Today was the wake service for Fr. Barry Evers, a retired priest of the Diocese of Gary.
We began with the Rite of the Reception of the Body at 2:00 p.m. Essentially, we met the casket at the back of the church, blessed it, and then processed up the aisle. After it was set up in front, we began our prayer service.
At the end of the prayer service, the casket is opened and the body lies in state, guarded by members of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
This evening at 6:30 p.m., we will have Evening Prayer of the Office of the Dead and then visitation will come to a close.
Tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m., we will have Morning Prayer of the Office of the Dead followed by the Funeral Mass celebrated by Bishop Donald J. Hying.
Fr. Evers was well loved by all who knew him. We thank God for the gift of his priesthood and ask God to reward him with eternal life.
I especially enjoyed Fr. Evers’ presiding at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sundays at St. Thomas More: “we come here to worship God in community.”
Fr. Evers was my pastor at SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Merrillville when I married Julie. He chose to have Fr. Dennis Hand preside at our wedding Mass. He chose wisely — it all worked.
It bothered me that the #1 “like” that parishioners would cite about Fr. Evers was his short homilies and his quick Masses. I used to protest against this value system, and I think that I still would do so.
Requiesat (sp?) in pacem.
Respectfully,
Jim