We invite readers to send short stories about the ways in which their lives have been personally blessed by the life and work of priests and religious in our diocese.

By Karina Fabian

Father Gary Reller was ordained in 1971 after graduating from St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colo. His first assignments were as associate pastor to St Peter’s in Anaconda, St. Matthew’s in Kalispell and the Cathedral of St. Helena. He has been the pastor of Risen Christ Parish in Kalispell, St. Ann Parish in Butte, Immaculate Conception Parish in Polson, Sacred Heart Parish in Ronan and St. Joseph Mission in Charlo.

In addition, he has served in many diocesan and national organizations, including the National Federation of Priests’ Councils, the Permanent Deacon Program, the National Association of Diocesan Ecumenical Officers, the Montana Association of Churches, the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal, the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council, and the Diocesan Finance Council and Building Commission.

One of his favorite assignments was in Kalispell, where he helped build the church at Risen Christ Parish. “Everyone was enthused and excited to get things going,” he remembered.

Community building went fairly easily, but the brick-and-mortar building was more challenging, especially getting enough committed funds to finance the project. Renting office and worship space from a local Lutheran church helped though, as it bought them time. In the end, the church was paid off in 20 years, he said with pride.

Another favorite assignment was as executive director of the National Federation of Priests’ Councils, where he spent two years traveling the country, speaking at various priest council functions, and organizing the national convention. It gave him a broader view of the Church and of how the needs of the Church vary with location.

He was especially struck by the differences between the east coast, where heavily populated areas would have parishes of several thousand, versus the more rural dioceses like Helena. “They would struggle to assign one priest for every 2,000 families. I don’t even think we had a parish of 2,000 families, yet we, too, had a priest shortage,” he said.

One of his longest-standing roles has been with the National Association of Diocesan Ecumenical Officers. He enjoys seeing the commonalities as well as the differences in the needs, traditions and histories of various faiths. “It’s a broadening experience,” he said.

Overall, he feels a critical role of the priest is to provide a centering point for the parish. “A priest’s role is to guide us in the way of the Universal Church while keeping in mind the ideals that others may have. It can be a tricky balance,” he said. “There are a lot of people pulling in a lot of differing directions, and we must strike a balance in which all people can worship and grow spiritually.”


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 20, No. 9, September 17, 2004.