The funeral of Msgr. Bernard Yarrish took place on Monday, June 11, 2018 at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Our Lady of Hope Parish in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
To listen to an audio recording of Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s homily, please click below:
To view the Holy Card and Funeral Program, please click below.
Msgr. Bernard Yarrish Holy Card and Funeral Program
Here is Msgr. Yarrish’s Obituary
Monsignor Bernard E. Yarrish, a resident of Little Flower Manor, died Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.
Monsignor Yarrish, son of the late Stanley A. and Blanche Kaminski Yarrish, was born in Wilkes-Barre on Jan. 8, 1951. He received his early education at Marymount Grammar School and Marymount High School. He graduated from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre in 1972. He completed his formation for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 1976, by the Most Rev. Leo T. Maher, D.D., then Bishop of San Diego, Calif. Monsignor Yarrish remained in Rome to continue his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, receiving his Licentiate in sacred theology with a specialization in biblical theology in June 1977.
Monsignor Yarrish returned to the Diocese of Scranton and served as an assistant pastor at St. John’s in Wilkes-Barre; Cathedral of St. Peter, Scranton; and Holy Family Parish, Scranton. He was appointed Assistant Chancellor and secretary to Bishop J. Carroll McCormick, D.D., on Sept. 6, 1977. Simultaneously, he served as adjunct lecturer in fundamental theology at the University of Scranton.. He remained in his position as secretary to Bishop McCormick until Bishop McCormick’s retirement in 1983, assuming the same responsibilities under the seventh Bishop of Scranton, the Most Rev. John J. O’Connor, D.D. Monsignor Yarrish was appointed to serve on the staff of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C., serving as a local collaborator to Archbishop Pio Laghi, D.D., the first Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.
Monsignor Yarrish was named a Chaplain to His Holiness on July 10, 1990, and given the title of Monsignor. As his tenure at the Apostolic Nunciature was nearing its end, Bishop Timlin received a request from Monsignor Edwin F. O’Brien, then the rector of North American College in Rome. In answer to this request, Monsignor Yarrish was appointed to the faculty of the North American College in Rome on Aug. 27, 1991, where he served as Vice-Rector. Monsignor Yarrish was named a Prelate of Honor on July 14, 1996, by Pope John Paul II.
As Monsignor Yarrish’s health began to decline, he left his position as Vice-Rector of the North American College in 2000, after nine years of generous service, to return to his beloved home diocese and his appointment as pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Wilkes-Barre. It was during this time he served as dean of the Wilkes-Barre/Central South Deanery and was elected as the Region 4 Representative to the Council of Priests. He also served as an advisor to the Board of Continuing Education for Priests. On July 3, 2003, he was appointed Vice-Rector of St. Pius X Seminary in Dalton and, in addition, his tremendous knowledge of the Church in the United States led to his appointment as director of the Office of Continuing Education for Priests on Nov. 11, 2003. During the years after his return from Rome, Monsignor Yarrish also served as spiritual director for many of the diocesan priests. He has continued to serve his brother priests, often times by his courageous example of heroic service despite his failing health.
He is survived by two brothers, Stanley and wife, Nancy; and Joseph and wife, Mary; and several nieces and nephews.
A viewing will take place at Our Lady of Hope Parish at St. Mary of the Maternity Church, 40 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, on Sunday, June 10, 2018, from 2 to 5 p.m. Vespers will be celebrated at St. Mary of the Maternity Church, Wilkes-Barre, at 5 p.m., with the Rev. J. Duane Gavitt, Dean, presiding.
A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and co-celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, on Monday, June 11, 2018, at 10 a.m. in St. Mary Maternity Church, Wilkes-Barre. A viewing also will take place prior to the 10 a.m. funeral Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary of the Maternity Cemetery, West Wyoming.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at NationalMSSociety.org to aid in research for the disease at msfocus.org.
Funeral arrangements have been provided by the Nat & Gawlas Funeral Home, natandgawlas.com.
Here is an article about the funeral mass by the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan helps bid farewell to area monsignor
WILKES-BARRE — Calling him “a true priest,” His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, Monday made good on his promise to his dear friend, “Bernie,” by being the principal celebrant at Monsignor Bernard E. Yarrish’s funeral.
With 200 people in attendance at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church/Our Lady of Hope Parish on Park Avenue, Dolan said Yarrish asked him to be the celebrant at his funeral.
“That was 10 years ago,” Dolan said. “My friend, Bernie, asked me to celebrate his funeral Mass. He said I should keep it short and to make it about Jesus.”
Dolan recalled a June 2000 visit to Rome when Yarrish was the celebrant at a Mass. He said Yarrish, whose legs were already beginning to weaken, had to walk down three steps from the altar to the podium.
“His legs were very wobbly,” Dolan said. “And he began to fall. He caught himself before his head would have struck the marble altar.”
Dolan said Yarrish apologized for being such a distraction and decided to give his sermon while clinging to the altar.
“The altar stands for Jesus,” Dolan said. “On the altar that was Calvary, with his hands and feet nailed to that cross, Jesus was never more of a priest. There he was, a man who at first appeared weak, his strength on that cross made the earth quake. And at that moment, when thought to be powerless, Jesus put Satan on the run.”
Dolan said, like Jesus, Yarrish never complained about his weakening condition.
“Bernie, you are an icon to us,” Dolan said. “You are saving more souls now than ever.”
Dolan said Yarrish and the late St. Pope John Paul II would often talk in Polish. He said the two knew each other and liked each other.
“Bernie was a man of selfless charity,” Dolan said. “He always offered encouragement.”
Bambera said the Scranton Diocese and its 120 parishes in 11 counties deeply feel the loss of Monsignor Yarrish.
“We have lost one of the best,” Bambera said. “It will be hard to let him go.”
Bambera said Yarrish was known around the world.
“He was a wise confidant, a fun guy, a true priest,” Bambera said. “He always made sure my head never got too big.”
Dolan told the family and friends gathered to give thanks for Yarrish’s life and to remember the cross.
“Remember who he was to all of us,” he said. “He taught us faith, he taught us about God and he taught us the meaning of the cross.”
Yarrish, who had been residing at Little Flower Manor, died on Wednesday, June 6, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.
Yarrish, son of the late Stanley A. and Blanche Kaminski Yarrish, was born in Wilkes-Barre on Jan. 8, 1951. He received his early education at Marymount Grammar School and Marymount High School. He graduated from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre in 1972. He completed his formation for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 1976, by the Most Rev. Leo T. Maher, D.D., then Bishop of San Diego, Calif.
As Monsignor Yarrish’s health began to decline, he left his position as Vice-Rector of the North American College in 2000, after nine years of service, to return to his beloved home diocese and his appointment as pastor of Saint Boniface Parish in Wilkes-Barre.
He is survived by two brothers, Stanley and wife, Nancy, and Joseph and wife, Mary; and several nieces and nephews. Interment was in Saint Mary of the Maternity Cemetery, West Wyoming.
