MONROE - Monroe said "goodbye" to Monsignor Thomas Campion Saturday.
"Our hearts mourn in sorrow for the loss we feel," said Bishop William Bullock, Campion's long-time friend. "We have come to praise God for him."
Campion, who founded the Apostolate to the Handicapped in 1967, died Nov. 12 at the age of 79.
Family, friends and admirers gathered at Monroe High School for the funeral Mass. Many of the priests who have taken part in the Apostolate Christmas dinners helped with the service. People of all ages, those who knew Campion for years and teens who considered him a friend sat next to each other in the chairs on the gymnasium floor or on the bleachers. Elected officials came to pay their respects.
The service was a testament to the influence Campion had on Monroe and the surrounding area.
But it was the disabled, who sat in the front row during the service, who Bullock singled out. The disabled were Campion's friends, his life and his cause. He talked about Campion's compassion for the disabled, and his efforts to focus attention on them. Their joys and their spirit touched Campion's life and he reached out to touch them.
"He knew how to translate from his head, to his heart to his hands," by reaching out to the disabled community, Bullock said.
There are many kinds of disabilities, Bullock added. Some people can't hear, some can't speak and some have trouble walking.
"He reminded us that we all are handicapped," Bullock said, "whether through physical illness or mental limitations. He spent most of his life in a ministry of healing."
Bullock, who has often attended the annual Apostolate to the Handicapped Christmas dinner and Mass, said it was fitting that Campion's funeral Mass was held at the high school, the same place where the Christmas dinners are held. The high school was where the disabled and their caregivers gathered to celebrate. Many of those who attended the funeral were former and current volunteers for the Apostolate to the Handicapped.
"We gather joyfully to celebrate his life," Bullock. "In the sight of this world, he is dead. In the sight of God, he lives."
There were some tears Saturday, but there was also laughter as people remembered Campion's life.
Campion's nephew, Thomas, said Campion always talked about Monroe. He said the family knew how the sports teams were playing and knew just about everything that went on in Monroe. Monroe was one of the three things he loved.
The other important things in Campion's life were his family and being a priest.
He said Campion was always there for his family by attending communions, baptisms or birthdays.
He said Campion made a difference in people's lives and he asked everyone at the funeral to carry on Campion's devotion for others.
"I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith," written on the back of the funeral program, summed up for many how Campion led his life.
"Our hearts mourn in sorrow for the loss we feel," said Bishop William Bullock, Campion's long-time friend. "We have come to praise God for him."
Campion, who founded the Apostolate to the Handicapped in 1967, died Nov. 12 at the age of 79.
Family, friends and admirers gathered at Monroe High School for the funeral Mass. Many of the priests who have taken part in the Apostolate Christmas dinners helped with the service. People of all ages, those who knew Campion for years and teens who considered him a friend sat next to each other in the chairs on the gymnasium floor or on the bleachers. Elected officials came to pay their respects.
The service was a testament to the influence Campion had on Monroe and the surrounding area.
But it was the disabled, who sat in the front row during the service, who Bullock singled out. The disabled were Campion's friends, his life and his cause. He talked about Campion's compassion for the disabled, and his efforts to focus attention on them. Their joys and their spirit touched Campion's life and he reached out to touch them.
"He knew how to translate from his head, to his heart to his hands," by reaching out to the disabled community, Bullock said.
There are many kinds of disabilities, Bullock added. Some people can't hear, some can't speak and some have trouble walking.
"He reminded us that we all are handicapped," Bullock said, "whether through physical illness or mental limitations. He spent most of his life in a ministry of healing."
Bullock, who has often attended the annual Apostolate to the Handicapped Christmas dinner and Mass, said it was fitting that Campion's funeral Mass was held at the high school, the same place where the Christmas dinners are held. The high school was where the disabled and their caregivers gathered to celebrate. Many of those who attended the funeral were former and current volunteers for the Apostolate to the Handicapped.
"We gather joyfully to celebrate his life," Bullock. "In the sight of this world, he is dead. In the sight of God, he lives."
There were some tears Saturday, but there was also laughter as people remembered Campion's life.
Campion's nephew, Thomas, said Campion always talked about Monroe. He said the family knew how the sports teams were playing and knew just about everything that went on in Monroe. Monroe was one of the three things he loved.
The other important things in Campion's life were his family and being a priest.
He said Campion was always there for his family by attending communions, baptisms or birthdays.
He said Campion made a difference in people's lives and he asked everyone at the funeral to carry on Campion's devotion for others.
"I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith," written on the back of the funeral program, summed up for many how Campion led his life.