 by
Kare 11 News Reporter Jeff Olson
Photojournalist Kare 11 News Deb Lyngdahl
Updated: 1/27/2011 10:47:01 PM
Fr. Bernard Reiser: Eleven Who Care Winner
COON
RAPIDS, Minn. -- Father Bernard Reiser of the Church of the
Epiphany has been honored by KARE 11 with a 2011 Eleven Who Care
award.
Bernard Reiser was born in 1924 to
farmers Aloys and Otillia Reiser.
"She, a very kindly gentle individual," Father Reiser said, describing
his parents. "He was a strong, deliberate person."
Father Reiser says his parents have been the inspiration for  his life's
work. "Know where you're going, what you're doing and what you're
about. I've brought that into my priesthood."
Ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1949, Father Reiser was assigned
to a parish in White Bear Lake. In 1964, he was asked to start a new
parish in the fast-developing city of Coon Rapids.
"I'll never forget it," Father Reiser said. "We sat down out in what is
the parking lot and I said, 'Gentlemen I'm going to lay out the
future.'"
His vision for The Church of the Epiphany went way beyond just a place
of worship. Father Reiser wanted to create an entire campus that
would offer services for young and old alike.
"Every time he brought it up, there would be people in the church that
would say, we can't afford it," said Doris Schulte, a charter member of
Epiphany Church. "Father would say, 'watch me,' and he would get
it done."
He got all of it done. In 2011 Epiphany is one of the largest
Catholic communities in the state. In addition to a spacious
church, there is an elementary school, senior housing and an assisted
living facility.
"They all pitched in and were
generous," Father Reiser said of members
of Epiphany Church.
It was a job well done for a priest whose work was far from
finished.
Kare 11 News
Anchor Julie Nelson holding up a "Reiser's Ramblings" book by
Father Bernard Reiser
A 1996 trip to Haiti would give Father Reiser a new mission.
"His heart was broken wide open," Schulte said.
 Father
Reiser says the Haitian trip brought him face to face with the
worst suffering he's ever seen.
"Everywhere I went, it was unreal. They had no fresh water, they had no
food," Father Reiser explained. "And I said, you can't walk away
from misery and do nothing."
Father Reiser returned to Coon Rapids and started a charity called Reiser Relief, Inc. Soon the
non-profit group had a truck on the ground in Haiti delivering
thousands of gallons of fresh water to residents.
"They come running with their buckets. They are always so happy," said
Shelley Mannella, a mission coordinator with Reiser Relief.
Kare 11 News
Anchor Team
Belinda
Jensen - Mike Pomeranz - Julie Nelson
Thanks to support from Father's friends, Reiser Relief's efforts in
Haiti now include regular food and water delivery. Schools, an
orphanage and senior housing are also being developed.
"He's making a huge difference," Mannella said.
"He touches lives wherever he goes. He's blessed u s all," Schulte
added.
A fundraiser for Reiser Relief, Inc. will be held on Tuesday,
April
26th 2011 in Andover. There will be an auction, raffle,
music
and more. Find more information on the Reiser Relief, Inc.
website.
Father Reiser has also written a book to help raise money for his
charity. All the proceeds from
the sale of "Reiser's
Ramblings"
go to Haitian relief efforts. Find more information on the Reiser
Relief, Inc.
website.
 Minneapolis/St.
Paul, MN – January 25, 2011
Reiser Relief is pleased to announce that
President and Founder of Reiser Relief Inc., Father Bernard Reiser is
the recipient of the 2011 Eleven Who Care award.
KARE 11 Television of Minneapolis and Saint Paul Minnesota created The
Eleven Who Care program that started 27 years ago to recognize the
outstanding volunteers that serve our community with overall spirit of
community volunteerism.
Kare
11 Today News Anchor Diana Pierce with Fr. Reiser
Each year hundreds of volunteers are nominated for the award and the
Eleven Who Care Board of Governors select the eleven to be honored. The
honorees represent the variety of opportunities available in our
community. They truly exemplify the belief that one person can make a
difference.
Fr. Reiser is a long-time resident of Coon Rapids, MN and has been a
priest 61 years,
Ordained in 1949, attended St. Paul Seminary. Fr. Reiser was an
associate Pastor of Saint Mary of the Lake, White Bear Lake for 15
years; Founding Pastor of Epiphany Parish in Coon Rapids for 46 years.
In 1964, Father Bernard Reiser founded the Church of the Epiphany in
Coon Rapids, Minnesota. He bought 70 acres of farm land and it grew
from 150 to 5000 families and adding grade school for kindergarten
through eighth grade. Epiphany church is one of the largest parishes in
the archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Father Reiser’s many years of service have reached far beyond the
bounds of the parish into all surrounding communities touching lives.
Literally thousands and thousands of individuals and families have been
pulled from the depths of despair because of Father Reiser’s devotion
of time, energy, money and with values of love and respect for every
single person. His compassion and humanity has been an inspiration many
all over the world. Everyone counts, to this excellent shepherd. The
rich, the poor, the sinner, the winner. He is the face of God, to all
he meets.
Reiser Relief Inc. was formed by Fr. Reiser and since its beginnings;
Reiser Relief is committed to providing essential services to aid in
day-to-day survival to the impoverished people of the Caribbean country
of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The services
Reiser Relief provides include: fresh water, food centers, education,
and eldercare facilities. Many outreach projects are in or near
Cité Soleil; the suburb of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
Everyone who meets Fr. Reiser can easily see a kind and compassionate
man focused on a principle, to serve others. Working on worthwhile
projects and a commitment to making a difference with his spirited
leadership and trust in God, that creates an atmosphere that many
others will join in to help. He is the personification of the good
shepherd and his contributions provide inspiration to everyone who
crosses his path.
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Watch
Father Reiser's - Kare 11 News - Eleven Who Care Video
Portait Painting by - Artist Mark
Sanislo
Kare11
Sunrise News Anchor
Tim McNiff & Kim Insley
and Vice President Doris Schulte Reiser Relief Inc
Rev.
Bernard Reiser named one of ‘Eleven Who Kare’
January 26, 2011 11:26 am
ABCnewspapers
by Sue Austreng
Staff writer
Ever since stepping foot on the island country of Haiti, Rev. Bernard
Reiser has dedicated countless hours of fervent prayer and diligent
activities to help bring hope to Haiti, providing fresh water, feeding
the hungry, building an orphanage and eldercare facilities and funding
primary schools in the impoverished country.
NBC affiliate Kare 11 New
Television
Minneapolis Saint Paul Minnesota
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