Thursday, June 7, 2012

Reiser’s Ramblings WINNER of the 2012 Indie Excellence Award

June 4, 2012 -- Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America (June 4th, 2012) Reiser Relief Inc is excited to announce that our late founder, Fr. Bernard Reiser was honored in one of the most prestigious national contests for independently published works, The National Indie Excellence Awards, a Contest Recognizing Outstanding Independently Published Books. “Reiser’s Ramblings” by Fr, Reiser has been selected the WINNER of the 2012 Indie Excellence Award in the category of Religion-Non-Fiction.


This is the second award in less than 30 days!” noted Ann Brau - Reiser Relief President and niece of author Fr, Reiser “It’s sure nice to see his words continuing to inspire others and I’m sure Father would find the recognition to be both humbling and heartwarming. It gives me huge solace to see his work selected for this honor.”

Winners and finalists of the awards were announced on May 29, 2011. The National Indie Excellence Book Awards competition is judged by independent experts from all aspects of the indie book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters.

They select award winners and finalists based on overall excellence of presentation. This award celebrates the highest achievements in independent press and self-publishing, a sector of the industry that has grown exponentially in recent years. For a complete list of the honorees visit: http://www.indieexcellence.com/indie-results-2012.htm

Comments from Artist Mark Sanislo: “The portrait of Father on the cover of his book was originally painted and unveiled in 1999 for his 50th jubilee celebration to the priesthood, and today, June 4th is his anniversary date.

Father Reiser was my pastor for most of my lifetime. In his last years not only was he a great confidant but a dear friend. So it was a great honor for me to paint his portrait and will rank as a favorite among the many portraits I have painted.


As part of the commission process Father helped in the portrait design by offering his input with his choices in the color of his vestment, the pose and the background. His choices were a reflection of who he was and it comes through in the portrait. His choice a red vestment was purely out of preference for the color but we know from Christian art that red represents Pentecost, fire excitement and suffering.

The stained glass windows in the background of the painting are the windows from inside Epiphany Catholic Church. In the painting they are painted in a different order then how they are in the church. We chose to feature Father’s two favorite windows: The Resurrection window and The Epiphany window and to position them prominently in the painting.

Father also chose the pose in the most humble way he wanted to be, standing with his hands folded. I miss Father Reiser greatly but I know he's working hard for us in Gods heavenly kingdom. True to form he still won't be retiring and congratulate him for his award winning book.”



About the book 
“Reiser’s Ramblings” is a collection of daily/weekly meditations/devotions ~ daily reflections from the best columns written over the past three decades by Fr. Bernard Reiser, former pastor of Epiphany  Parish in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. From farm living to an eternity in Heaven, Fr. Reiser brings together a wonderful collection of Christian spiritual “ramblings” that all of us can take to heart. We end up with a lovely book of short, easily read reminiscences and edifying stories and thoughts, with each column titled. The reader is meant ponder the spiritual message and meaning in each column and how, or if, it applies to each individual life. The writings talk of his growing up in a farming family, to teaching you how to start and continue having a relationship with God, and the people around you.
The columns in the book are separated into six sections: Early Life and Key Influences; The Wonder of God's Creation; Our Place in God's World; Counting Our Blessings; God's Grace at Work Within Us; All Eyes on Heaven. Each column is titled and short. So we end up with reminiscences and a lovely book of short, easily read edifying stories and thoughts.

About the Author:
Father Bernard Reiser was born in 1924 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1949. His first was assigned to St. Mary of the Lake parish in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. In 1964, Archbishop Leo Binz asked Father Reiser to start a parish in the quickly-growing Minneapolis suburb of Coon Rapids located in Anoka County

Under Father Reiser’s leadership, Epiphany grew to become one of the largest Catholic communities in the state. In addition to a spacious sanctuary, the Epiphany campus includes an elementary school, a Perpetual Adoration chapel, a senior housing complex, an assisted living facility, a cemetery, and several outdoor shrines. While being retired he volunteered his time to parishes in and around the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

Reiser Relief Inc. a volunteer run non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded by Father Reiser, who has been involved with Haiti outreach programs for over 13 years; Bringing Hope To Haiti. Reiser Relief is based in Coon Rapids, MN and its mission is to help the impoverished people of the Caribbean country of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. President Ann Brau will be providing a letter in the near future of her mission trip in Haiti, along with updates on the website.

Reiser’s Ramblings Author: Fr. Bernard Reiser. Publisher: Reiser Relief Inc. Publication Date: June 2010. Genres: Christian Living › Faith, Spirituality › Inspirational, Catholicism › Self Help. Editor: Jacqueline Hilgert, Illustrator: Mark Sanislo ISBN: 978-0-615-36478-0. Paperback: 268pp. Retail Price: $16.95.

“Reiser’s Ramblings” is available online at http://www.reiserrelief.org/ and Minnesota retail locations: Epiphany Catholic Church Gift Center, Coon Rapids; St. George Catholic Books, Blaine; St. Maximilian Catholic Books, Elk River; Heaven Bound Catholic Books, St. Michael; Saint Patrick's Guild, St. Paul, St Olaf Church, Minneapolis.