by Marc and Julie Anderson
mjanderson@theleaven.org
ST. LOUIS — “Quo Vadis, America?”
“Where are you going, America?”
Then-Bishop Fulton J. Sheen asked that question on the first episode of his “Life Is Worth Living” television show in February 1952.
While his question centered on patriotism, politics and the moral fabric of a nation, that same question was answered differently Sept. 24 by more than 50,000 Catholics who knew where they were going — St. Louis — for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification.
They came from afar
Pilgrims came from every state, filling most of the seats of The Dome at America’s Center for the Beatification Mass.
The roughly 45-minute opening procession included 89 bishops, 1,000 priests, 850 seminarians and around 250 deacons.
Among them were Archbishop Shawn McKnight; Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann; Father Joel Haug, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca; Father Anthony Saiki, rector of Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas, and archdiocesan director of canonical services; Father Brian Scheiber, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood; and archdiocesan seminarians Matthias Saiki and Trey Niesen.
The rite of beatification began with Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria reading the official request. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, papal representative and pro-prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization, read Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic letter in Latin declaring Archbishop Sheen among the blessed, followed by the English read by Bishop Tylka.
An image of Blessed Sheen was unveiled simultaneously in St. Louis and at Peoria’s Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception where Sheen was ordained and where his remains are entombed. The image depicts him with a halo and chalk in his right hand, symbolizing his use of a blackboard on “Life Is Worth Living.”
James Fulton Engstrom, whose miracle cleared the path for beatification, processed with Archbishop Sheen’s relics, accompanied by his entire family. The image and relics were incensed by Cardinal Tagle, who offered remarks of thanksgiving and presented the decree of beatification to Bishop Tylka, members of Sheen’s family and other representatives.
‘Blessed is the evangelizer’
During his homily, Cardinal Tagle reflected on Archbishop Sheen’s gifts as an evangelizer and missionary.
The cardinal said Pope Leo’s apostolic letter described Archbishop Sheen as “a tireless preacher of the Gospel through the modern means of communication, and a diligent shepherd animated by missionary zeal.”
Cardinal Tagle asked the crowd why Archbishop Sheen should be called blessed when missionaries often face rejection and persecution.
He pointed to Archbishop Sheen’s humility. When Pope Pius XII asked how many conversions he could claim, Sheen replied, “I really have not counted in order not to have the temptation to believe that they were mine.”
Archbishop Sheen instead described himself “simply as a porter who is sometimes able to lead people to the open door of the house of God.”
The cardinal then turned to Archbishop Sheen’s concern for the poor, recalling his 1964 address during the Second Vatican Council.
“As only a wounded Christ could convert a doubting Thomas, so only a church wounded by poverty can convert a doubting world,” Archbishop Sheen said.
Cardinal Tagle concluded by recalling Sheen’s visit to Uganda, where he was distributing silver crosses to people afflicted with leprosy.
When one man extended his damaged hand to receive a cross, Archbishop Sheen recoiled and dropped it. Immediately, he realized his action was inconsistent with the gift he was giving.
“Embracing the vulnerability of Jesus, Fulton Sheen touched and held the damaged flesh of the vulnerable people with leprosy, counting himself as one of them, the 501st person with leprosy,” Cardinal Tagle said.
“Blessed is the evangelizer converted by beholding and touching the wounds of the risen Christ in wounded brothers and sisters,” the cardinal said. “Blessed is the missionary who digs deep into the heart of the poor to meet Jesus there: Blessed Fulton J. Sheen.”
Local Catholics moved
Witnessing the beatification was inspiring for the nearly 100 archdiocesan Catholics who made the pilgrimage to St. Louis.
Father Scheiber, who led a group of 65, called the experience “a grace-filled time.”
One of his favorite moments was being among 1,000 priests and “thinking of all the amazing things God did through Blessed Fulton Sheen that gathered us! Blessed Sheen was rejoicing in heaven.”
Father Haug agreed.
“It was a very moving Mass,” he said. “I felt the power of the words when Fulton Sheen was officially pronounced Blessed. He will be known as a saint on earth and in heaven forever!”
Similarly moved were Joe and Bobbie Hendrixson, members of St. Michael the Archangel, especially as they watched Engstrom process with the relics.
“To see that young man being so humble in front of thousands of people surrounded by his family truly touched my heart,” Bobbie said, adding that his composure for such a historic occasion was incredible.
Theresa Steinlage and Maxine Wiechert, parishioners at Christ the King Parish in Topeka, were overwhelmed by the spirit of love and joy.
Steinlage was also moved by the homily.
“Cardinal Tagle seemed to really know Archbishop Sheen and to really love the man,” she said.
Of the procession, Steinlage said, “It just glowed,” leading her to think about the ranks of heaven.
Wiechert agreed, saying she was moved by the unity displayed by the cream-colored chasubles embroidered with “JMJ” — “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” — letters Sheen regularly wrote on his correspondence and on the chalkboard during his television series.
The beatification’s timing struck her, too.
While the beatification might have been delayed for several years, said Wiechert, God’s timing will bring about a greater good — a sentiment seemingly shared by Bishop Tylka.
Before the beatification Mass, Bishop Tylka, Msgr. Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, and Bonnie Engstrom, mother of James Fulton Engstrom, discussed the historic occasion during a press conference.
“I can’t think of a more opportune time than now,” Bishop Tylka said, pointing to the Diocese of Peoria’s 150th anniversary, the nation’s 250th anniversary and the election of an Illinois-born pope. “So, I think all of those things say it’s pretty opportune.”
Wiechert agreed.
“If the beatification had happened 20 years ago, it wouldn’t have the effect it will have today,” she said, “because with all of the digital media out there, there’s going to be a great awakening of sorts about Archbishop Sheen.”
A message of hope
John Saiki, a parishioner at Divine Mercy Parish in Gardner, also sees the ripple effect the historic beatification can have.
“It’s just a call for us,” he said.” Maybe God is telling us we need to start praying, start really thinking about the country, which direction we’re going in and where the church is headed as well.”
Clark Kelly, a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa and a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, felt overwhelmed by the experience. It was his idea to make the pilgrimage with his father, Kevin.
“Cardinal Tagle’s homily was phenomenal,” Clark said.
In preparing for the beatification, Kevin immersed himself in Sheen’s life and ministry, discovering the breadth of his work in media, missions, education, pro-life advocacy and evangelization.
“Man, he was busy,” Kevin said.
Clark believes what made Sheen’s ministry so powerful was “his great devotion to the Holy Hour.”
“There’s often talks, especially today, about how it’s hard,” he said. “People don’t have time to go to Mass, or don’t have time to do a Holy Hour, or don’t have time to do these devotions, but with all this talk about how much he did, the books he wrote and the talks he gave, he still every day found time to set aside at least an hour.”
That devotion resonated with Lindsay and Nick Koester of St. Benedict Parish in Atchison, who traveled to St. Louis with their sons, Fulton and Max.
For Lindsay, one moment stood out.
“I did not realize they were going to use his name in the Eucharistic prayer, and when I heard that, it just sent chills all through my body. It was so beautiful to hear his name among these other great saints. I just really loved that,” she said.
Years ago, the couple had written the Vatican, the Diocese of Peoria and the apostolic nuncio asking for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification.
Though the delays frustrated him, Nick said he now sees them through the lens of God’s timing and wonders if it led to more awareness about Archbishop Sheen.
He was also struck by the number of young seminarians and priests at the beatification.
“I think that’s his legacy right there,” said Nick. “Our generation in a particular way is sick of the ideological garbage that we’re being fed all the time through our phones and everything else, and we just want clarity and truth and humor.
“Blessed Fulton Sheen brings all of that together.”
