DENVER - Catholics filled the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday to take part in one final Mass celebrated by Denver's Archbishop Charles Chaput before he heads east to Philadelphia to become the leader of the church there.
Even before Mass began, it was nearly impossible to find a place to sit inside the Basilica. Many parishioners reflected on the impact Chaput had on their lives. John Gibson was one of the many who attended.
"He's our shepherd for our community and when you see your shepherd leave, it means a lot," he said.
Chris Orchard, a parishioner who is also homeless, said he will remember Chaput as someone who always tried to help the less fortunate.
"He literally just held my hand and prayed together that the Lord will provide me with a home someday," Orchard said.
Anna Marie Larsen said she'll remember Chaput as a friend.
"If you ever watch him in a crowd, he stops with every individual, looks them in the eye, and wants to know how they are," she said. "Denver is really losing an incredible person and an incredible leader for our church."
Monisignor Thomas Fryar said he has worked with Chaput for the past 14 years.
"It's a day filled with emotions," he said. "It's a difficult thing to say goodbye to somebody that has been such a big part of our lives"
He said he's always looked up to Chaput as an incredible teacher.
"That's one of the great things he's brought to Denver - is a witnessing - not just of knowing and living the faith, but of passing it on in ways that makes others excited about it," he said. "I know that there is never a day, even on his theoretical days off, that that he is not meeting with people."
But Fryar said he is confident Chaput will continue that tradition in Philadelphia.
"We know that the Lord has good things in store for Philadelphia because we've experienced it here," he said.
It will be up to the Pope himself to decide on a replacement for Chaput. The Denver Archdiocese hopes to have a new leader in 6 to 8 months.
The Philadelphia archdiocese has been dealing with accusations that the church hid complaints about sexual abuse by priests for decades. In Denver, church officials from 2005 to 2008 settled dozens of lawsuits alleging sex abuse, with Chaput offering an apology to victims.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)