Funeral services for Bishop Lucker were held in St. Paul and New Ulm

New Ulm - On Sunday, September 23, 2001, at 3:30 p.m., the ceremonial Reception of the Body of Bishop Raymond A. Lucker was held at Guardian Angels Church, Oakdale, MN, a suburb of St. Paul. Following the short service,visitation continued throughout an all-night Vigil. Two public prayer services were observed at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Bishop John C. Nienstedt, Bishop of New Ulm led the Reception of the Body prayer service at Guardian Angels recalling for mourners the importance that Bishop Lucker placed on his family. "We bring Bishop Lucker home to his family," Nienstedt began. "Here where much history has been lived, so many memories here that have been shared." Bishop Nienstedt read a passage from Prairie Views, Bishop Lucker’s collection of pastoral letters to the people of the New Ulm diocese, quoting,"With a little reflection we can write the story of our lives as a story of God’s presence in our lives. . . We can say, "This is how I met my husband or wife. God was present in our marriage and at the birth of our children. He has been present at every step of the way."

The Mass of Christian Burial at Guardian Angels was attended by bishops and priests from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, where Bishop Lucker had served as auxiliary bishop, and a gathering of nearly 900. Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul - Minneapolis presided and Fr. Anthony Stubeda of the New Ulm diocese was homilist.

Following the Mass at Guardian Angels, Bishop Nienstedt and members of his staff traveled to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm to celebrate the second set of services including burial in the diocese that Bishop Lucker lived in and had served for 25 years.

During the services in New Ulm, Bishop Nienstedt continued his reflection on the life and work of Bishop Lucker emphasizing his role as teacher. "He taught from experience about the meaning of life, about our dependence on Jesus, and that teaching lives on."

"Let us thank God for this truth he taught us so well. . . but above all, let us go forth to live it, knowing that the teaching goes on."