A funeral Mass will be celebrated May 30 at Mission Santa Barbara for Franciscan Father Virgil Cordano, 89, who died May 22 in Santa Barbara after a long illness.

Known widely as the "Padre" of the city, Father Cordano's body laid in state at the Old Mission for two days. The 11 a.m. funeral Mass, scheduled to be held on the steps of the church (the church has limited seating) is expected to draw more than 2,000.

Franciscan Provincial, Father Melvin Jurisich will preside at the funeral with Santa Barbara Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry in attendance. The homilist, selected by Father Cordano, is Franciscan Father Joseph Chinnici.

Father Cordano was born in Sacramento, 1918, of Italian parentage and named George. He recognized a priestly calling by the age of 12 and entered St. Anthony's Seminary, choosing the name Virgil. He was ordained in 1945 by Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Joseph McGucken.

During his 63 years of priesthood, he served as professor, master of clerics, seminary rector, pastor (15 years) and three terms as guardian. In 1957 he earned the S.T.D. degree in theology from Catholic University of America. For 57 years Father Cordano has been part of the Franciscan family at Santa Barbara and the most widely recognized and honored citizen of the city.

The traditional annual celebration of the Italian custom of I Madonari (chalk drawing) each May started 22 years ago at Father Cordano's initiative, and this year's drawings will provide an appropriate backdrop at his funeral. The book "Padre," written about him three years ago, called him "a shining example of everything that is good about the Catholic Church," noting that he was acknowledged as the spiritual godfather of the Channel City.

In reviewing "Padre," Msgr. Francis Weber said, "Santa Barbara is known the world over, and most of all for Virgil Cordano, the friendly brown-robed friar who, for over half a century, has personified the Catholic presence to peoples of all religious persuasion."

"He was a friend to everyone," said Carol Carrig, director of the Immaculate Heart Center for Spiritual Renewal where for almost 57 years Father Cordano taught at the novitiate and served as chaplain for the retreat center. He was also named "Man of the Year" for the city and often served at many civic ceremonies, particularly the yearly Spanish Days Fiesta where the opening ceremony commenced at the Mission.

Surviving family members include two nieces --- Mary Ann King of Carmel and Patricia Garnero of Monterey --- and two nephews James and Alan Cordano, both of Sacramento.