COLORADO SPRINGS. Prelates from around the country paid tribute to Bishop Emeritus Michael Sheridan as local Catholics mourned the late bishop during vigil and funeral liturgies held Oct. 6 and 7. Bishop Sheridan died of cancer Sept. 27 at age 77.

I am Father Larry Brennan, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and a longtime friend of the late Bishop Michael Sheridan. Over the last 12 years, I had the privilege of working with him in a variety of capacities, coming to know many of you who are here this afternoon. Today I have the sad honor of preaching at his funeral.

We human beings have a variety of reactions in the face of the mystery of death. No one of them is the correct one. No one of them is normative. I know that they are all present here today. For many people, the first reaction is numbness or shock.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Bishop Emeritus Michael John Sheridan, who served as Bishop of Colorado Springs from 2003-2021, died peacefully on Sept. 27 at Penrose Hospital.

​COLORADO SPRINGS. Franciscan Sister Georgiana Franzluebbers died Sept. 1 at age 91 at Mount St. Francis Nursing Center.