Funeral Homily
Reverend Thomas Wade Darnall
Catholic Pastoral Center
July 5, 2006

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

            Yesterday, July 4^th, was the ninety-third birthday of Father Wade Darnall.  Last Friday, June 30^th, was his new birthday into everlasting life.  He now stands in the presence of Almighty God Who welcomes him and judges him mercifully and lovingly.  We who still live by faith and not by sight pray that Jesus, Who is our Way, our Truth and our Life, will now grant Father Wade Darnall life everlasting in heaven.

          Eight years ago, as Father Darnall began to show signs of aging, it took only one suggestion to him to have him move from the Sacred Heart rectory to our Catholic Pastoral Center.  He remained here until he transferred to Saint Ann Nursing Home in March of 2000.  While he lived here and at Saint Ann Nursing Home, I was blest to be able to see him frequently, often daily.  In those many, many meetings, he always greeted me with the same happy, positive and enthusiastic greeting:  “Archbishop, this is a wonderful place.  The people here are so good and so helpful.  The food is good, the place is clean and everybody is so kind.”  He extended that same greeting even in recent times when he was already bedridden.  The only change occurred in the past two months when he no longer called me “Archbishop.”  Now I was simply “Bishop” – and then he would state as he pointed his finger at me – “You’re Bishop Kelley!”

          In the days and weeks and the years ahead, the stories of Father Wade Darnall will be told and re-told.  He will be, in fact, he has already been likened to an “icon” of the priesthood.

          As a responsible young man already employed, he continued discerning God’s call.  Although interrupted by military service during the Second World War, the call of Jesus to the priesthood heightened.  Thus, at the end of the war, he applied and was accepted as a seminarian.  On August 15, 1952, Father Wade Darnall was ordained a priest for the service of the Church of Oklahoma.  In that ordination ceremony, the bishop quoted Jesus saying:  “I do not call you servants, instead I call you friends.  You did not choose Me.  I chose you.”  (John 15:15-16)

          Father Darnall received his call and ordination to the priesthood seriously.  He knew that Jesus was his Friend.  He knew that Jesus called him to be a priest.  Therefore, over the next fifty-four years, he faithfully fulfilled his vocation as a priest of Jesus Christ.  Yes, Father Darnall loved being a priest because he truly loved Jesus, our eternal High Priest, Who had called him to priestly service.

          A priest of the New Testament is a very special minister of God.  He acts not in his own name nor on his own authority and power.  At ordination he becomes and he remains another Christ.  As a priest he acts in the Name of Jesus and on His authority.  It was this unique configuration to Christ which inspired, motivated and energized Father Darnall in his daily priestly ministry.  Even in his final days, when there was no activity, no words, no response, simply being in his presence directed us to Jesus because he was a good and faithful priest.

          Today we express our gratitude to Father Darnall for his good and faithful priestly service, for his friendship and his love.  But even more so, we express our gratitude to Almighty God.  It is God Who gives us life, creating us in His own Image and Likeness.  It is God, our Father, Who sent His Son Jesus to save us.  It is Jesus Who redeems us and blesses us in so many beautiful ways.  He established the Church for our guidance.  He instituted the sacraments as a means of sharing His Grace with us.  He established the ministerial priesthood, authorizing mere men to act in His Name and on His authority.

          Almighty God, in His goodness and providence, calls certain men to serve as His priests, not to bring the Church material gain or worldly power, but rather to lead people to eternal life.  In and through their ministry, the Gospel is proclaimed, the sacraments are celebrated and reconciliation is achieved.  As the priest leads God’s people along the pilgrim journey of faith, he, too, traverses the same path.  In hope and with trust, he reaches for the same goal.  The words and promise of Christ are spoken to all God’s people.  In today’s Gospel, He says:  “I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven.  Whoever eats this Bread will live forever.”  And He assures us “If you believe in Me, even if you die, you shall live, for I am the Resurrection and the Life.”  Our brother, the priest, Father Wade Darnall, believed.  Now, he has died but in Jesus, he shall live forever! 

          Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.  Amen.