By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
October 23, 2003

The family of the late, Bernard Reilly, a retired Sioux City firefighter and avid stamp collector, donated a framed collection of Vatican stamps to the Diocese of Sioux City.

"Since his passing, we decided as a family to donate it to the diocese," said Marti Reilly, the son of Bernard, who died on Aug. 29, 2003. "I think that's what my dad would have wanted."

He collected all different kinds of stamps. He started collecting Vatican stamps with Bishop Joseph M. Mueller in the early 60s. Bishop Mueller had received the stamps on letters in correspondence with the Vatican.

"When Bishop Mueller went to the Vatican, he knew that my dad had an interest in philatelic, which is stamp collecting," said Marti Reilly. "He was a philatelic collector and so was Bishop Mueller, so they started an exchange. They traded stamps between the two of them."

The frame was created by Bernard himself and displays the stamps along with pictures in commemoration of the Ecumenical Council. In the frame, three pictures are present - one of Pope John XXIII, one of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and one of Pope Paul VI.

Different headings portray the various origin sites of the stamps. There are 17 stamps under the Paraguay heading, two under the Italy heading, eight under the Vatican City heading, 34 under the Panama heading, two under the Spain, Colombia and Brazil headings, four under the Venezuela heading and one under the Argentina and Monaco headings.

Bernard never actually visited the Vatican. He just received the stamps through Bishop Mueller's travels and letters the bishop received.

"Mr. Reilly's collection depicts Vatican history from a unique perspective," said Jim Wharton, director of stewardship and planned giving for the Diocese of Sioux City. "We appreciate his generosity and know that our visitors will appreciate the impressive collection he created."

The display will be hung on the second floor of the Chancery building in Sioux City. Marti's wife Mary Jo delivered the framed stamps to the Chancery earlier this month.

The frame was on display in the past when Bernard worked for the Chancery. According to his son, Bernard worked for the Chancery for around 20 years.

He was the groundskeeper and assisted the housekeepers in the two houses when they were on Nebraska Street. Bernard also cleaned offices and did other maintenance work for the Chancery, the Chancery annex, the Globe and the Catholic Charities offices at the time. There were the four buildings and the two houses that he helped with, noted Marti.

Bernard was a firefighter in Sioux City for 27 and a half years and retired Jan. 2, 1985. He and his wife Lenice, who is now living in the Westwood Nursing Home in Sioux City, were long-time members of the Cathedral of the Epiphany. He transferred about 15 years ago to Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City.