The Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma is preparing for the first funeral for a bishop in the 51-year history of the diocese.

Bishop Emeritus Edward Slattery died at 84 years old on Sept. 13 after a series of strokes.

The Diocese said Holy Family Cathedral will welcome dozens of clergy members and thousands of people from all over the country to pay their respects to Bishop Slattery.

Those who knew the diocese’s third bishop said he was caring and had great faith.

"One of the fruits of that deep, Christian faith was an ability to see death as a doorway to go to God, and he wanted to go to God,” said Bishop David Konderla. “He wanted to be with his Lord."

Bishop Konderla took over as leader of the diocese after Bishop Slattery retired in 2016.

"He has left the diocese in really good shape,” said Bishop Konderla.

Pope John Paul II, before he was canonized as a saint, ordained Slattery as bishop in 1994.

Slattery led the diocese for 22 years and served the Church for almost 60 years.

"I always admired his courage to stand up and do what he thought was right,” said Very Rev. Brian O'Brien, rector at Holy Family Cathedral. “That was always a great example for me."

Very Rev. O'Brien was ordained by Slattery and is now preparing to host the public for Slattery's services.

"He loved being a bishop, he loved being a priest, he loved his people, and we're going to miss him,” said O’Brien.

Services for Bishop Slattery start Thursday afternoon with public visitation and end Saturday morning with his burial at Calvary Cemetery.

All three days of services are open to the public. See the full schedule HERE.

Pope Francis sent Bishop Konderla the following letter on Slattery's passing: