Funeral for Castile Will Be at St. Paul Cathedral Thursday

St. Paul, MN – The funeral for Philando Castile, who was fatally shot by police last week, will be held at the Cathedral of St. Paul on Thursday, July 14 at 12:00 p.m.

The request for the Cathedral came directly from Valerie Castile, Philando’s mother, who wishes the funeral service to be ecumenical and an opportunity for “people to come together in a new way,” praying for peace and reconciliation, according to a news release.

• How to Get News Alerts and Newsletters from Patch

Cathedral Rector, Rev. John Ubel, will participate by leading the liturgical prayers and will be joined by Rev. Steve Daniels, Sr., pastor of nearby Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, who will deliver a eulogy.

A visiting choir will assist in the liturgy.

On Thursday, the Cathedral held a Mass of Justice and Peace, at which Archbishop Bernard Hebda spoke about the fatal shooting of Castile.

"As people of faith, we turn to the Lord in challenging times, seeking not only his consolation and healing but also his wisdom and guidance," Hebda said.

"In the midst of anger, fear and frustration, we need to come together as God’s family to pray that God’s grace might unite all people of good will and bring light into the darkness of this difficult time. In its simplicity and familiarity, the Mass will allow us to ask the Lord not only to console Mr. Castile’s grieving family and loved ones, but also to heal the divisions in our community, to guide our public servants in their pursuit of the common good, and to satisfy the longings of those who thirst for justice and peace."

Image: Ryan Claussen via Flickr / Creative Commons