REDEMPTORIST priest Fr Gerry Reynolds was remembered last night at a memorial lecture in north Belfast.
The event at the Synagogue on Somerton Road was organised by the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) in honour of Fr Reynolds' "tireless work".
The 82-year-old, who was based at Clonard Monastery in west Belfast for more than 30 years, passed away in November following a short illness.
Born in Limerick, Fr Reynolds arrived when the Troubles were still raging in the early 1980s and dedicated the next three decades of his ministry to working for peace and reconciliation.
The popular cleric was best known for his work to reach out to other denominations, as well as supporting fellow Redemptorist Fr Alec Reid in secret talks between Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and SDLP leader John Hume at the birth of the peace process.
The theme of last night's memorial lecture was 'Reconciliation and Forgiveness'.
Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Rev Ken Newell and Rabbi David Singer were among the speakers at the lecture.
Ed Peterson, co-ordinator of peace and reconciliation at Clonard, last night said the memorial lecture was a way of honouring Fr Reynolds.
"Fr Gerry had served on the committee of the Council of Christians and Jews for over 20 years," he said.
"He was also a founding member of the council's Northern Ireland branch, hence the event was a way to honour the commitment Fr Gerry had.
"Many people would have known Fr Gerry for his unity of Christians and for his peace work.
"But this was another part of his life and he was very much committed to the council."
