The streets of New Orleans belonged to one man today; young and old, black and white, Catholic and non-Catholic lined Carrollton Avenue, world famous Canal St. and Chartres St. as Archbishop Hannan's body was brought to his final resting place: St. Louis Cathedral.
The funeral procession was as dignified and elegant as the Archbishop. But as in his life, his death brought an entire city and region together. School children were everywhere today and the student body of the school that bears his name gathered to sing the Hannan High School alma mater as he passed the students. Hannan was transported by a horse drawn carriage and was escorted by six Permanent Deacons. If you know your theology, the Bishop should never travel without his Deacons.(I was amazed that all local TV coverage did not know the difference between Deacon and Priest as the misidentified the escorts as Priests). At the head of the procession was the world famous band of our local St. Augustine High School.
The procession took a little longer than two and a half hours. Archbishop Aymond walked the entire route, along with many other clergy and numerous workers from the Archdiocesan Chancery offices. As he arrived at the Cathedral he was escorted by members of the 82nd Airborne, the military unit he served as chaplain and paratrooper. Present at the steps of the Cathedral were many more school children and a good mix of locals and tourists who looked on in amazement.
And now his body is home. He will lie in repose until noon tomorrow and then the funeral will be at 2 p.m. Burial follows immediately in the crypts located in the floor of the sanctuary.
Today though, the streets of New Orleans were all his!
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