Bishop Reiss | Biography

Born: November 11, 1940
Ordained Priest: June 4, 1966
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Remesiana: July 7, 2003
Ordained Bishop: August 12, 2003
Retired: November 11, 2015

Bishop Francis Ronald Reiss (pronounced Rees) was born in Hamtramck on November 11, 1940, and grew up in southwest Detroit at St. Stephen Parish. He is the oldest of the three children of the late Joseph and Emily Reiss.

Bishop Reiss attended St. Stephen Elementary School, Detroit, and graduated from St. Andrew High School, Detroit, prior to entering the semi-nary. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1966, at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Detroit.

Bishop Reiss studied at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; the University of Detroit; St. John’s Provincial Seminary, Plymouth; and the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

Bishop Reiss holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in philosophy from Sacred Heart Seminary College; a Master of Arts (MA) in religious studies from the University of Detroit; a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in administration from the University of Detroit; a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from St. John's Provincial Seminary; and a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Bishop Reiss has had a variety of assignments in parish ministry, campus ministry, canon law and education. His many assignments include campus minister at the University of Michigan, Dearborn, and Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn; dean of admissions and academic dean of the School of Theology of Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; defender of the bond, Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Detroit; director of the Department of Education of the Archdiocese of Detroit; and pastor of Holy Ghost Parish, Detroit, St. Mary Parish, Port Huron, and SS. Peter and Paul (Westside), Detroit. From 1998 until October 31, 2003, he served as pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park.

Bishop Reiss was consecrated on August 12, 2003, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. He retired on November 11, 2015.