Re-interment of Bishop Keating's Body Scheduled for Dec. 20

By Michael F. Flach
^{HERALD Editor}

ARLINGTON —  The re-interment of former Arlington Bishop John R. Keating’s body will take place on Sunday, Dec. 20, in the newly completed burial crypt at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.

Dec. 20 marks the 40^th anniversary of Bishop Keating’s ordination to the priesthood.

The bishop’s body has been kept temporarily at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington since the March 28 funeral service. The bishop died March 22 in Rome during his "ad limina" visit with the Holy Father.

Cardinals William Keeler of Baltimore and James A. Hickey of Washington are both scheduled to attend the ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. They will be joined by Bridgeport Bishop Edward Egan, one of Bishop Keating’s closest friends, and Msgr. James W. McMurtrie, diocesan administrator. Several members of the Keating family will be arriving from Chicago.

"Before Bishop Keating died, he let it be known that he wanted a mausoleum in the cathedral for diocesan bishops," said Msgr. McMurtrie. "It is not an unusual request. Many dioceses around the country bury their bishops below the main altar of the cathedral.

The crypt has a total of 15 burial spaces and is located in the area of Msgr. Burke Hall formerly occupied by the parish thrift shop and credit union. It is directly below the cathedral’s main altar. The diocese assumed all costs for construction and maintenance.

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