By Mary Stadnyk | News Editor

The good and faithful servant theme reverberated time and again during the March 9 Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, for Retired Bishop John C. Reiss, a man widely known for his simplistic lifestyle, depth of spirituality and sense of humor.

The Mass began with a stately procession with dozens of deacons, some 160 priests and several bishops, solemnly walking into the cathedral as the Diocesan Festival Choir led the assembly in the singing of “We Walk by Faith.” Along with Bishop O’Connell, who was principal celebrant of the Mass, other bishops were friends and colleagues of Bishop Reiss: Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith, who served as Bishop Reiss’ coadjutor, and Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of the Diocese of Buffalo and former Trenton auxiliary bishop, who was homilist. Also present were Archbishop Emeritus Peter L. Gerety of Newark; Archbishop Emeritus Donald J. Reece of Kingston, Jamaica; Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Dominic A. Marconi of Newark; Bishop Emeritus James C. Timlin of Scranton, Pa., and Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, current bishop of Metuchen, whose diocese was split off from the Diocese of Trenton in 1981 during Bishop Reiss’ episcopacy.

The majority of the concelebrating priests currently serve in parishes in the diocese and there were a good number of priests who had been ordained priests by Bishop Reiss.  There were also priests from the Metuchen Diocese who had served under Bishop Reiss.

Seated in the first several pews were Bishop Reiss’ nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, including Peggy Ferraina, who was Bishop Reiss’ caregiver. There was also a presence of women religious, current staff from the Diocesan Chancery and other diocesan agencies, Catholic schools and parishes, and former diocesan employees who had worked with Bishop Reiss when he was an auxiliary bishop and the diocese’s chief shepherd from 1980-1997.

Congressman Chris Smith (R-4), who is a native of the diocese and a member of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, was also in the assembly. As a prolife congressman, Congressman Smith and Bishop Reiss had occasion to interact at various diocesan respect life events.

The readings proclaimed were from Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9:  “He will destroy death forever;” Romans 6:3-9: “…We too might live in newness of life,” and St. Luke’s Gospel: “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.” (Lk. 22:43-46, 50, 52-53, 24:1-6a). Members of Bishop Reiss’ family participated in the Offertory Procession.

Loving Tribute

Bishop Kmiec, who was ordained to the episcopacy by Bishop Reiss in 1982  and served as auxiliary bishop of Trenton for 10 years before he was named bishop of the Nashville Diocese, provided a reflective homily about the man he had come to regard as being a “longtime mentor and friend.”

“He was a great bishop and truly a best friend with whom I shared many blessed and happy years of priesthood,” Bishop Kmiec said.

“Bishop John was a gentle shepherd,” Bishop Kmiec said.

Bishop Kmiec recounted highlights of Bishop Reiss’ 17-year tenure as bishop of Trenton: the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the diocese in 1980 which occurred several months after Bishop Reiss had been installed as the eighth bishop of Trenton. He also referred to the leadership Bishop Reiss demonstrated when the then-eight-county diocese was split to form two dioceses – the new Metuchen Diocese and the Trenton Diocese. Two major projects that Bishop Kmiec had worked closely with Bishop Reiss on were the Fourth Diocesan Synod and the Faith in Service campaign.

Reflecting on Bishop Reiss’ episcopal motto, “Let Us Love One Another,” Bishop Kmiec said: “Not only did Bishop Reiss choose ‘Let Us Love One Another’ as his episcopal motto” when he was ordained a bishop, “he also did his best to live that motto out.”

Well Remembered

There were quite a few smiles and even some chuckles as sentiments about the eighth bishop of Trenton were recounted after the Mass.

Archbishop Reece said he came to know Bishop Reiss and the Diocese of Trenton through their mutual friend – Msgr. Joseph C. Shenrock, more than 15 years ago. At the time, Msgr. Shenrock was pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting, and then-Bishop Reece was bishop of the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre. Bishop Reiss asked Bishop Reece if he would help with administering the Sacrament of Confirmation in parishes anytime he came to Trenton, a request now Archbishop Reece said he happily and willingly obliged for many years.

“What struck me about the man were his simplicity, humility and joviality,” said Bishop Reece. “We meshed quite well.”

Working as Bishop Reiss’ secretary in the Diocesan Chancery, Ruth Bartasawitz said she witnessed his kindness first-hand.

“If there was anyone who had a problem,” whether it was someone in the Chancery or if someone came in from the outside to see the bishop, “he did whatever he could to try and help,” said Bartasawitz.

 “He loved being with people and the people, I think, loved him.”

Deacon Jack Vassallo of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, said when he passed by the open casket before the funeral Mass, he focused on Bishop Reiss’ prayerfully clasped hands.

“It brought back memories of my ordination day when I placed my hands in his” during the ordination rite, said Deacon Vassallo, who was ordained in May, 1980, a few weeks after Bishop Reiss had become the diocese’s new chief shepherd.

“I could not help but think that those hands were my connection back to the apostles,” said Deacon Vassallo. “That was a very sobering thought for me.”

Following the Mass of Christian Burial, the bishops and priests gathered outside in front of the cathedral and sang the traditional “Salve Regina” (“Hail, Holy Queen”), a hymn of praise to the Blessed Mother, as Bishop Reiss’ casket emerged through the cathedral doors.

Following the Mass, a Procession to the Place of Committal was led to St. Mary Cemetery, Hamilton, where Bishop Reiss was buried.