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| "Pere Reiser" Pillar at the Village of Jesus |
One definition of
“legacy” is something passed down to the next generation. Our week in
Haiti has been characterized by love and service to the neighbor, namely
orphans and the elderly. These were the priorities of the founder of Reiser
Relief, Father Bernard Reiser. These priorities are being lived out through the
people whose lives he touched during his life as a priest. Since his death in
2011, still others like me, are becoming acquainted with his mission.
This week, I was fortunate to join a fabulous group led by
Fr. Reiser’s niece, Joyce Getchell. Our team includes several others who
attended the Catholic faith community he established - Church of the Epiphany
in Coon Rapids. The self-described “Epiphanites” continue to keep his memory
alive with stories and shared laughter. Their respect and gratitude for their
beloved priest is evident.
On one of our day trips, we saw a beautiful pillar dedicated
to Father Reiser at the Village of Jesus, a community of elderly women being
cared by the Catholic sisters. The buildings, community and its ministries are just
part of Fr. Reiser’s legacy in Haiti. (His commitment to education also lives
on in the establishment of several schools.)
At the Village of Jesus, our group filed in to greet Sister
Josette, one of the elderly sisters being cared for on site. After sharing
conversation, she took out her well-worn Bible. Opening it up, she showed us a
photograph of Fr. Reiser, protected by plastic. Sister Josette continues to remember
him as part of her daily life of faith, even after his death.
While I never met Fr. Reiser, it's evident he lived out of a
belief that God’s mercies were new every day of his life. His writings convey a
possibility-mindset grounded in the good news of Jesus Christ. As his niece,
Joyce, said the other day, “Who starts a non-profit when they are 70 years old?”
Our God is a God who brings life out of death. Our God is a
God who is creating new opportunities to love and serve others. As followers of
Christ, we remember our Baptism and how it connects us to Christ as God’s beloved
children.
In his life and in his death, Fr. Reiser’s legacy points to Jesus
Christ. As a recent seminary graduate and a candidate approved for ordination
in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, I find traveling in Fr. Reiser’s
footsteps to be an inspiration. In Minnesota and in Haiti, his life continues
to encourage others to intentional living: service and compassion for those who
need it the most, a possibility mindset, and a firm trust in a loving and
forgiving God. I give thanks for his life and service to the Gospel.
Janet Karvonen-Montgomery
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