A priest loved by all is laid to rest in California

OGDEN — "How beautiful it is that Fr. Herrlich’s love has touched all of you," said Jesuit Father Martin Rock, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Ogden at a Memorial Mass Feb. 21. Jesuit Father Neale W. Herrlich, 86, died Feb. 12, at Los Gatos Community Hospital of heart failure.

There was standing room only as friends of Fr. Herrlich crowded into St. Mary Church. Fr. Rock concelebrated the Mass with Jesuit Father Patrick Reuse, assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish; Msgr. Victor Bonnell, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Layton; Father Charles Cummins, parochial vicar of St. Joseph Catholic Schools; and Msgr. Lawrence Sweeney, retired. Deacons Steve Neveraski, Jack Clark, and Michael Bulson assisted at the altar.

In his homily, Fr. Rock said many who knew Fr. Herrlich knew of his kindness, his compassion, his love, and his concern for other people. By imitating Christ, he lived truly as he wanted others to live.

"The world says death extinquishes the light," said Fr. Rock. "As a follower of Christ, death is merely putting out the lamp.

"One of the most beautiful words is the simple word home," said Fr. Rock. "In the scriptures, Jesus talks about making your home in him as he does in you. That is what home means."

Fr. Rock said the scriptures tell us our lasting home is not here on earth; we are only here for a while. God longs to have us with him.

"There is only one thing necessary for a home and that is love," said Fr. Rock. "God has a heavenly home filled with love.

"One of the greatest challenges to our faith is death because it looks like an ending," said Fr. Rock. "We do not realize it is just a beginning. In this life we are looking for peace, happiness, and joy, and we keep trying to fill that void. Fr. Herrlich has found that peace, happiness, and joy with God."

Another funeral Mass for Fr. Herrlich was celebrated at the Sacred Heart Center in Los Gatos, Calif., Feb. 21. Bill Burbridge, a long time friend of Fr. Herrlich and a parishioner of Holy Family Parish attended the funeral.

According to Burbridge, Jesuit Father John Martin concelebrated the funeral Mass with many Jesuit priests, and he said Fr. Herrlich fulfilled his vocation obediently with love, compassion, and generosity in a very humble way.

"Fr. Herrlich was laid to rest in Santa Clara, Calif., only a short distance from Los Gatos. His burial site is next to Jesuit Father Louis Kern, the first pastor of St. Mary Parish, Ogden (1957-1974)."

Fr. Herrlich was temporarily assigned to the Santa Maria Mission in Ogden in 1955, and in 1957 he became assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish. He served as pastor of St. Mary Parish from 1974-1992. Fr. Herrlich loved the Hispanic community and was compassionate toward their causes.

According to Burbridge Fr. Martin spoke highly of Fr. Herrlich’s vocation as a Jesuit. Fr. Martin also said Fr. Herrlich had a love-hate relationship with the Sacred Heart Center. "Fr. Herrlich loved his Jesuit brothers and the center where his vocation began, but he hated to return to Los Gatos and leave the community he loved in Ogden," said Fr. Martin.

Fr. Rock said if ever Fr. Herrlich needed something, he called Dick Duncan. Dick is a parishioner at St. Mary Parish and had been friends with Fr. Herrlich for 35 years. He spoke at the Memorial Mass.

Dick’s wife, Pat, was the secretary at St. Mary Parish for 23 years until she died in 1995. All of Dick’s sons graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School and were taught by Fr. Herrlich.

Fr. Herrlich returned to Utah in January, just a few weeks before he died, to perform the wedding ceremony for Dick’s son, Jim and his wife Francie. Jim attended the funeral in Los Gatos and served as a pallbearer.

Dick said Fr. Herrlich loved the students and they loved him. He coached basketball and track and enjoyed riding on the bus with the teams to their away games.

Fr. Herrlich loved the outdoors and going fishing and hunting. He enjoyed camping with the Boy Scouts at Lake Hebgen in Montana, Flaming Gorge, and the South fork of the Ogden River. Fr. Herrlich would celebrate outdoor Masses, and enjoyed getting to know the boys and being involved in their activities.

"He was not flamboyant; he was down to earth, and we will miss him," said Dick.

St. Joseph Catholic High School has established a scholarship fund in memory of Fr. Herrlich. To make a donation, send a check to St. Joseph High School, 1790 Lake Street, Ogden, Utah 84401. You may also send donations to the St. Mary Parish building fund in Fr. Herrlich’s name, by sending a check to St. Mary Parish, P.O. Box 9196, Ogden, Utah 84409.