By Bartholomew Sullivan

Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

Matt J. Kechter's Columbine High School football teammates, all wearing ribbons bearing his old jersey number, 70, were asked to dedicate next season to his memory at his funeral service Tuesday.

A standing-room-only crowd filled the 1,200-seat sanctuary of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. They all fell silent well into the funeral Mass to mark with the whole nation the time a week earlier that took the talented teen and 14 others.

Kechter, a junior varsity lineman and straight A student who planned to study engineering in college, was shot in last week's rampage as he studied in the library with Rachel Scott and Isaiah Shoels. He was 16.

During the service, the Rev. Kenneth Leone recalled for Kechter's parents, Joe and Ann, that their son's very name means "gift of God."

"Today we give back to God a precious gift," he said.

Six other priests and Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput assisted with the ceremony. At the close of the Mass, Chaput circled the gray metal casket with smoky incense.

The mass included a reading of the beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, with Leone predicting that later readings will give the family peace. After asking the Columbine Rebels football team to stand, he singled out Matt's younger brother, Adam, for some fatherly advice.

"Adam, look at Matt's football team over here. Look over at the team. These guys are your big brothers. In the coming days and weeks, they will be there, Adam, for you."

He asked the team to promise to visit Matt's parents and to take Adam out for pizza. They nodded that they would.

Matt's aunt and uncle read a statement to the assembly from his parents, leaving most in the room red-eyed or staring at their shoes. They recalled a son who was "warm and compassionate," with a "tender and loving heart" and an "infectious chuckle." He had serious ambitions and "it is hurtful that we will never know what these things would have been."

"He was a wonderful role model for his little brother," they wrote. "Their brotherhood had just recently developed into a bonding friendship ... In Matt's heart, there was always enough room for everyone to be victorious."

Then they issued a challenge.

"The greatest gift of remembrance you can give Matt is finding the courage and the strength to rebuild your school and your community.

"Rebels: Play with dignity and honor next year for Matthew, your team and your school."

After a sermon in which Leone declared that Kechter was "more thrillingly alive" now than before April 20, he asked each of the honorary pallbearers, all wearing the white 70 ribbon, to recall their friend.

Jake Andersen, Danny Gonzales, Zach Rauzi, David Mesch, Ryan Barrett, Kenny Castro, Matt Katzenmeier and Brian Deidel each remembered something unique: a L sense of humor, a dedication to hard work, his lack of anger, his smile.

With each recollection, Leone exhorted the crowd to pray for those same graces in Matt's memory.

The congregation answered in song: "Lord, hear our prayer."