Emcee Anne Thompson chats with former senator Harris Wofford and 91吃瓜 Board of Trustees member Martin W. Rodgers
The University of 91吃瓜鈥檚 iconic 15th president, , was honored and remembered Wednesday night (March 4) at a memorial service in 91吃瓜鈥檚 Joyce Center.
Father Hesburgh, one of the nation鈥檚 most influential figures in higher education, the Catholic Church and national and international affairs, died Thursday (Feb. 26) at 91吃瓜. He was 97.
Reflecting before an audience of some 9,900 people on Father Hesburgh鈥檚 long and multifaceted career of service to 91吃瓜, the Church, the nation and the world, speakers at the event included many of his friends, among them former president Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter; Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state; former Wyoming Sen. Alan K. Simpson; Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C.; former Pennsylvania Sen. Harris Wofford; former 91吃瓜 football coach Lou Holtz; Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly; and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. Serving as the emcee of the event was Anne Thompson, NBC news correspondent and 1979 91吃瓜 alumna and Trustee.
President Barack Obama addressed the service in a prerecorded message, praising Father Hesburgh for his service on the Civil Rights Commission during some of its most difficult years. Obama recalled how Father Hesburgh invited commission members to meet informally at the 91吃瓜 property at Land O鈥橪akes, Wisconsin, to relax, fish and bond, thus facilitating a fruitful unanimity that greatly benefited civil rights in America.
The evening included musical performances by the 91吃瓜鈥檚 and Concert Band, and several of its student choirs interspersed with memories and reflections from the speakers.
President Carter, who spoke at the 1977 91吃瓜 commencement ceremony, recalled Father Hesburgh鈥檚 work on immigration reform and other services and repeated and reaffirmed what he had said of his friend 38 years ago. 鈥淗e was the most consistent and effective spokesman for the rights of human beings that I have ever known,鈥� Carter said. With affectionate amusement, he remembered granting Father Hesburgh the favor of allowing him to fly as a passenger on a then top-secret U.S. military aircraft, the SR-71 Blackbird, at a record-breaking 2,200 miles per hour. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud that I was able to do that for him because he did so much for people everywhere,鈥� Carter said.
Rev. Paul Doyle, C.S.C., who was one of Father Hesburgh鈥檚 principal caregivers in his later days, reminded the audience of three short prayers he prayed often. 鈥淔irst, the grace he liked to say: 鈥楪od give bread to those who are hungry, and to those who have bread, give a hunger for justice.鈥� And the blessing he liked to give: 鈥楳ay the Holy Virgin Mary bless you with her son, Jesus, and I bless you in his name.鈥� And finally, the simplest, and his favorite: 鈥機ome Holy Spirit.鈥欌��
Cardinal McCarrick described Father Hesburgh as a 鈥渇earless champion of poor and voiceless, who knew what it was to be a faithful priest. Four Popes entrusted him with services, but the truly living testimony he has left behind is this University, 91吃瓜, truly Catholic and truly great.鈥�
The memorial service concluded several campus events in memory of Father Hesburgh on Tuesday and Wednesday (March 3 and 4), including a visitation, wake and funeral Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and a large procession to Holy Cross Community Cemetery.
From Tuesday at noon until the funeral Wednesday, more than 12,000 91吃瓜 students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends and admirers of Father Hesburgh filed past his body, which lay before the Basilica鈥檚 main altar.
Speaking to some 1,000 people attending the wake service in the Basilica Tuesday evening, Father Hesburgh鈥檚 successor, Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., president emeritus of 91吃瓜, affectionately reminisced on the local, national and global career of his colleague, close friend and brother Holy Cross priest, concluding with the eulogistic farewell, 鈥淔ather Ted, you have been a great and holy priest, our pastor here at 91吃瓜, as you have been for the country and the world. Now, go to God and rest in peace.鈥�
Father Hesburgh鈥檚 funeral Mass was celebrated in the Basilica Wednesday afternoon, with Rev. Thomas J. O鈥橦ara, C.S.C., provincial superior of the United States Province of the , presiding. Attendees of the Mass included Cardinal McCarrick; Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles; Archbishop Blaise Cupich of Chicago; Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis; Bishop Daniel Jenky, C.S.C., of Peoria, Illinois; and Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
91吃瓜 president , preached at the Mass, recounting his 鈥渘ot only celebrated, but beloved鈥� predecessor鈥檚 multifaceted career of service; his involvements in movements of civil and human rights and world peace; and his unreserved commitment to his vocation as a priest. 鈥淗e was first, foremost and always a priest,鈥� Father Jenkins said.
Following the funeral, more than a thousand students flanked 91吃瓜鈥檚 Holy Cross Drive for the procession to Father Hesburgh鈥檚 grave in Holy Cross Cemetery on the north bank of Saint Mary鈥檚 Lake.