Thousands of mourners farewelled Bishop Michael Putney of Townsville on April 7, with many more watching the funeral Mass via a live stream on the internet.
In a first for the Diocese of Townsville, the Mass at Ryan Catholic College was broadcast on the SacredHeartCathTSV YouTube channel.
Bishop Putney, who was appointed as the Bishop of Townsville in 2001, had initiated plans to provide live streaming of Masses in the diocese as a means of engaging youth, rurally-based Catholics, and ill parishioners.
Diocesan staff had recently carried out tests on the equipment, with the first live streaming due to take place at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday.
However, due to the outpouring of sympathy following the death of Bishop Putney, the diocese decided to stream both the vigil and funeral Mass.
Bishop Putney was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, and in recent months his health had deteriorated. He passed away on March 28, aged 67.