 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 250 to 4,500 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. In 1988 Fr. Reiser began holding the
Perpetual Adoration of the Holy Eucharist, which signifies Jesus Christ
as the center the faith and now Minnesota has one of the
most Adoration chapels in America.
(Pastor Emeritus), 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.
Father Reiser has been helping with the building of the Village of
Jesus, a community near Port Au Prince, Haiti
for homeless women that
has a dining hall, laundry, community building and homes. "You
can’t see people living in poverty and just walk away," said Reiser
about his work in Haiti.
Fr. Riser served the people of the Epiphany church for 37years Reiser
has been a priest for 55 years. He retired briefly for four years, but
came out of retirement to become the Spiritual Advisor at St. Nicholas
in New Market Minnesota.
"I don’t intend to retire," he said.
"As long as I can work I will. As
long as you can work why sit around gathering dust."
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