By Olga Mosiychuk
Pat Reidy: 24 years old, 6'1", 165 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes and off limits. Sorry, ladies. This Class of 2008 Notre Dame Graduate is currently in the process of becoming a Holy Cross priest.
The seminarian is here at the University of Portland for part of his Novitiate year, which is a period of training and preparation that a novice member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life.
Because Holy Cross is an Apostolic Congregation, Reidy is sent throughout the country to experience the mission of the priests and brothers of Holy Cross throughout his Novitiate, which began in August.
He was sent to the University of Portland in order to work with the ministry here with an emphasis on hospitality.
He has been working with the homeless in the downtown Holy Cross Chapel.
"You basically take a year outside of your normal pattern of relationships and follow a regimented schedule throughout," said Reidy. "The Novitiate year makes it okay to try to become a priest."
Deacon Gerry Olinger, who has known Reidy since his time at Notre Dame, has been working with him throughout his time at UP.
"This is an opportunity for him to experience what we do here in Portland," said Olinger.
The two converse frequently, and Olinger helped Reidy get acquainted with the Portland environment.
Reidy has gained many new friends and experiences but has given up his cell phone for the year, a sacrifice that many his age shudder to think of.
He does, however, have a Facebook and a Facebook group which was created by the Assistant Hall Director of Christie Hall, Pat Schenkel, who is an old friend of Reidy. The group is titled "Pat Reidy is a Big Deal", and he seems to be just that.
Along with his designated office hours Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Pilot House Campus Ministry Office, Reidy has a multitude of conversations with various UP students daily.
Monica McAllister recalls a conversation she had with him at the gym.
"I didn't even know he was training to become a priest until ten minutes into our conversation," she said. "He was just a really sweet guy, very open and outgoing and great to talk to."
This sentiment goes well with Reidy's hope to one day work in Campus Ministry at an institution.
"I'm open to anything after I am ordained, but at some point I would like to be working with students, especially college students," said Reidy. "Everything's open. They can be who they want to be and do what they want to do and it's great to talk to them."
Growing up in a Catholic family, Reidy thought about becoming a priest from early childhood.
When asked about romance, Reidy spoke confidently about the fact that marriage and creating a family was never his instinct.
"I've always gotten along with women very well and I'm half-Italian, so I'm the classic hopeless romantic," he said. "But I don't freak out as much as I think I should when it comes to romance. I just feel so comfortable at Holy Cross."
Reidy spoke to the fact that he has found all of the nuances that his own family has within the Holy Cross community, which was part of the reason he chose this Congregation as opposed to, say, the Jesuits.
"I met the Jesuits, and there are many similarities that drew me to both but the differences are what drew me to Holy Cross," said Reidy. "The lynchpin of Holy Cross is the notion of family. That's why I chose Holy Cross and not the Jesuits."
Reidy leaves the University of Portland on Feb. 4 to complete the rest of his Novitiate. He will get his cell phone back in August when he is ordained.
Though you may not be able to date Pat Reidy, in his time at UP this seminarian has made is clear that friendly conversation is always welcome.
Reidy will have office hours every
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
in the Pilot House office.
All conversation is welcome.
