ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Family, friends and the community gathered in St. Augustine Tuesday to pay their respects to Father Rene Robert, a priest who was murdered more than two weeks ago.
San Sebastian Church in St. Johns County can hold about 1,300 people, but church workers brought in additional seating to accommodate the 1,400 attendees.
VIDEO: Father Rene's funeral procession
Father Rene's casket was escorted into the church by hundreds of people. First, the Knights of Columbus, then 100 priests, followed by bishops and Father Rene's family.
"It was amazing to see the love for my brother," Father Rene's sister, Deborah Bedard, said. "To see it is unbelievable."
Bishop John Snyder said he knows Father Rene would want everyone to carry on.
"I think he would want us to remember the people who are hurting (and would) want us to reach out, and he did that so beautifully," Snyder said.
ONLINE: Sign a guest book for Father Rene's family
Joleen Gaines, who had known Father Rene since she was 3 years old, fought back tears talking about a man she’s looked up to her whole life.
“He was the kindest, sweetest, gentlest spirit you could ever imagine. Very humorous, always going to be there for you. I could always call him when I needed him, and he's just a very special, special person,” Gaines said. “He probably forgave that man the minute it turned bad.”
Detectives said Steven Murray, 28, who was caught earlier this month in Aiken, South Carolina, kidnapped and killed Father Rene, 71.
Father Rene's body was found April 18 in woods near Augusta, Georgia, about a week after he was reported missing. An autopsy showed he died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigators said Father Rene had been helping Murray, who has an extensive criminal history.
“Father Rene was just a totally generous, giving priest to model priesthood after,” said Mark Lynn, a brother of the Knights of Columbus. “He would help with anyone that asked for assistance, including this young man.”
Murray is currently being held in jail in Burke County, Georgia.
UNCUT: Murray talks while escorted from court
“(Father Rene) was well aware of the risks, but he believed that the love of God could melt the hardest of hearts,” the priest's friend, the Rev. Timothy Lindenfelser, said. “If Father Rene had the chance to go back in time with full knowledge of how he died, and choose between reaching out to Mr. Murray or avoiding him, I could say with complete confidence he would still reach out to him with love and a helping hand to Mr. Murray.”
Snyder thanked law enforcement officials for solving the case, and the crowd gave the investigators a standing ovation.
Snyder explained that there were a lot of smiling faces at the Mass because death is not the end for those, like Father Rene, who believe in God.
“We believe when a person dies, it's only the beginning of a new life, so we come to celebrate that,” Snyder said. “We mourn the fact that he has left us physically, but he has a great heritage to live up to.”
Father Rene's body will be cremated per his wishes and then sent to his hometown of Waterford, New York.
His family will hold another funeral in Waterford at 11 a.m. May 7 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Visitation will be at 7 p.m. May 6.
Father Rene's siblings said they were comforted by the outpouring to honor their brother.
“It helps us get through this tragedy, this ordeal, a lot better, knowing he was well-loved down here,” Father Rene's brother, Brian Robert, said. “We knew he was loved, but not this much. This is something else.”