Funeral services for Cardinal William J. Levada, who died Sept. 26 in Rome at age 83, will be held Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, with Santa Fe, New Mexico, Archbishop John Wester as homilist. Doors open at 9:30.
Visitation, also at the cathedral, is scheduled Oct. 23 from 5-7 p.m., with a 45-minute vigil at 7. Bishop Stephen Lopes of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter will preside and give the homily.
The Vatican held a funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica the day after Cardinal Levada’s unexpected death, with Pope Francis presiding at the committal. The cathedral funeral will fulfill the cardinal’s wishes to hold a funeral Mass in the archdiocese.
The pope joined brother bishops and fellow clergy in remembering Cardinal Levada for his influence and example. Many highlighted his dedication to church unity, his work ethic and his pastoral spirit seasoned in service as archbishop of Portland, Oregon, and later San Francisco – qualities that recommended him to Pope Benedict XVI for one of the Vatican’s most high-profile jobs, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in 2005.
Pope Francis sent “heartfelt condolences” to Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and the people of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and remembered with “immense gratitude the late cardinal’s years of priestly and episcopal ministry among Christ’s flock in Los Angeles, Portland and San Francisco, his singular contributions to catechesis, education and administration, and his distinguished service to the Apostolic See.”
Full story at Catholic SF.
An interesting ‘dramatis personae’ for the vigil and funeral Mass. One can only wonder where the current ABP will be.
Looks as thought Archbishop Wester is just the homilist and not the celebrant. I would guess Archbishop Cordileone will celebrate the mass.
Had the wonderful and immense work experience having served as Cardinal Levada’s fund raising consultant and later for six years as his chief public relations and development officer. We did three major capital campaigns one for retired priests retirement one for Catholic education and finally for the restoration of St.Mary’s Cathedral as part of the 159 celebration of the founding of the Archdiocese.