By Paul Singer
The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Mourners packed a historic downtown church and spilled out the doorways as a choir sang Polish hymns Friday at the funeral for a Roman Catholic priest who was shot in the chest before his rectory office was set on fire.

A sound system was set up outside St. Stanislaus Church for mourners to hear the Mass for the Rev. William Gulas, 68. A Franciscan brother in training, Daniel Montgomery, who recently had been notified of his dismissal from the order, has been charged with murder and arson. He has pleaded not guilty.

Father Gulas had been pastor for nine years at the Slavic Village neighborhood church, where about a third of the parishioners speak Polish. Bishop Anthony M. Pilla led the Polish and English service.

"In the spirit of St. Francis, we pray for everyone today," Bishop Pilla said. "We pray for the Montgomery family and we pray for Dan. Father Willie would want you to do that."

Children, priests and senior clergy filed past Father Gulas' coffin as the two-hour service began.

Later, a bagpipe played a hymn, and a group of Franciscan friars prayed together as the coffin was loaded into a hearse. Hundreds of parishioners streamed onto the church's steps, wiped away tears and waved goodbye to the hearse as it drove away.

The Rev. Michael Surufka, the associate pastor who has been chosen temporary administrator of the church, said the congregation must not only mourn, but celebrate Father Gulas' life.

Father Gulas "lived the holy gospel of Jesus Christ," he said.

Prior to the service, Mayor Jane Campbell told the congregation to carry on Father Gulas' mission of building up the church.

Father Gulas will be buried in the Franciscan cemetery in Pulaski, Wis. His family arrived at the church Friday on a chartered bus.

"The spaces where he is missing have not been filled," brother Michael Gulas said.

Father Gulas was burned beyond recognition in the Dec. 7 fire. Police say Mr. Montgomery, 37, has admitted to the killing.