'A Loving Way to Say Thank You', Hundreds Bid Farewell As Former Bishop Hart Laid to Rest in Norwich, by Izaskun E. Larrañeta, The Day, January 19, 2008

'A Loving Way to Say Thank You'
Hundreds Bid Farewell As Former Bishop Hart Laid to Rest in Norwich

By Izaskun E. Larrañeta
The Day
January 19, 2008

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=c56c704b-21db-48ed-b216-45983e3de5b0

EVEN IN THE FACE OF DEATH, BISHOP Emeritus Daniel A. Hart never questioned God's plan for him and he never lost faith, his successor told mourners Friday.

"His acceptance of suffering and sickness is a model to us all," said the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, bishop of Norwich, who delivered the homily at Hart's funeral Mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick. "With the ominous news of his illness, he asked for prayers, not for a miraculous cure, but rather for prayers that he might be faithful to God's will."

Gathered clergy watch as the coffin bearing the body of The Most Rev. Daniel A. Hart, bishop emeritus of Norwich, is placed in a hearse following a funeral Mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich on Friday.
Photo by Sean D. Elliot

The cathedral was filled to near capacity Friday, with about 1,000 people who wanted to pay their final respects to Hart, leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich from 1995 until his retirement in 2003. Hart died Monday at age 80 of cancer.

Those in attendance came from all walks of life — young and old, Christian and Jewish. He had touched so many lives, and they wanted to say goodbye.

"I remember as a child that he was such an open figure," said 19-year-old Elizabeth Williams of Norwich. "He was so pleasant. You could walk right up to him, and as a kid, that was special. He was one of the only priests whose homilies I'd listen to. He really talked to us while he was preaching. I just had to pay my respects."

Hart's body lay in state so those in attendance could see him one last time. At 10:45 a.m., several priests put the cover on the coffin, then delicately covered it with a cream-colored pall emblazoned with a purple cross.

Fifteen minutes later, with the opening of the processional hymn, "Lift High the Cross," the service began. Altar servers and the Knights of Columbus led the way, followed by deacons, priests and bishops. It took nearly 15 minutes for the procession to make its way to the sanctuary.

The Most. Rev. Henry J. Mansell, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hartford, was the celebrant. He told the gathering that there were bishops present who had traveled from such faraway places as Pakistan and the Fiji Islands, as well as Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.

Cote said Hart had a "ubiquitous presence," never really retiring and faithfully serving his flock.

"Our loss in this diocese is great," said Cote. "For though retired for the past five years, Bishop Hart never slackened the pace of his pastoral ministry on his life's journey to serve as a priest and bishop."

Cote said Hart was always there for the priests in the diocese, especially when they were ill.

"On one occasion, upon notification that an ill priest has been rushed to the hospital, it is reported that Bishop Hart was there to visit the priest before the priest himself had arrived," said Cote, which prompted laughter from the congregation. "Now, that's service."

Hart headed the diocese at the height of breaking news of the sex scandal that rocked the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.

"Bishop Hart led the diocese in the midst of crisis, and its turbulence caused some to doubt, and still others to lose confidence, in the church," said Cote. "The bishop's adept handling of these challenges kept the diocese on course and helped to heal wounds inflicted by crisis. He personally called or wrote to all who expressed their disappointment, their feeling of being let down by what they had trusted and hoped in."

For some, the funeral was a final way to express gratitude.

Sister Mary Jude Lazarus, director of Hispanic Ministry for the diocese, said Hart was a huge supporter of that ministry.

"He learned to say Mass in Spanish, which is not an easy task for someone in his 60s to learn Spanish," said Lazarus. "He would participate in many of our services. He was a great friend of the Hispanic community. It's important for me to be here. It's a loving way to say thank you."

Frances Griffith said that when Hart entered a room, his presence was always felt.

"He was not pretentious in any way," said Griffith. "You just felt his goodness and knew you were in the presence of holiness. He will be missed in the diocese. We were lucky to have him."

As Archbishop Mansell prepared for the final commendation and farewell, he blessed the casket with incense. Clergy lined the pews as Hart's body was taken out of the cathedral. Outside, they lined the walkway to the hearse. The coffin was blessed with holy water and the priests, in a final farewell, chanted "Salve Regina."

The coffin was placed in the hearse, which then took Hart to his final resting place in St. Joseph's Cemetery.

Contact: i.larrañeta@theday.com