Hundreds join in service for D'Arcy

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Bishop John M. D'Arcy on Thursday morning entered Fort Wayne's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for the last time.

His casket was escorted from a hearse in the driveway to the back of the incense-scented church, where red-caped Knights of Columbus waited, silver swords raised, along with a group of clergy.

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades sprinkled the casket with holy water three times. "In the waters of baptism, John died in Christ and rose to new life. May he now share in His eternal glory," he said.

The wooden lid was then lifted and pallbearers slowly carried the casket down the cathedral's center aisle, where it remained while more than 600 people joined in prayers and then filed past after the 20-minute service ended.

This was the second day of funeral services for the retired bishop, who died Sunday from cancer.

Visitation will continue throughout the day today. Rosary will begin at 5 p.m. Evening prayer at 7 p.m.

A funeral Mass will take place at noon Friday at the Cathedral, immediately followed by a reception at Grand Wayne Center, 120 W. Jefferson Blvd.

The Rite of Committal will be conducted privately with the family in the crypt of the Cathedral.

D'Arcy served the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend as its eighth bishop, from 1985 to 2010.