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In the early 60’s, Seminary students were largely sequestered from the rest of the world, and were allowed only a few hours a month outside of the structured daily life of prayer, study, meditation, and a traditional curriculum that had not changed considerably in decades. However, as the 60’s marched on, both the Catholic Church, and society as a whole, experienced a shift. Vatican II had the effect of loosening the tight rules governing the seminary and, suddenly, students had the opportunity to not only study a more diverse subject base, but to also apply their principles in the communities around them.
It was during this time of upheaval and change, that the young seminary student met one of the most influential people on his emerging world view, Father Eugene Boyle, who was chair of the Archdiocesan Committee on Social Justice, and a close friend and ally of United Farm Workers union founder Cesar Chavez.
"There was a tremendous amount of change in society, from the reforms of Vatican II, to the civil rights movements of Dr. [Martin Luther] King and Cesar Chavez, to the student movement at Cal. It was really an amazing time to come of age," recounts Reilly.
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