For 120 years, Hendricken was entombed in a dusty crypt in the cathedral basement. Tobin decided to honor him by placing his body in a custom-built green Brazilian sarcophagus that sits to the right of the altar at the front of the church. His body had been stored in a Catholic mausoleum since it was removed from the crypt in June.

In his homily, Bishop Hendricken High School chaplain's, the Rev. Marcel L. Taillon recounted the story of Hendricken’s life. The late bishop fought prejudice and poor health in building the diocese, Taillon said. A severe asthmatic, Hendricken died of complications from a cold.

Taillon said that Hendricken’s last words, witnessed by several people who attended his death bed, were: "Thy will be done.’’

Hendricken students pay respects to bishop, 120 years after death
Posted 10:53 a.m.

WARWICK -- In a solemn service marked by prayer, reflection and song, students at Bishop Hendricken High School this morning paid their respects to the casketed body of their school’s namesake, Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken, the first bishop of the Diocese of Providence.

Hendricken’s body is being re-entombed following a noon Mass at Providence’s cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul -- but the present bishop, Thomas J. Tobin, granted the school’s request to bring the dead bishop to the school at 8 a.m. today.

Hendricken chaplain the Rev. Marcel L. Taillon arranged and led this morning’s service. Students assembled in a school gymnasium and watched a video of Hendricken’s life. When it was over, the body of Hendricken, enclosed in a green-velvet casket, was unloaded from a hearse. Six students carried the casket into the gym.

The choir sang and Fr. Taillon led the students in saying the rosary. After a moment of silence, a bagpiper played. The students carried the bishop’s body back to the hearse, which will bring Hendricken to Providence with a police escort.

-- Journal staff writer G. Wayne Miller