“Bishop Rueger, we love you and we will miss you”

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

    Students were among those honoring Bishop Rueger – a faithful supporter of Catholic education – as his body was taken to the St. Paul Cathedral for viewing and services Friday.

    St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School students and staff formed an honor guard on Hammond Street in Worcester at 12:30 p.m. as Bishop Rueger’s body was taken from Alfred Roy & Sons Funeral Home there to the church. 

    Pallbearers at the funeral home and cathedral were students from the diocese’s central Catholic high schools – St. Peter-Marian and Holy Name in Worcester and St. Bernard in Fitchburg.

    “He always smiled … very welcoming individual,” Craig Manseau, a funeral home assistant, told The Catholic Free Press, when asked if he knew Bishop Rueger.

    In the cathedral the Rite of Reception was celebrated at 1 p.m. A bell was rung several times and Bishop McManus, clergy and servers processed to the vestibule. The bishop told those present that they had come to receive Bishop Rueger’s body and he sprinkled the casket with holy water.

    Placing the pall were Father David B. Galonek, a retired priest, and three of the women who took care of Bishop Rueger: Carmelite Sisters of the Eucharist Mary Ann Bartell and Mary Joseph Cross and laywoman Mavoureen Robert. Bishop McManus placed the Book of the Gospels on the casket, saying that Bishop Rueger cherished the Gospel. 

    Hymns, Scripture readings, prayers and a homily by Msgr. F. Stephen Pedone followed. 

    Then, behind screens, funeral home personnel prepared Bishop Rueger’s body for viewing while the congregation, led by cantor Raymond L. Delisle, prayed the rosary. The homilists for the services – Bishop McManus, Msgr. Pedone and Father Father Dennis J. O’Brien – paid their respects to Bishop Rueger, then greeted other people who came forward to do the same. Fourth degree Knights of Columbus from various assemblies took turns keeping a “wake watch” on either side of the casket for Bishop Rueger, their brother Knight.

    In his homily, Msgr. Pedone told of meeting Bishop Rueger in St. Stephen’s rectory in Worcester when they both lived there.

    “Suddenly, bounding up the stairs came George Rueger,” he said of that encounter. The new bishop said, “Hello Pal,” took his hand and gave him a big bear hug. 

    Bishop Rueger was a legend before becoming a bishop, because of his various ministries in the diocese, and was loved and admired by many, especially priests, he said. He had uproarious and infectious laughter, and an indomitable spirit.

    “He absolutely loved being a priest, especially a pastor,” Msgr. Pedone said. But he had the uncanny ability of escaping a crowded room unnoticed.

    Years later when they lived together again at Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s rectory, Bishop Rueger fell in love with Msgr. Pedone’s cats, and Msgr. Pedone lost control of the cats and how many treats they were fed!

    When Bishop Rueger had to move to receive the increased care he needed “he tearfully told me … that most of all he would miss the three cats,” Msgr. Pedone said.

    Turning to more serious topics, Msgr. Pedone noted that death is not the final word. God has the final word on everything and his word is one of eternal life – he wants us to be with him forever. 

    Funeral rites celebrate life, he said, and told the congregation their prayers would commend Bishop Rueger to the Lord. He spoke of consolation for all who love him and are grieving.

    He told the story of a man seeing what looked like a water bug coming out of the water and drying up. But after awhile a dragonfly emerged. The man asked, “Would the Creator do something such as this for a water bug and not for human beings?”

    Msgr. Pedone said each of us is a story God tells about himself, and we all have God-given dignity. Our interactions should always be life-giving, he said, urging listeners never to leave a conversation with hurtful words, because they could be the last words.

    Bishop Rueger’s life enriched so many of us, and we are much better people because we came to know him, Msgr. Pedone said. The promise of Easter is that death is not the end, he said.

    “Bishop Rueger, we love you and we will miss you,” he said, expressing thanks to him. “Sleep in peace, my dear friend. May God reward you” for your goodness to us and service to him.