Hannan will leave a spiritual void for many
By Debbie Glover
St. Tammany News
St. Tammany News
A mentor, a role model and a seeker of social justice are all words that have been used to describe former Archbishop Philip M. Hannan.
In a press conference yesterday at noon, current Archbishop Gregory Aymond said, “He taught us to grow old gracefully. An independent man, he had become totally dependent. In his life, he believed in social justice and literally lived out Christ’s calling.” Aymond said that at his bedside Saturday night, he was given the last rites, including a last confession. After lying in silence for a few minutes, Hannan then said, “Sounds good to me.” Aymond said that Hannan knew what was happening, knew he was being reassured and that God was forgiving him.
In one of his last contacts with Hannan, Aymond asked if he could get a blessing from him. “In the only way he could, he made the sign of the cross. It was important because we were able to exchange a farewell.” Hannan had been Aymond’s mentor for several years.
In a press conference yesterday at noon, current Archbishop Gregory Aymond said, “He taught us to grow old gracefully. An independent man, he had become totally dependent. In his life, he believed in social justice and literally lived out Christ’s calling.” Aymond said that at his bedside Saturday night, he was given the last rites, including a last confession. After lying in silence for a few minutes, Hannan then said, “Sounds good to me.” Aymond said that Hannan knew what was happening, knew he was being reassured and that God was forgiving him.
In one of his last contacts with Hannan, Aymond asked if he could get a blessing from him. “In the only way he could, he made the sign of the cross. It was important because we were able to exchange a farewell.” Hannan had been Aymond’s mentor for several years.
A visionary thinker, among his many contributions to the area were support of education and the beginning of the diaconate program.
St. Paul’s Principal, Br. Raymond Bulliard, FSC, commented on Hannan’s support for the Christian Brothers and his memories for the Archbishop. “He was a very good friend of the Christian Brothers, even while he was in Washington D. C. He recognized the warm, caring approach we have to educating people. He was very pastoral and we were blessed to have him.”
At St. Scholastica Academy, they mourned his death as well. “We at SSA are deeply saddened by the passing of Archbishop Hannan, a man who seemed larger than life itself.” Said Principal Mary Katherine Villere. “He was truly a man of deeply rooted spirituality and faith who took to heart his lifelong ministry of bringing the Gospel values to all. We are grateful for his steadfast support of Catholic education and will strive to preserve his legacy of faith and action for the girls at SSA.”
“He was not just a resident of Covington, but a true citizen,” said Covington Mayor Mike Cooper. “During the election, while I was campaigning, he was bedridden, but was quick to say he had voted absentee. He was a great spiritual leader for his Church, our city and his country. I participated with Catherine in celebrating his 95th birthday at the World War II Museum. But most often, I would see him at the Justice Center, walking or going up and down the stairs for exercise. He became a fixture in Covington. He was a great inspirational leader to not only his followers, but beyond as well.”
Tom Caffery, president and CEO of the Food Bank in Covington and deacon at Most Holy Trinity Church, also has fond memories of Hannan. “I will be a deacon for 31 years in December and he ordained me. I saw him a lot at several different types of events. He was charismatic, a symbol, a presence of the Catholic experience in this predominantly Catholic community.
Everyone knew him, regardless of their personal faith. His pastoral instincts led him to begin Christopher Homes, providing homes for the elderly. “Legend is a word that comes to mind,” said Caffery.
Mark Coudrain, a deacon at St. Jane de Chantal and head of St. Joseph Abbey Woodworks, had a different view of the Archbishop. For 26 years, he worked with Hannan at WLAE-TV. “ He knew what he wanted and didn’t take no for an answer,” said Coudrain. “We were in Rome taping a documentary on the catacombs. We had places we wanted to shoot, but ran into problems with getting permission. We went to the Coliseum, and he said, ‘Just start shooting. When the guards come, I’ll take care of it,’ and he did. We never had problems after that.”
After his second stroke, Hannan wanted to say Mass at his house and he forgotten the order. Coudrain said he and Deacon Rusty Reed helped him relearn the order of the liturgy and the prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours.
Involved with the casket business at the Abbey, Coudrain said that Hannan “thought the entire controversy was crazy. In fact, he wanted one of our caskets, but his family bought a different one instead.”
His namesake school, Archbishop Hannan High School, near Covington, held a prayer service, “The Office for the Dead.” Fr. Chalres LaTour, the principal, lead the students in prayer, reminding them that he had set the standard for the school and “the Hannan Way.”
Hannan had been present at the school’s dedication in 2008.
St. Paul’s Principal, Br. Raymond Bulliard, FSC, commented on Hannan’s support for the Christian Brothers and his memories for the Archbishop. “He was a very good friend of the Christian Brothers, even while he was in Washington D. C. He recognized the warm, caring approach we have to educating people. He was very pastoral and we were blessed to have him.”
At St. Scholastica Academy, they mourned his death as well. “We at SSA are deeply saddened by the passing of Archbishop Hannan, a man who seemed larger than life itself.” Said Principal Mary Katherine Villere. “He was truly a man of deeply rooted spirituality and faith who took to heart his lifelong ministry of bringing the Gospel values to all. We are grateful for his steadfast support of Catholic education and will strive to preserve his legacy of faith and action for the girls at SSA.”
“He was not just a resident of Covington, but a true citizen,” said Covington Mayor Mike Cooper. “During the election, while I was campaigning, he was bedridden, but was quick to say he had voted absentee. He was a great spiritual leader for his Church, our city and his country. I participated with Catherine in celebrating his 95th birthday at the World War II Museum. But most often, I would see him at the Justice Center, walking or going up and down the stairs for exercise. He became a fixture in Covington. He was a great inspirational leader to not only his followers, but beyond as well.”
Tom Caffery, president and CEO of the Food Bank in Covington and deacon at Most Holy Trinity Church, also has fond memories of Hannan. “I will be a deacon for 31 years in December and he ordained me. I saw him a lot at several different types of events. He was charismatic, a symbol, a presence of the Catholic experience in this predominantly Catholic community.
Everyone knew him, regardless of their personal faith. His pastoral instincts led him to begin Christopher Homes, providing homes for the elderly. “Legend is a word that comes to mind,” said Caffery.
Mark Coudrain, a deacon at St. Jane de Chantal and head of St. Joseph Abbey Woodworks, had a different view of the Archbishop. For 26 years, he worked with Hannan at WLAE-TV. “ He knew what he wanted and didn’t take no for an answer,” said Coudrain. “We were in Rome taping a documentary on the catacombs. We had places we wanted to shoot, but ran into problems with getting permission. We went to the Coliseum, and he said, ‘Just start shooting. When the guards come, I’ll take care of it,’ and he did. We never had problems after that.”
After his second stroke, Hannan wanted to say Mass at his house and he forgotten the order. Coudrain said he and Deacon Rusty Reed helped him relearn the order of the liturgy and the prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours.
Involved with the casket business at the Abbey, Coudrain said that Hannan “thought the entire controversy was crazy. In fact, he wanted one of our caskets, but his family bought a different one instead.”
His namesake school, Archbishop Hannan High School, near Covington, held a prayer service, “The Office for the Dead.” Fr. Chalres LaTour, the principal, lead the students in prayer, reminding them that he had set the standard for the school and “the Hannan Way.”
Hannan had been present at the school’s dedication in 2008.
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