Archbishop Hunthausen Funeral 2018

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Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen, who died in Helena, Montana on July 22, 2018 at the age of 96, was Archbishop of Seattle from 1975-1991. His funeral services were celebrated in St. James Cathedral on July 31 and August 1, 2018. The Archbishop lay in state in the Cathedral. Cathedral ministers served as an honor guard while people filed past the casket to pay their last respects.

The formal rites of Christian burial began with the Vigil and Reception of the Body on July 31 at 7:30pm. The extended Hunthausen clan gathers around the font at the beginning of the service.

Several of Archbishop's nieces and nephews served as pallbearers, along with Father Ryan and Father Mike McDermott, both of whom worked closely with Archbishop Hunthausen during his years of ministry in Seattle.

Bishop William Skylstad, Bishop Emeritus of Spokane, preached at the Vigil. Bishop Skylstad was ordained a bishop by Archbishop Hunthausen and was his longtime friend. Click here to read or listen to Bishop Skylstad's remarks.

Archbishop Sartain presided at the Vigil service and at the Funeral Mass. More than 140 of Archbishop Hunthausen's family gathered for the funeral rites.

Archbishop Sartain blessed the body of Archbishop Hunthausen before viewing resumed.

At the conclusion of the viewing, before the casket is closed for the last time, family members came forward to say their goodbyes and to put notes, messages, and photos in the casket with their beloved uncle Dutch.

The priests of the Archdiocese of Seattle gather for the Funeral Mass on Wednesday morning.

Members of the family carry religious symbols--a Book of the Gospels, a crucifix--to be placed on the casket.

It was a joy to welcome our retired Archbishop Alex J. Brunett to concelebrate the funeral Mass.

Father Ryan incenses the altar at the beginning of the Funeral Mass.

Archbishop Hunthausen's simple casket lay on the floor of the Cathedral during the Mass.

Resting over the casket were the Book of the Gospels and a crucifix, made for the Archbishop many years ago by a prisoner whom he had befriended in the Montana state prison at Deer Lodge.

Sister Carol Ann McMullen, SNJM, proclaims the second reading

Father Ryan preaches at the Funeral Mass. Click here to read or listen.

The Prayer of the Faithful was led by representatives of the diverse leadership and ministries
of the Archdiocese of Seattle.

We were honored by the presence of interfaith and ecumenical leaders: Rabbi Daniel Weiner of Temple de Hirsh Sinai, Bishop Kirby Unti of the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Bishop Greg Rickel, Episcopal Bishop of Olympia.

Archbishop Sartain blessed the casket with holy water during the solemn rites of commendation.

One by one, the priests of the Archdiocese filed past the casket to say their goodbyes
to Archbishop Hunthausen.

Rest in peace, Archbishop Hunthausen!

Archbishop Sartain presides at the Rite of Committal.

Pallbearers, including members of Archbishop Hunthausen's family, joined by Father Mike McDermott and Father Michael Ryan, both of whom worked with him very closely during his Seattle years, lower the casket into the Cathedral crypt.

After the Cathedral is closed for the final preparation of the crypt, Father Ryan invites the family to bless Archbishop's casket with holy water.

Children watch as workmen from Catholic Cemeteries seal the niche containing the casket.

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