Fr. Reiser

Our itinerary yesterday was varied: morning Mass, caring for sick and dying babies, playing with orphans, cleaning a room at an orphanage, dressing wounds at a wound clinic.  And woven in and out of moments as volunteers serving in Christ's name are moments of connecting with Haitians and each other and building relationships.

A team member yesterday told me a touching story of how Fr. Reiser ministered to her in the last few years of his life.  He did all he could, and when that didn't satisfy the need, he gave her a blessing that allowed her to carry on.

Stories like this flood my soul with gratitude and set my path straight.  Watching the Catholic sisters here and other missionaries who dedicate their lives to service set my path straight.  Watching my team members transform and struggle with how to respond to the needs in Haiti and at home set my path straight.

Tonight for our devotion time I read an entry from "Reiser's Ramblings" to our team.  This is a book published by Fr. Reiser and Reiser Relief that is a collection of columns Fr. Reiser wrote over his years in the priesthood.  All profits from the sale of the book go to Haitian relief efforts.  A team member asked me to publish this particular 'rambling' on the blog:

"Jesus is the model for all volunteers.

Who was the greatest volunteer who ever walked this great earth?  None other than Jesus Christ, the great Galilean.  He gave His all for the good of each and every one of us.  From one end of Palestine to the other, He walked with the twelve apostles and everywhere He went, He gave of Himself for the needs of others.  The driving force within was an uncompromising love.

Jesus is the model for all volunteers, the spirit of doing for others, not because one has to, but because one wants to, reaching out to the needs of others, to make this a better world.  Serving others because the rewards are not necessarily found here on earth but in the great Kingdom beyond the stars where a hundredfold is measured out in reward.

Churches and many institutions could not carry out many of the ministries or missions if it were not for their volunteers.  Here at Epiphany, volunteers have made Epiphany what it is: a thriving, healthy, vibrant Christian community.

Over these past twenty-four years, tens of thousands of dedicated parishioners have made Christ a living reality in our community.  Their names are beyond numbering, but the Lord knows who they are.

The great Galilean walks in your shoes as you use your time and talents to extend His Kingdom."

Peace,
Joyce