North Country Catholic Newspaper

Massena pastor honored for military service

May 28, 2025

Father Mark R. Reilly, pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Massena and dean of the St. Lawrence Deanery, was recently awarded the LeMoyne College Ignatian Award, Daniel J. Mulhauser, S.J.,Veterans Service.

The award recognizes exceptional support to the veteran and/or military community.

The college highlighted Father Reilly having “dedicated his life to service, both to his country and to the Church.”

The college went on to explain why Father Reilly, a 1985 graduate of the school, received the award.

“A native of Syracuse, Father Reilly enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps while beginning his studies at Le Moyne. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served in active duty from 1986 to 1992 as a helicopter pilot, including combat service during the first Gulf War.

Answering a new calling, Father Reilly entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and was ordained a Catholic priest in August 1997. His ministry began at St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, New York, as parochial vicar and assistant pastor, before moving on to serve as a teacher and spiritual director at Immaculate Heart Central Junior/Senior High School in Watertown, New York.

His deep commitment to faith and country endured, and in 2005 he was recalled to active duty, serving with the Marine Corp as a Navy chaplain at forward operating bases in Iraq during the second Gulf War. In 2012, he again answered the call of service as a Navy chaplain at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa. In 2014, Father Reilly officially retired from military service. His military decorations reflect a distinguished career, including the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal, among others. In his diocesan ministry, Father Reilly has led several parishes and was appointed pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Massena, New York, in 2018. Since 2019, he has also served as dean of the St. Lawrence Deanery, promoting and coordinating pastoral work across the Diocese of Ogdensburg. He is a member of the board of directors for Operation Grateful Nation, which supports Veterans in Northern New York.”