In New York City today, they crowded into the Church of the Immaculate Conception to bid farewell to Fr. Richard John Neuhaus.

One of the people there was Fr. Frank Mann, of the Diocese of Brooklyn — a friend and colleague of mine and, it turns out, a man who for many years had Neuhaus as his spiritual director.

Frank slipped out after the homily (by Fr. Raymond de Souza) to give me a quick call and some early impressions of this remarkable event for a remarkable man.

He talked, Frank said, with two Sisters of Life, Sr. Veronica Mary and Sr. Maura Walter. They told him: “Anyone who searched for truth will miss him. People found relationships and friendships through him. He was very gifted at networking people to meet other people.”

Frank also bumped into Nathaniel Peters, an assistant editor at First Things. “I asked him,” he said, “could you describe Fr. Neuhouse in just one word. And he replied, ‘Priest and Father.’ He stressed the father aspect. He also said that Neuhaus was the greatest speaker and listener he ever knew, a very gifted listener.”

Frank told me about speaking with a parishioner at the parish, Josephine Pucci, who said Neuhaus had been at the parish for 19 years, and said the 7:45 mass almost every morning. He always went out of his way to visit people who were on the sick list, even if it wasn’t his duty day. She was flabbergasted to see him stop by her hospital room one morning when she wasn’t expecting him. “He was very dedicated to the Lord,” she said. “Every homily was related to the gospel and applicable to the every day life of people.”

Frank said the church was overflowing — he couldn’t begin to estimate how many were there. From the vestibule to the choir loft, the place was packed. He was particularly impressed to see so many young people there. Lots of Catholics in their 20’s and 30’s, he said.

In his homily, he said, Fr. De Souza spoke of the words that Neuhaus loved. “Convivium.” “Winsome.” “Egregious.” His most gifted forum, he explained, was the dinner table. He was a sociable person who loved the priesthood, and nurtured priestly vocations. And, the homilist mentioned that Neuhaus was “a mighty warrior for the champion of life.” Cardinal O’Connor gave two great gifts to the church, De Souza said: the Sisters of Life and Richard John Neuhaus.

Neuhaus, De Souza went on, stood for prudence, justice, courage, wisdom and holiness. And he called again and again for “fidelity, fidelity, fidelity.”

The loss of Neuhaus, De Souza said, “tilts the world on its axis.”

Frank also faxed me a copy of the holy card from the mass, and on the back there is this Neuhaus quote:

“Whatever little growth in holiness I have experienced, whatever strength I have received from the company of the saints, whatever understanding I have attained of God and his ways — these and all other gifts I have received I will bring gratefully to the throne. But in seeking entry to that heavenly kingdom, I will, with Dysmas, look to Christ and Christ alone.

Then I hope to hear him say, ‘Today, you will be with me in paradise,’ as I hope with all my being — because, although looking to him alone, I am not alone — he will say to all.”

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.