By Lois Rogers | Features Editor

As family, friends and clergy gathered for the Votive Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral March 8, Bishop John Charles Reiss was remembered as a man of deep faith, vast spiritual resources, affection for the laity and, most of all, the priests who served alongside him in ministering to the Diocese of Trenton.

The Mass, celebrated by Bishop Reiss' immediate successor, Bishop John M. Smith, was concelebrated by former Auxiliary Bishop of Trenton, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, now bishop of Buffalo, N.Y., and more than 30 diocesan priests. Presiding were Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., and Archbishop John J. Myers of the Newark Archdiocese. Deacons from parishes around the diocese and diocesan seminarians were also in attendance.

In a tender and touching homily, Msgr. Leonard F. Troiano, pastor of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, Lavallette, who served Bishop Reiss in a number of capacities during his 17-year episcopacy, spoke of the way his late mentor and friend had carried his responsibilities "humbly and humanly" as he cared for the "flock God had entrusted to him."

In helping to carry out Bishop Reiss' initiatives on several large projects, including the Fourth Diocesan Synod in 1991, the consolidation of diocesan offices and the building of the Diocesan Pastoral Center, Msgr. Troiano said he "grew to deeply respect and to trust him.

"I realized that everything he did came out of a deliberate and well thought out vision for the diocese," said Msgr. Troiano. "His approach was always logical, methodical and practical."

Msgr. Troiano spoke of Bishop Reiss' clear and beautiful faith and his devotion to the Eucharist as the source of it. "Bishop Reiss recognized a two-fold dimension in the Eucharist – for him it was a source of spiritual sustenance; and secondarily, the way to solidify his relationship with his priests and the people of the diocese.”

"Understanding that Baptism brought life to the Church, he believed deeply that the Eucharist fed and nourished that life – not only the individual, but the entire Church," said Msgr. Troiano. "As the Church's source of nourishment, it keeps the Church alive at all levels – universal, parochial and diocesan.

"Through it, the Church and its members flourish, and are able to serve and to evangelize the people entrusted to its bishop. He saw the Eucharist as the life blood of the diocese," said Msgr. Troiano, who recalled that Bishop Reiss celebrated the Eucharist every day and, as part of his spiritual exercises, kept a daily hour of Eucharistic adoration. "In the Eucharist, he found solace or comfort when faced with controversy, and in moments when problems seemed daunting," Msgr. Troiano offered.

He went on to speak of Bishop Reiss' concern for the spiritual well-being of the priests, tending to them like a shepherd, always evidencing great care for them and respect for their service and dedication. "He introduced a program to build priestly spirituality and fraternity. It was called Emmaus and was based on the Gospel passage of two disciples walking together on the road and their Eucharistic encounter with the Risen Christ and the breaking of bread," Msgr. Troiano said.

Before the Mass began, many of the priests in attendance recalled Bishop Reiss' solicitude for them. Father Daniel F. Swift, pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, remembered how, at his priestly ordination, Bishop Reiss had spent time, before Mass began, praying before the Blessed Sacrament. To this day, Father Swift said, he values the vision of the bishop praying for his priests.

And the bishop also saw himself as a servant of the laity and built for them a framework for the diocese that has stood the test of time.

"What he built and the programs he established were not meant to be shrines to him or a testimony to his personal greatness, but rather, vehicles of evangelization, ways of making the corporal works of mercy a reality, and of building in the four counties of this local church," Father Swift stressed.

Bishop Reiss’ keen sense of humor, compassion and easy-going nature were what family members, caregivers, diocesan employees and friends talked about.

Irene Kulak, who met Bishop Reiss when she was a 14-year-old student working part-time at the diocesan chancery and later worked there full-time, struck up a friendship with then-Father Reiss that spanned the decades. “We maintained a friendship over the years. I would see him at parish functions,” said Kulak who noted that both Bishop Reiss and her father were avid bowlers for the Holy Name bowling league.

“He was truly an everyday person, someone who was fun to be with.”

Those sentiments were shared by Sara and Harry R. Hill, Jr. who were married by Bishop Reiss when he was a monsignor and the pastor of St. Francis of Assisium Parish, Trenton.

Hill, who has served on numerous boards for the diocese and diocesan agencies, and his wife, recalled him as a kind and gentle man with a great sense of humor. “When I think back on our association, what I remember most was that he was a humble man.”

Almost everyone referenced his devotion to his large family, so many of whom were in attendance at the Votive Mass. One of ten children of the late Sophia and Alfred Reiss, he was remembered fondly by his niece, Margaret (Peggy) Ferraina before the Mass began.

One of the bishop’s 13 nieces and nephews, she said she had a warm and close relationship with him that extends back to her childhood. Her father died when she was only six-years-old and Bishop Reiss served as her father figure.

She reminisced about how he took her to the beach regularly, played games with her and took her to task when she’d done something wrong. And he was very much present in her life as an adult, she said.

“He married my husband and me, baptized our children and confirmed them,” she said.

As she spoke, tears trickled down her face and those of Ann San Juan and Maria del Mar, who had been his full-time caregivers at Morris Hall. “I was with him for three-and-a-half years,” said del Mar. “He was a wonderful man who liked to smile, loved jokes and I will never forget his smile.”

“From the moment I got there, till the very end, I never saw him angry or mad,” said San Juan. “To me, he was the ideal priest.”