The remains of the late Mgr Denis Faul returned to his parish church in Co Tyrone last night. The cortege arrived nearly an hour late before winding its way up the hill which was lined by pupils from local primary schools and members of St Colmcille's GAA club.
His coffin was borne by six mourners to the door of the church where it was met by Mgr Liam McEntegart, a former teaching colleague of the late Mgr Faul at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon.
Some 15 priests, drawn largely from the Archdiocese of Armagh, concelebrated the memorial Mass before a large congregation from the village where Mgr Faul had served as parish priest since 1998.
In his homily, Mgr McEntegart sketched the life of his former colleague whom he described as a "great Catholic, a great priest and a great Irishman".
He said this "outstanding pastor" has set "very high standards for the priesthood and for the church which he loved".
Mgr McEntegart referred to Mgr Faul's dedication to education and to human and civil rights. Citing Mgr Faul's love of his neighbour he said: "His courage and compassion led him to stand up for human rights and the preservation of human dignity. "Injustice whether in high places or otherwise, whether committed by friend or foe, was injustice in the eyes of Mgr Faul."
Denis Faul, he added, was colourful and lived a controversial life to the full. "But, above all, he was a man of faith and fidelity, a man of peace who opposed violence whether against the child in the womb, the downtrodden, the prisoner." Requiem Mass will be celebrated in Carrickmore at noon today by the Auxilliary Bishop of Armagh.
Tributes continued yesterday from other churches and all the political parties.
A statement from the Presbyterian church said: "His willingness to take risks for what he believed to be right was admired by many whose thoughts he echoed when speaking out strongly and courageously against what was wrong and evil in our society."
Tommy McKearney, a republican hunger striker in 1981, said: "Fr Faul was a very brave person, exposing the cruelties and brutalities being used by the state against the nationalist and republican population. "He did so very forthrightly and courageously, along with one or two others, Mgr Murray and Fr Brady, at a time when few others were giving them support.
"He opposed in principle the first and second hunger strikes - he made his opposition to it plain - but having said that, he endeavoured to ensure that the demands that we were asking for, which in his opinion were broadly speaking very justified, would be brought about."
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy said: "Mgr Faul was recognised as a person of integrity who was very strongly opposed to violence. He held republican principles, and whilst forthright, he always respected the views of others."
Ivan McElhinney, president of the Methodist church, said: "Mgr Denis Faul was a man of high personal integrity."