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| 12 TODAY’S CATHOLIC | CEMETERY FOCUS | JUNE 5, 1998 | |
Bishop Bernard F. Popp ‘officially’ retires as director of cemeteries
It wasn’t really "goodbye," but more like "see ya’ later" this past April 21 when our beloved director of cemeteries, Bishop Bernard F. Popp officially turned in his keys at our monthly managers’ meeting. Actually, he turned the keys over to Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan*, our new director of cemeteries. Even before his chair got warm, Bishop Popp was gone. After 17 years as our director, he deserved to leave one of our meetings a little early. He had humored us all by proclaiming himself "recycled" when he became parochial vicar of St. Benedict’s parish in August, 1993. This happened only five months after the Holy Father accepted his resignation as auxiliary bishop of San Antonio. He wasn’t recycled in our eyes because he had kept up his duties as director of cemeteries and made us all very happy because of it. When I first met Bishop Popp, after I began working for the cemeteries in 1985, he told me that I would love it here and, 13 years later, he is still right. What he didn’t realize is that it was mostly due to his leadership and love for this ministry that helped us all to love our work. So, on behalf of the entire staff at Catholic Cemeteries of San Antonio—thank you, have fun in your garden and enjoy your freedom. We’ll keep a chair warm for you for the next time you visit. * Look for Bishop Flanagan’s article in an upcoming issue of Cemetery Focus.
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