Bishop Thomas J. Welsh, the founding bishop of Arlington, was remembered for his joyful love of the priesthood at a funeral Mass last Saturday at St. Catharine of Siena Cathedral in Allentown, Pa.

Bishop Welsh, who served in Arlington from August 1974 until February 1983, died Feb. 19 at the age of 87.

Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, was the celebrant. Concelebrants included 150 priests and 17 bishops, including Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, Richmond Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo, Allentown Bishop Edward Cullen, Wheeling-Charleston Bishop Michael J. Bransfield and retired Scranton Bishop James C. Timlin.

The funeral Mass was televised live to 950,000 homes in the Allentown area, thanks to the generosity of a local Catholic family.

“The bishop’s passing leaves us with a deep sense of loss,” said Msgr. Anthony D. Muntone, pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in Whitehall, in his homily. Bishop Welsh celebrated Christmas Eve Mass every year at St. Elizabeth.

“We seek to experience the power of God through His holy word,” said Msgr. Muntone, who noted that Bishop Welsh selected all the readings for the funeral Mass.

“Bishop Welsh asked us to pray for him,” he said.

The priest recalled the words of St. Thomas More, the patron saint of the Arlington Diocese and one of Bishop Welsh’s favorite saints, “Pray for me and I will pray for thee that one day we will meet merrily in heaven.”

Msgr. Muntone said Bishop Welsh displayed a spirit of peace every day of his life.

The bishop’s secret, he said, “was his abiding trust in the divine providence of God. Although he was a truly holy man, he didn’t believe he was owed a direct path to heaven.”

Even during difficult personal times, Bishop Welsh never once returned insult for insult, Msgr. Muntone said.

The bishop moved through life so serenely because he believed in the words of St. Paul, “nothing can separate us from the love of God.

“He was truly a happy person and his greatest happiness was being a priest and celebrating the sacraments,” Msgr. Muntone said. “He was especially happy when young couples asked him to witness their marriage nuptials.”

The bishop also enjoyed the company of his fellow priests, especially his last few years in retirement at Holy Family Manor in Bethlehem.

Msgr. Muntone said he felt compelled to respond to a published report that Bishop Welsh was unhappy about leaving Arlington for the “lesser diocese” of Allentown.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.

The bishop often spoke with great tenderness about his life in Weatherly, the small town north of Allentown where he was born and raised, Msgr. Muntone said. “May he rest there in peace alongside his mother and father. He is now more alive than ever.”

“For many years Bishop Welsh was a faithful leader of prayer,” said Cardinal Rigali. “He was a teacher of the Faith.

“He taught the people of God how to pray. Today he makes his last, great act of prayer, a great act of teaching the Faith,” the cardinal said. “We owe this assembly to him. It is an opportunity for us today to make a great act of Faith.

“We express gratitude to Bishop Welsh,” the cardinal added. “He served so well in Philadelphia, Arlington and Allentown. We have the final challenge to renew our commitment to the Risen Christ.”

Bishop Cullen read a letter from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI, who said he was saddened to learn of Bishop Welsh’s death. The Holy Father imparted his apostolic blessing on all those in attendance.

Bishop Cullen expressed the gratitude of the entire Allentown Diocese to Bishop Welsh’s family. He thanked Cardinal Rigali for taking time out of his busy schedule to celebrate the Mass.

He said that memorial Masses were celebrated at every parish in the Allentown Diocese during the past week in honor of Bishop Welsh.

Interment took place at St. Nicholas Cemetery in Weatherly.

Memorial Mass

A memorial Mass for Bishop Welsh will be celebrated March 16 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington at 7:30 p.m.