 29 at St. Joseph Church in Friendsville, Pa.
And now, following his summer break, Reichlen will return to Rome, Italy where he is pursing an advanced degree in scripture. With three years of study remaining upon his return, Reichlen is unsure, at this point, where the road will lead him.
"My heart is here in Pennsylvania," said Reichlen, "but because I'm good academically, I could teach somewhere." "One thing I can say," Reichlen added, "is that I'm not worried about losing my job."