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ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Catholic community said its goodbyes to Bishop Emeritus Edward P. Cullen during a funeral Mass Friday morning.
Bishop Alfred Schlert of the Diocese of Allentown, left, prays at the side of Bishop Cullen. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherBishop Alfred Schlert officiates the Visitation for the late Bishop Cullen. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherThe late Bishop Cullen is taken to the altar. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherA mourner says goodbye to Bishop Edward Cullen. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherBishop Alfred Schlert prays Thursday. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherBishop Alfred Schlert leads ceremonies Thursday. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherBishop Alfred Schlert leads Visitation ceremonies. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherBeverly McDevitt, Allentown Diocesan Music Director, sings Thursday. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherMembers of the Knights of Columbus attend to the late Bishop Cullen. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherA mourner makes her way to the late Bishop Cullen. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherBishop Alfred Schlert says goodbye to Bishop Cullen. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherThe late Bishop Edward Cullen at rest. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherKnights of Columbus members attend to the late Bishop Cullen. Ceremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. FisherCeremonies of Reception of the Body and Visitation for The Most Reverend Edward Peter Cullen, D.D., third Bishop of Allentown, were held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photography by Donna Fisher Donna S. Fisher
Cullen was bishop from 1998 until his retirement in 2009.
Services for the public began Thursday with reception of the body at 4 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown. It was followed by visitation until 7 p.m., when a vigil service took place.
Additional visitation was held today from 9 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m., and interment in Resurrection Cemetery, Allentown.
LehighValleyNews.com will have full coverage of the liturgical ceremonies.
Archbishop Nelson Perez of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia celebrated the funeral Mass, and Allentown Bishop Alfred Schlert was homilist.
Services were livestreamed on AD Today, and on the diocesan Facebook page and YouTube channel. The livestream also was available on Service Electric Cable TV. Thursday’s vigil aired on channel 902, and the funeral Mass on Friday aired on channel 50 and channel 550.
Cullen was the predecessor to Bishop John Barres, who led the diocese from 2009 to 2016.
In a statement after Cullen’s death, Barres said Cullen “always had wise, generous and creative counsel. He had a powerful intellect and exuded a radiant compassion.”
The funeral services were steeped in ritual, tradition and symbolism. Cullen was laid to rest in the ceremonial vestments of a bishop, wearing a pectoral cross around his neck and a miter – the pointed hat symbolizing his office.
The vigil and the funeral Mass included Scripture readings and reflections, including from Cullen's brother, John. During Friday’s services, the casket was positioned so that Cullen’s head was facing the altar and his feet nearest to the congregation, a ritual symbolizing that he stood at the front of the church while alive.
