Archbishop celebrates Mass of remembrance for priests

November 16, 2017

ARCHBISHOP SALVATORE J. CORDILEONE PRESIDES AT MEMORIAL SERVICES NOV. 3 FOR PRIESTS INTERRED AT HOLY CROSS CEMETERY, COLMA. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone was principal celebrant of a Mass Nov. 3 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, remembering the more than 500 priests interred there. Mass was celebrated in the rotunda of the historic Holy Cross Mausoleum where archbishops and bishops who have led the Archdiocese of San Francisco are entombed. The Mass now in its third year was especially poignant this year given the deaths of Archbishop John R. Quinn and Archbishop George Niederauer their remains now resting in rotunda vaults.

“The day gives the priests an opportunity to come together in prayer for their brother priests, remembers friendships, honors those who have gone before them,” Monica Williams, cemeteries director, told Catholic San Francisco.

“They process from the mausoleum to the Priest Plot while chanting the Litany of the Saints; the archbishop leads a prayer for the deceased, blesses with holy water, uses incense and the service concludes with the priests singing ‘Salve Regina.’”