Unity Pilgrim: The Life Of Fr Gerry Reynolds CSsR

by Gladys Ganiel

When Limerick-born Redemptorist priest Fr Gerry Reynolds first arrived in Belfast in August 1983, it was to a city starkly divided by conflict and violence. His instinct to reach out to those who were suffering, on both sides of the community, would develop into a lifelong devotion to the cause of peace and Christian unity.

Through the friendships of the Cornerstone Community and the Clonard-Fitzroy Fellowship, his involvement in secret talks with republican and loyalist paramilitary groups, and the setting up of the ‘Unity Pilgrims’, Gerry would play a crucial role in the Northern Ireland peace process. He believed the church could be ‘God’s peace process in human history’, and that dialogue and friendship would open hearts to the mutual understanding and trust that are the foundations of true peace.

Above all, Gerry was a pilgrim, struggling in his faith, journeying with his sisters and brothers, and always striving towards the goal of Christian unity, one small step at a time. This book draws on Gerry’s own words and writings, and the recollections of his family and friends, to uncover the story of this gentle priest, pilgrim and peacemaker.

264 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Gladys Ganiel is a reader and writer of sociology of religion.

Reviews

[David Campton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I miss this man being around! A genuine saint - one who would drive you mad at times. This biography by Gladys Ganiel captures some but not all of the many initiatives that Gerry was involved with but more importantly captures the man perfectly. This is partly because it is effectively an autobiography, with Gladys carefully curating Gerry's own writings to not only narrate his life but reflect on the world in which he found himself. However while in the closing pages she describes him as a "leader" in ecumenical endeavours for decades, the rest of the book demonstrates that he was not so much a leader as a pioneer... This was not just down to something lacking on his part (leading to the earlier "failure" in Limerick) but also the infertile ground around him both within the order and in the wider church and society. He was a John the Baptist figure, but who is following along the path he prepared?