RAMA FUNERAL — St. John the Baptist Church, Estevan, was standing room only for the funeral of Rev. Joel Rama, who died June 14 following a June 10 car/train collision in Macoun about 27 km northeast of Estevan. More than 50 priests attended the funeral with Regina Archbishop Daniel Bohan, Bishop Brian Bayda of the Eparchy of Saskatoon and 10 priests as co-celebrants. Rama’s brother Jose and his wife Mayra arrived from the Philippines the evening before the funeral. His aunt and several cousins from Toronto also attended. Parish representatives from each of the parishes served by Rama sat in reserved pews near the front of the church. Bohan in his homily said Rama “had faithfully fed his flock with the bread of Jesus’ teachings and, like the shepherd of Isaiah, he gathered them in his arms and carried them in his bosom, gently leading them.” The archbishop used several biblical passages describing the sting of death but carrying God’s promise of eternal life.