Cardinal's love for poor, Mary, Eucharist highlighted at funeral Mass

Published: 2004-11-01

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Cardinal James A. Hickey, the retired archbishop of Washington who died Oct. 24, was remembered at his funeral Mass Oct. 30 as "a friend of the poor and the champion of those in trouble" who loved the church, the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. "In his 20 years of steady, loving, dedicated and extraordinary humble service, he reminded us we were children of God and heirs of heaven," Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington said in eulogizing his predecessor. "We bless him for all the things he did for us and all the great programs he began," the cardinal said, "but more than anything else, we bless and praise the Lord for having given us this good and gentle and holy man to be our bishop, our example and our friend." Cardinal McCarrick was the principal celebrant of the late cardinal's funeral Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. About 2,000 people attended the nearly two-and-a-half-hour Mass which was concelebrated by six cardinals, more than a dozen archbishops, 35 bishops and about 250 priests.

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