GRIEF FOR LOVED PRIEST HUNDREDS MOURN TEACHER, COACH AT FUNERAL MASS.Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer QUARTZ HILL - Nearly 500 mourners packed Father Serra Church on Tuesday for the funeral Mass for the Rev. Mariano Biasio, a former Paraclete High School Paraclete High School is a Catholic High School in Lancaster, CA operated independently of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. 186 seniors graduated in the 2006-2007 school year. teacher and coach and the parish's first pastor. As parishioners, Paraclete students and former students looked on, Biasio's casket was carried to the front of the church by fellow priests under an arch of swords carried by Knights of Columbus Knights of Columbus, American Roman Catholic society for men, founded (1882) at New Haven, Conn. (where its headquarters are still located), by Father Michael J. McGivney. members. ``He was willing to sacrifice (his) entire life,'' said the Rev. Ernest Candelaria, Father Serra's pastor, who had known Biasio since 1954. ``In fact his whole priesthood, he gave his life to the Lord and he did it to serve the people of God, and I admire that in him.'' Mourners remembered Biasio, who died Thursday at age 76, as a man with a sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour who was dedicated to his work and his students. Despite being stricken with a stroke 6 1/2 years ago, Biasio remained dedicated to the people he worked with, even attending a going-away party for Cleofas Martinez, Paraclete's dean of boys, in his wheelchair. ``That's the kind of a man he was. He would do things like that for people,'' said Martinez, who had known Biasio since 1982. ``That's the way I'll always remember him. A very fine man, a very fine priest.'' Born in Italy, he was ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. in 1954 and moved to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. in 1960. Biasio taught at Paraclete from 1968 to 1991, when he left to become Father Serra Parish's pastor. He also coached Paraclete's cross country team and started the school's soccer team in 1979. Biasio had to step down as pastor after he suffered the stroke. Martinez said Biasio worked hard as a teacher and a coach. ``He was a man of many talents,'' said Martinez. ``A very, very fine man, very down to earth and just amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. energy.'' Margaret Neill, one of Biasio's former students and now Paraclete's athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic , said Biasio was demanding of his students, athletes and himself. ``What he expected of the kids he did it himself, too,'' Neill said. ``He was very strict on himself.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Barbara Sitts speaks during Tuesday's funeral service funeral service n → misa de cuerpo presente funeral service n → service m funèbre funeral service funeral n for the Rev. Mariano Biasio, a former Paraclete High School teacher and coach and the first pastor of Father Serra Church. (2 -- color) The Rev. Mariano Biasio taught at Paraclete from 1968 to 1991. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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