Thirty bishops concelebrated Cardinal Szoka’s funeral Mass.Detroit — Looking back at the life of Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, “we see a man full of years, 86 to be exact,” said Archbishop Leonard P. Blair in his homily at the Aug. 26 funeral Mass of Cardinal Szoka.
“But by fullness of years, I’m not thinking so much about the calendar. I’m thinking more about a Michigan garden in August,” said Archbishop Blair, who had served as Cardinal Szoka’s priest-secretary during his time in Rome, and now serves the Archdiocese of Hartford, Conn.
Pall bearers escort the casket of Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka to the back of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit for the cardinal’s funeral Mass Aug. 26. More than 800 members of the faithful, 80 priests and 30 bishops attended for the liturgy.Archbishop Blair explained that he envisioned “the plants and the vines… flowers full, and fruit heavy. We bask in the fullness, the mellowness, of August, because we know that summer has reached its peak and harvest time will soon be upon us.”
“Human life, too, has its summer and harvest,” said the archbishop to the people filling the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. “And so it is with the cardinal… If we look back over those 86 years, we will see the growth, we will see the fruit. The fruit of being a good son and brother; a priest, bishop and cardinal.”
The funeral Mass was presided over by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron and concelebrated by about 100 priests, including more than two dozen bishops and cardinals.
The attending faithful included cousins, friends, neighbors and co-workers of Cardinal Szoka; sitting near the front of the cathedral were Felician sisters Sr. Mary Hiacenta, CSSF, and Sr. Mary Damiana, CSSF, who cared for the cardinal in the remaining years of his life.
Archbishop Blair highlighted three items — holy water, a white cloth and the Easter candle — present at the funeral liturgy, which served as a “momentous event” that occurred in Cardinal Szoka’s life in 1927.
These three items “are the symbols of his baptism,” said the archbishop. ““The holy water, with which his body has been sprinkled; the white funeral cloth that covers his casket, reminiscent of his baptismal gown; an Easter candle, that recalls Christ dying and rising.”
Cardinal Szoka’s biretta is placed on a table, alongside his cosier, next to the casket.Rich, full life
Archbishop Blair said that like anyone, Cardinal Szoka had his share of “problems, struggles, fears and disappointments, (which) are part of dying with Christ. But he also said that he had received many blessings — and so he had.”
The archbishop explained that Cardinal Szoka’s life was “rich and full,” illustrated by his many experiences of people and places and opportunities to use his talents “in teaching, sanctifying and governing God’s people.”
Archbishop Blair pointed out that the cardinal had a keen sense of Catholic doctrine and discipline, and was “very courageous” about upholding that doctrine and discipline.
The archbishop said that Cardinal Szoka once told him his concern that his name would only be known for his many administrative, organizational and financial endeavors in his paths through Gaylord, Detroit and Rome.
The close friends and family members of Cardinal Szoka pay their final respects at a private graveside ceremony. From left: Felician Sisters Mary Damiana and Mary Hiacenta, Mary Therese Sorensen and Mark Sorensen.“But what really mattered to him, he said, what he would wish to be known for, was the renewal and strengthening of our faith as it is taught, believed and lived,” said Archbishop Blair, adding that the cardinal had “a very kind and very generous heart for anyone who was in trouble or in need.”
Archbishop Blair pointed out that he could not fail to mention the cardinal’s Polish heritage, and his love and loyalty to his friend Pope John Paul II, as well as the fact that Cardinal Szoka’s funeral was being held on the feast day of Our Lady of Czestochowa, to whom the cardinal was deeply devoted.
Cardinal Adam Maida, successor to Cardinal Szoka as archbishop of Detroit, blesses his predecessor’s body with incense at the end of the funeral liturgy.Offering for the final time
Present at the Mass as well was the apostolic pro-nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who read a special message of condolence sent by Pope Francis to the people of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Speaking after the letter was read, Archbishop Vigneron told the faithful that the message “reminds us of our communion with the Church and all the saints.”
“Today God has brought us here so that in this most blessed sacrament of Christ’s Passover, we can for a final time offer the Holy Eucharist, the Passover mystery, in (Cardinal Szoka’s) physical presence,” said Archbishop Vigneron.
The Mass was celebrated with the musical accompaniment of the Archdiocesan Chorus of Detroit, which sang hymns in both English and Polish, including “Serdeczna Matko” (Stainless the Maiden) and “Badzze pozdrowiona” (Come, Let Us Receive Him).
The “Alleluia” sung prior to the Gospel was an arrangement written by Norah Duncan IV, who had served as cathedral musician during Cardinal Szoka’s entire tenure as archbishop of Detroit.
Following Holy Communion, Cardinal Adam J. Maida, who directly succeeded Cardinal Szoka as Detroit archbishop in 1990, incensed his predecessor’s casket.
Cardinal Szoka’s body was buried privately after the liturgy at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. He is laid to rest among other deceased bishops of Detroit.
Christopher and Alison Kelenske, pay their respects prior to the funeral Mass.Watch it
The Funeral Mass of Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka will be broadcast on Catholic Television Network of Detroit at the following times:
• 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8
• 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9
• 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11
CTND is on Comcast (398), Bright House (16) and Wyandotte Cable (73). Or visit www.aod.org/ctnd.
