“…a good and gifted priest, prophet and shepherd leader”

Funeral for Retired Bishop Michael Murphy held at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie

“Keep it joyful, keep it simple.” Those were among the hand-written instructions Most Rev. Michael Joseph Murphy, retired bishop of Erie, left for his successor, Bishop Donald W. Trautman, concerning his funeral.

Bishop Trautman did his best to honor those instructions, overseeing the extensive planning that went into the funeral which was held at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie on Monday, April 9. Approximately 1000 people — bishops, priests, women religious, staff members, friends and admirers — filled the cathedral for the funeral, most of whom had a strong personal connection with the man who shepherded the Erie Diocese from 1978 to 1982 as coadjutor bishop and then as bishop from 1982 through 1990.

Most. Rev. A. James Quinn, auxiliary bishop of Cleveland, delivers the homily at the Mass of Christian Burial for Most. Rev. Michael J. Murphy, retired bishop of Erie, on Monday. Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, principal celebrant at the Mass, is seated to the left of the altar, while Justin Cardinal Rigali, presider, can be seen next to Bishop Quinn. Photo by Jason Koshinskie

Bishop Murphy had chosen a simple pine box crafted at a Trappist monastery for his casket. The cathedral’s Easter decorations added a note of joyful celebration to the event, although just four large sprays of flowers — mostly themed in green for the bishop’s well-known love of Ireland — adorned the altar. A string quartet, requested by Bishop Murphy who deeply appreciated classical music, provided music prior to the funeral with the Cathedral Choir leading music during the Mass. One of the most powerful moments of the funeral came at the end, when the nearly 300 clergy present sang an a cappella version of the traditional hymn, “Salve Regina.”

“I account it a great grace that we have known Bishop Michael Murphy,” said Most Rev. A. James Quinn, auxiliary bishop of Cleveland, who fulfilled a personal request from Bishop Murphy by serving as homilist. “I think we struck it very rich to be included among those he preached to by word and example. He really was a good and gifted priest, prophet and shepherd leader who taught us well.” Quinn is a former student of Murphy, who spent more than half his active priesthood as teacher, vice rector or rector at St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland.

After the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Bishop Donald Trautman offered a eulogy which he opened by reading a letter of condolence from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state of the Vatican, on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI. Trautman also thanked the Sisters of Mercy who attended to Bishop Murphy in their infirmary during his final days.

“This man of keen intellect and quick wit and wisdom was a great gift of God for the church and especially this diocese,” he said. “On the episcopal chair sat a humble person, a kind person, a scholarly person, a man of deep faith, a man of God.” He said that above all, people will remember Bishop Murphy’s perseverance in faith — strong faith, uncompromising faith, a faith prayed and personalized, a faith meditated and reflected upon. “His homilies give evidence of that personal prayer and reflection,” Trautman observed.

Bishop Murphy, 91, passed away on Tuesday, April 3.  He was interred in the family plot at St. Joseph Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio, immediately following the funeral. The Diocese of Erie will publish a tribute to Bishop Murphy, distributed at Masses in parishes throughout the 13 counties of northwest Pennsylvania, the weekend of April 28-29.