Cathedral Hosts Funeral for Corporal Nathan Cirillo

City comes together to mourn Cpl. Cirillo's death and celebrate his life

Posted October 28, 2014

Just a block away from the Lt. Col. John Foote Armoury, Christ's Church Cathedral hosted the military funeral service for Corporal Nathan Cirillo. He was murdered on Wednesday while on sentry duty at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. Corporal Cirillo was a member of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s) based in Hamilton. The service took place on Tuesday October 28 at noon. 

Christ's Church Cathedral is a spiritual centre not just for the people of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara but also for the wider community. This gathering place of community, compassion and hope was a fitting setting for Corporal Cirillo's funeral. Major the Reverend Canon Robert Fead presided at the service and preached a homily that offered comfort and peace to Corporal Cirillo's family and friends, the members of his unit and our nation. "The light of Christ is in our midst and dispels the darkness of death", said Canon Fead. Bishop Michael Bird, who proclaimed the Gospel, was joined at the service by Bishop Douglas Crosby of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. Among those also in attendance were the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Official Opposition, the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, the Lt. Governor of Ontario, the Deputy Premier, and the Chief of the Defence Staff. A digital copy of the order of service is available here

In the week before the funeral, Corporal Cirillo's body made its way home to Hamilton amidst crowded overpasses and streets along the Highway of Heroes. In the wake of the death of Corporal Cirillo, along with that of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent who was killed in a separate attack the day before, Bishop Michael Bird asks that the people and churches of the Diocese of Niagara continue “to uphold in prayer all those connected to the tragedies and to respond with acts of loving kindness.”