Tennessee priest to speak in Ebensburg on journey back to faith

From Wall Street to the priesthood, a Tennessee priest will speak at an Ebensburg church on his journey back to the faith.

The Very Rev. Daniel Reehil, VF, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in Columbia, Tennessee, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Holy Name Roman Catholic Church, 500 N. Julian St., Ebensburg.

The Rev. Brian Warchola, Holy Name pastor, said he learned of Reehil during a Lenten presentation at which the priest was discussed.

"Father Dan was very intriguing to me," he said. "He was a Wall Street banker, married at one time, lived a very extravagant life, and then had a conversion experience to come back to the church."

In 1998, Reehil made a pilgrimage to the village of Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he experienced a conversion after being away from the church for 20 years.

The seeds of his vocation were planted when the priest who heard his 20-year confession told him that he believed he had a vocation to the priesthood.

"He will say that God allows horrible things to take place so ultimately good can come from them," Warchola said. "All these years later, he's able to go around the country and world to help bring peace and healing to people."

Reehil also serves as exorcist for the Diocese of Nashville.

"He will share his vocational story, from growing up Catholic to going to Wall Street, being married, coming back to the church and his experiences as a seminarian prior to being ordained," Warchola said. "He also speaks on his work as an exorcist."

A question-and-answer session will follow each presentation.

"I hope people can be more educated on the influence of evil on the world and how we can turn back to almighty God," Warchola said.

The event is free and open to the public. A free will offering will be accepted.