Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley presided at the funeral Mass for Thomas M. Menino, the longest-serving mayor of Boston, at Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church, in the Hyde Park neighborhood where Menino lived all his life.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Boston Monday morning to say their final goodbyes to the beloved mayor as a hearse ferrying his casket wound its way to the church where he was baptized and married.
Menino died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 71. He had stepped down as mayor in January after an unprecedented five terms at the city’s helm.
The church was packed with dignitaries, including Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. Others from beyond the political sphere attending included Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz.
Rev. John J. Connolly Jr., who delivered the homily, said a teacher at Menino’s Catholic school had asked him what he would do with his life.
“The mayor replied, as a high school senior, ‘I’m going to build bridges,’” Connolly said.
“The bridges he built between and among the neighbors and neighborhoods of this city and peoples near and far are perhaps his most worthy monument,” Connolly said.
