As a child, Joan Sheen Cunningham got to travel with her parents from their Illinois home to visit her uncle, first in Washington, then later in New York City. Her uncle was Archbishop — then Father — Fulton Sheen. Now 92 years old, Cunningham has written a book recalling the times she spent with her relative, a candidate for sainthood, called "My Uncle Fulton Sheen." "My children knew I had done various things while I was growing up, and they thought I should write something about it," Cunningham told Catholic News Service in an April 1 phone interview from Long Beach Island, New Jersey, where she's living with her son and daughter-in-law, but she had never gotten around to doing...
COMMENTARY: Fond memories of the holy archbishop, who loved Mary, the Eucharist and the priesthood. For a deceased man, Fulton J. Sheen has had a very active 10 years. Actually, a very active last month, to be precise. But on this death anniversary, it is better to begin with fond memories. Archbishop Sheen died 40 years ago today, Dec. 9, 1979. His beatification was announced three weeks ago, scheduled to take place 12 days from now. Now he is — temporarily, one fervently hopes — the former future-Blessed Fulton Sheen. Ten years ago I was in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York where then-Archbishop Timothy Dolan celebrated a Mass — in the sanctuary above where Archbishop Sheen was then buried...
The Dec. 3 announcement by the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that the Vatican has decided to postpone the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has led to a grassroots effort to have Masses said all over the world to pray his beatification will go forward. Organizers of the effort hope to have “a million” Masses celebrated Dec. 9, the 40th anniversary of the prelate’s death. “We decided to respond in the most positive and prayerful way possible (to) the disappointing news that the Vatican has paused the beatification of Archbishop Sheen,” Lo Anne Mayer, a New Jersey Catholic, told Catholic News Service Dec. 5. “The clergy who offer these Masses and the laity who attend the Masses will storm heaven for an...
Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria said Dec. 3 Vatican officials have told him that the upcoming beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has been postponed. A news release from the Diocese of Peoria said it was informed Dec. 2 that Vatican had decided to postpone the Dec. 21 ceremony “at the request of a few members” of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The diocese added, “In our current climate it is important for the faithful to know that there has never been, nor is there now, any allegation against (Archbishop) Sheen involving the abuse of a minor.” However, a Dec. 5 statement from the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y., said it had “expressed concern about advancing the cause for...
Surprise, joy mark the holy priest’s hometown’s efforts ahead of the blessed event for the local Church and beyond. “I was amazed and so relieved it was going to be happening. It will be a joy, and we can’t wait. We’ve looked forward to this for years,” Bonnie Engstrom told the Register hours after the Diocese of Peoria announced on Nov. 18 the Vatican’s date for the beatification of Venerable Fulton Sheen. The Dec. 21 beatification has been much anticipated by Fulton Sheen devotees like Bonnie and Travis Engstrom, whose son James Fulton was miraculously restored to life and health through the intercession of Bishop Fulton Sheen. His miraculous cure was unanimously accepted by the Holy See for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification....
