St. Peter Church has new head priest

Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 10, 2010

By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Newly appointed head pastor for St. Peter Catholic Church in Reserve, the Rev. Martin Smullen, started his tenure at the Reserve church this past week with a bang…literally.

“My first order of business was the invocation for the parish’s Fourth of July festivities outside the church,” Smullen said. “It was a good family experience and a good way to start my time off here right.”

Ordained in 1982, Smullen, 57, has spent all of his days as a clergyman living and working at churches and communities in the New Orleans area. He has manned churches in St. Bernard, New Orleans, Metairie and now St. John the Baptist Parish.

“It has all been extremely fulfilling, life giving and enjoyable,” Smullen said. “The people are passionate about their faith and really embrace it.”

Smullen, born and raised in Dublin, Ireland – which is immediately made apparent by his light Irish brogue – said a strong connection with his faith drove him to enter the seminary in Ireland just after high school.

After just a few years of study he walked away, but three years later his thoughts changed and he returned to seminary study. But he was forced to look elsewhere.

“After I left that first time, there was a policy in place that said anyone who leaves the seminary isn’t allowed to re-apply,” Smullen said. “I was presented with other dioceses and I learned that a large majority of priests from Dublin were being sent to New Orleans. I felt that there would be a camaraderie among us in going there. It was still a real act of faith.”

Smullen said the Catholic Church in the States, specifically in New Orleans, draws many comparisons to how things are in Ireland. He said both communities face similar crises when it comes to vocations, declining numbers and even relevance.

“There is that same challenge and need to reach out to the people and, as clergymen, insert ourselves into the community more,” Smullen said. “It is our duty to let the people know they are cared for. It is also our challenge to make vocations more attractive to more people.”

In taking over at St. Peter, Smullen marks his return to head pastor status after a brief retirement since 1999, when he was head pastor at St. Monica’s Church in uptown New Orleans and St. Simon Peter Church in New Orleans East. He applied to become head pastor as soon as it became available.

“When priests make moves it usually comes down to where you can best serve or where you are most needed,” Smullen said. “But you also must be willing to make the move. St. Peter just seemed like the right fit, so here I am.”

In the short time he has spent getting to know his parishioners, Smullen compared the church community to a close-knit family, all very solid about their faith.

“Take the Fourth of July celebration as an example,” Smullen said. “I was shocked by the size of it. It was like a mini carnival celebration, but there was a great family atmosphere. It was a very happy day.”