Fr Joseph Peek's Funeral Friday March 18, 2016 at All Saints Catholic Church 2443 Mt Vernon Rd, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338

JMJ

An amazingly beautiful tribute to Fr Joe Peek's life can be read here:http://www.myajc.com/news/news/father-joseph-peek-helped-others-until-his-last-da/nqrr5/?icmp=ajc_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral

Arriving an hour early to Fr Joe Peek's funeral the three crosses in the All Saint's Garden were a welcome comfort.

The pansies in their simple yet majestic beauty gave testament in a sweet way to God's grace.

One by one many knelt at the foot of the casket praying Fr Joe into Heaven.

The little cousins were so well behaved during the long but beautiful funeral.

One of the little cousins takes our photo.

The Knights of Columbus were a striking testament to the valor of men giving their lives in service.

There were over 3 bishops, 111 priests, countless deacons and several seminarians in attendance.

Archbishop of Atlanta, Georgia, Wilton Gregory presided over the funeral mass.

Fr Kevin Peek gave the funeral homily for his older brother, Fr Joe Peek
You can hear it here:

Fr Joe's parents, Joseph and Mary Peek brought up the gifts along with 4 of Fr Joe's god children.

When 111 priests gathered around the altar to concelebrate it was a deeply powerful moment that bore testimony to Fr Joe offering up his suffering for his fellow priests!

Msgr Marren, pastor at All Saints where Fr Joe was a parochial vicar gave a humorous but deeply moving eulogy of Fr Joe's life.
You can hear it here:

Father to Fr Joe and Fr Kevin Peek spoke with his two sons on either side.
you can hear it here:

My dear husband back home in NJ asked me for a close up of the crucifix over the altar.

My enchanting cousin and her beloved husband are an amazingly beautiful couple.

Many fellow priests blessed Fr Joe's casket.
You can see it here:

Fr Joseph Peek's obituary is remarkable

Allen Kinzley, Director, Video & Multimedia Department at Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta videotaped most of the wake and funeral for the Peek family. At the reception after the funeral he went around to tables asking if anyone had Fr Peek stories. I immediately jumped up and gave testimony to Fr Joe's deeply touching my husband and I in a moment of great trauma after skin cancer surgery. Allen was so moved he sweetly asked me if he could hug me! It was truly touching to share how Fr Joe affected us far away in New Jersey.

Two dear friends I had met at a Catholic family camp in North Carolina, who live in Atlanta urged me to meet Rose Peek, one of their cherished friends.

My cousin Mike and his wife Christine Peek with a long time family friend Fr Thomas Vander Woude

Fr Thomas Vander Woude's remarkable father's story can be heard here:

Fr Thomas writes beautifully at his parish blog Holy Trinity in Virginia here:

Immediately after the funeral we visited with family after my cousin's surgery.
Cristina blogs about her walk with Christ here:

My cousin Eugene was so kind to take me back to the airport.

The view from my window flying back home to New Jersey gave me a deep amazement for God's many blessings. But, I knew that the emotions of my 24 hour visit to Atlanta would catch up with me when I returned home and Saturday and Sunday as we read the Palm Sunday readings that mark the beginning of Holy Week I was overcome with sorrow and melancholy. It felt as if I was weeping with Our Lord in the Garden grieving over all the sorrows I had witnessed in Atlanta. Even sitting on the plane flight home I imagined the pain sitting would have caused Fr Joe; to simply sit.
His beloved sisters have kept a blog of his last days here:
Two days later I wrote an inspired email to my Atlanta cousins acknowledging that we must all go through Good Friday to get to Easter Sunday; the Easter miracle. The risen and glorified Lord is our steadfast focal point. Many of us know sorrow and suffering intimately, through health issues, struggling marriages, wayward children, lack of income. The weight of our brokenness and weaknesses, not to mention the demise of our nation sometimes makes it seem like the evil one is winning, but the truth is Our Lord rose from the DEAD! Since the beginning of time it often appears that evil is overcoming good. But we know the end of the story: Our God wins! It's just like satan to have us despair and lose hope. But we are a Resurrection people. We keep our eyes on Jesus and we are filled with HOPE and JOY. We take a look at the world around us and we spiral into depression. Reach out to those around you and remind them to stay focused on Christ! We need each other in this faith journey to Heaven. Fr Brendan Williams once counseled me to "Keep your eyes on Jesus!" It has been a message that has sustained me through several children nearly dying and my own beloved husband's near demise. Remind each other. Reach out to each other. We walk together! I praise Jesus for your being a part of my life and our connection in the Body of Christ. Fr Joe's life was the witness and encouragement of hope that we will call upon throughout our lives. I give Glory and Praise to God for his life. All Glory to God!

Ad Maiorem Dei gloriam!