How to Write a Eulogy for Your Archbishop - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Writing a eulogy for an archbishop can feel like walking into a very formal room while you are still raw with grief. You want to honor the office and the person. You want to reflect the theological and pastoral work they did while also telling a human story that people will remember. This guide gives a clear plan, real examples you can adapt, explanations of religious terms, and tips for how to deliver your words with dignity and heart.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone asked to speak about an archbishop at a funeral, memorial, requiem mass, celebration of life, or a diocesan gathering. You might be a clergy colleague, a longtime friend, a former parishioner, a staff member, or a relative. Some of you will be used to pulpit ministry and sermons. Some of you will never have spoken publicly before. The examples below range from formal liturgical tributes to short personal remembrances so you can pick a tone that fits your role and the church s expectations.

What is a eulogy in this context

In many traditions a eulogy is a short speech that honors the person who has died. For an archbishop the eulogy may appear during a funeral Mass, a memorial service, or a reception. It is different from the homily. A homily is a sermon based on scripture and prepared by the person presiding. A eulogy is personal. It tells stories, names impact, and helps people remember the unique life and ministry of the archbishop.

Terms you might see and what they mean

• Archbishop A senior bishop who often oversees a large city region called an archdiocese. The title signals a level of pastoral and administrative responsibility.
• Diocese The geographic area that a bishop or archbishop leads. It includes parishes, priests, and lay ministries.
• Ordination The ceremony where someone becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop. Ordination is a sacrament in many denominations and marks the start of formal ministry roles.
• Consecration The specific rite where someone becomes a bishop. It often includes laying on of hands by other bishops.
• Mitre The ceremonial hat bishops and archbishops wear during liturgical functions.
• Crozier The shepherds staff that symbolizes a bishop s pastoral care.
• Homily A short sermon given during a liturgy that reflects on scripture and the life of faith.
• Liturgy Any public worship gathering with a set order of prayers, readings, and rituals.
• Laity Church members who are not ordained clergy.

How long should a eulogy for an archbishop be

Check with the presiding clergy and the order of service early. In liturgical funerals time is tightly scheduled. Aim for three to five minutes for a concise tribute and five to eight minutes for a fuller remembrance. If multiple people are speaking, coordinate times so the liturgy flows smoothly.

Before you start writing

Take these steps before you open a blank page.

• Ask about liturgical expectations Confirm whether the eulogy will be part of the Mass or outside of it. Some churches prefer brief non liturgical remembrances at a separate moment.
• Check tone and audience Is this primarily clergy and church elders or the whole diocesan family with many laypeople present? Tone adjusts accordingly.
• Gather memories Talk to priests, deacons, staff, volunteers, and parishioners for one or two short stories each. Record specific moments that show character or leadership.
• Choose a focus For clarity pick two or three themes you want listeners to leave with. Examples include pastoral care, social justice work, mentorship, or a gift for liturgy.
• Confirm protocol Some denominations have strict forms for tributes. Confirm who else will speak and any required approvals.

Structure that works

A clear shape keeps an audience with you. Here is a simple structure that suits clergy funerals.

• Opening Name yourself and your relationship to the archbishop. Offer a one sentence framing line about the person s ministry or character.
• Life sketch A concise overview of their ministry journey. Include ordination and consecration dates and major roles if relevant and brief.
• Anecdotes Two short stories that reveal who they were as a pastor and person. Keep these specific and sensory.
• Legacy What did they leave behind theologically, pastorally, and personally? Who will carry on their work?
• Closing A final blessing like line, a scripture verse, or an invitation to a moment of silence and collective prayer.

Writing the opening

Start simply. Saying your name and role grounds the listener and gives you a steady breath.

Opening examples

• Good morning. I am Father James and I served under Archbishop Carter for eight years as vicar general. Today we remember a shepherd who loved this city and its people.
• My name is Maria Delgado. I worked with Archbishop Alvarez on the diocesan education board. He taught our schools to care for every child with dignity.
• Hello. I am Deacon Samuel. I was blessed to call Archbishop Ndlovu my friend. He had a laugh that could fill a cathedral and a seriousness about justice that would not quit.

How to write the life sketch for an archbishop

The life sketch is not a chronological biography. Focus on the roles and milestones that shaped ministry.

Life sketch template ideas

• [Name] was ordained to the priesthood in [year] and consecrated as a bishop in [year]. He served parishes in [places] and later led our archdiocese beginning in [year]. He championed [cause] and was known for [trait].
• [Name] grew up in [place]. After seminary he served as [role]. He brought to the office a love of liturgy, a taste for music, and a clear concern for people on the margins.

Anecdotes that matter

People remember a story more than a list of titles. Keep stories short and concrete. One good story can carry a whole point about character.

Examples of short anecdotes

• Once during a parish visit a new family arrived late with a sleeping baby. Rather than scold them Archbishop Lewis sat in the back, held the baby, and whispered a blessing. He told me later he wanted the church to feel like home before it felt like a rule book.
• At a clergy retreat he quietly stayed up late to write personal notes to each newly ordained priest. He said those words mattered because ministry is a long road and people need to know someone saw them begin.
• When civic leaders called for a publicity photo he insisted on including the soup kitchen volunteers in front. He said the photo should show where the church s heart really was.

Addressing theological or controversial elements

Sometimes an archbishop s public stances created debate. You can acknowledge complexity without inflaming old wounds. Name the conviction and the context. If necessary speak about disagreements with respect and focus on how people were led to deeper conversation rather than division.

Examples for sensitive topics

• Archbishop Perez sometimes took positions that provoked strong responses. He believed that the church must speak into public life even when it is unpopular. Many of us disagreed at times. We also learned to listen to one another through those disagreements.
• He pushed for difficult reforms. That work was messy and it wounded some. He always tried to return to pastoral care in the aftermath and to sit with people who felt hurt.

Using gentle humor

Humor can humanize and lighten a heavy moment. Keep jokes small and earned. Avoid satire or anything that might seem like mockery.

Safe humor examples

• He loved tea so much that when a new meeting started he would always ask first for a cup and then for the agenda. We learned to bring both.
• His vestment collection was legendary. One priest joked that if you ever needed a color you could find it in Archbishop Martin s closet.

What to avoid

• Avoid prolonged doctrinal statements that feel like a sermon unless you are the homilist and it was agreed upon.
• Avoid airing private church disputes in public. This is not the place for internal politics.
• Avoid long lists of titles without stories. Titles tell a resume. Stories tell the soul.
• Avoid jokes that single out individuals in a hurtful way.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are sample tributes. Replace bracketed text with your details and trim for time.

Example 1 Formal liturgical tribute about pastoral care five to seven minutes

Good morning. I am Bishop Thomas Greene and I was privileged to serve with Archbishop Timothy O Connell on the provincial council. We gather in grief and gratitude for a life given to the service of God and neighbor.

Archbishop O Connell was ordained in 1976 and consecrated as bishop in 1999. He served as pastor in urban and rural parishes and then as our archbishop for fifteen years. His hallmark was pastoral presence. He believed the church should bend toward people who felt forgotten.

I remember once that a woman arrived at his office after losing her job and her home. She expected a lecture. Instead he sat on the floor with her and drank coffee from a paper cup while he wrote a note to the local shelter. He did not offer a solution and walk away. He stayed in the problem with her until something practical happened.

He also loved the liturgy. For him worship was not performance but formation. He taught clergy to prepare carefully and to welcome people into ritual that healed and named hope. Many priests here learned from his patience and humility.

Archbishop O Connell leaves behind initiatives that will continue: a diocesan housing partnership, a summer youth program that now serves hundreds, and a formation program for new clergy that bears his imprint. His call to serve the poor will remain our guide.

We will now take a moment of silence to recall one concrete way he touched our lives and to offer a prayer for his rest. Thank you.

Example 2 Personal colleague tribute short two to three minutes

Hello. I am Sister Anne Marie. I worked with Archbishop Singh on interfaith outreach for a decade. Archbishop Singh had a gift for friendship across difference. He would call rabbis, imams, and ministers not as a courtesy but as a daily practice of building trust.

One evening after a long meeting he invited everyone for tea and a piece of cake. He treated those casual moments as ministry. He listened to stories that were not always about grand plans. He believed relationships changed communities. We will miss his warmth and his stubborn faith in people.

Example 3 Short public figure tribute for diocesan gathering one to two minutes

My name is Jonathan Reyes. I am the director of the diocesan refugee program. Archbishop Keller opened our doors at a time when others turned away. He wrote letters, raised funds, and met families at the bus terminal at midnight. That kind of visible compassion changed lives. Thank you for standing with us and for teaching us to do the same.

Example 4 Honest complex relationship tribute three to four minutes

Good afternoon. I am Canon Petra Novak. I served under Archbishop Markovic for many years. He was a brilliant administrator and a stubborn man. We argued about budgeting and about priorities. Even in our arguments you could see his constant aim to protect the most vulnerable.

In his last months we had a hard conversation that allowed both of us to say what we needed to say. It felt like a reconciliation that is rare in institutional life. I am grateful for that and for his relentless insistence that leadership should be humble.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to get started. Keep each draft short and then edit for voice.

Template A Formal liturgical

My name is [Your Name] and I served as [role]. Archbishop [Name] was ordained in [year] and led our archdiocese since [year]. He cared deeply for [area of ministry]. One memory that shows who he was is [short story]. He taught us to [legacy or lesson]. We give thanks for his life and ask for prayers for his family and our community.

Template B Personal colleague

Hello. I am [Your Name]. I worked closely with Archbishop [Name] for [years]. He had a way of [personal trait]. The moment I will carry is [brief anecdote]. He shaped my ministry by [specific impact]. Thank you for remembering him with us today.

Template C Short public tribute

I am [Your Name]. On behalf of [group], I want to thank Archbishop [Name] for [contribution]. He changed lives by [example]. We are grateful and we will continue the work he began.

Practical tips for delivery

• Confirm where to stand Speak with the presider so you know if you should go to the lectern, the nave, or the reception area.
• Use large print notes Print your speech in large font. Emotion makes small text impossible to read.
• Practice with the microphone If one is available test volume and distance. If no mic is present project to the back pews and speak slowly.
• Coordinate with liturgy If music follows your remarks signal clearly when you are ending so the organist or musician can begin.
• Bring a backup reader Ask a colleague to be ready to finish a closing line if you need a moment.
• Wear appropriate attire Match the formality of the service. Clergy and laity will notice ceremonial norms.

Logistics and who to tell

• Confirm the order of service with the diocesan office.
• Provide a printed copy of your remarks to the liturgy coordinator for the program.
• Ask whether any remarks need approval from the presiding bishop or diocesan chancellor.
• Respect requests about recording or broadcasting. Many dioceses will stream the funeral and will want to coordinate speakers.

Readings, music, and prayers

Choose readings and music that reflect both the archbishop s faith and the diocesan tradition. Short scripture passages or a hymn verse can be powerful. Confirm selections with the presider so they fit the liturgical flow.

After the eulogy

People may ask for a copy. Offer to share it with the diocesan office so they can archive it. If you prefer privacy check with the family or diocesan office before posting any audio or text online.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Archbishop A senior bishop who leads an archdiocese and often coordinates with other bishops in a region.
• Diocese The area of pastoral responsibility under a bishop.
• Ordination The rite of becoming clergy. For priests and bishops this is a sacramental moment in many traditions.
• Consecration The specific rite making a bishop. It often involves the laying on of hands by other bishops.
• Mitre The ceremonial hat worn by bishops during liturgies.
• Crozier The shepherd s staff symbolizing pastoral care.
• Homily A sermon given within a worship service focused on scripture reflection and application.
• Laity Members of the church who are not ordained clergy.

Frequently asked questions

How formal should a eulogy for an archbishop be

Match the liturgical context. If the eulogy occurs within a Mass follow the presider s guidance. Outside of liturgy you can be more personal while still honoring the office. Ask the diocesan office what tone they prefer.

Can a layperson give a eulogy for an archbishop

Yes. Laypeople, clergy colleagues, family members, and members of the wider community may be invited to speak. Confirm with the presider who will speak during the service and where a lay tribute fits.

Should I include references to doctrine or public stances

Only if it is relevant and handled with care. If the archbishop influenced public life or theological education you can mention that in a factual and respectful way. Avoid long debates in a memorial setting.

What if I cry while speaking

Pause, breathe, and look at your notes. A brief breath and a sip of water steadies many speakers. If you need a moment a prearranged colleague can close the tribute for you.

Who should approve my remarks

Check with the diocesan office or the presiding bishop. Some dioceses ask to see texts in advance especially when the tribute will be part of an official liturgy or broadcast.

How do I balance personal stories with respect for the office

Choose stories that reveal pastoral heart and leadership. Small human moments that reflect the archbishop s ministry often convey more than grand claims. Keep the focus on service, care, and legacy.