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In Peoria, Illinois, a significant milestone is approaching for the Catholic community during this Easter season. Amidst the rising number of Catholic conversions, a beloved figure from the past is on the verge of being recognized as a saint.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen, originally from Illinois, has been a beacon of faith for many. The Vatican has recently given its approval for his beatification, bringing him one step closer to sainthood.
ABC7 has connected with the family involved in the miraculous event that has been pivotal in this process. Their story is integral to the journey of Archbishop Sheen towards sainthood.
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Archbishop Sheen was a pioneer of religious broadcasting during the early days of television. His charisma and ability to connect with audiences earned him the moniker “America’s Bishop,” as he brought spiritual teachings into countless homes across the country.
In the early days of television, Archbishop Sheen built a following that spanned the nation earning the nickname “America’s Bishop.”
“If Fulton Sheen were alive today, you would find him on TikTok, and you would find him on Instagram, and you would find him on all the social media podcasts, because that’s what he wanted to do,” said Bishop Louis Tylka with the Diocese of Peoria.
The pioneer televangelist’s radio and television programs reached millions in the 50s and 60s.
“Everybody was made to feel that they were the most important person with him,” Bishop Tylka said. “He was able to speak truth to power. He spoke the truth of the gospel, and he did so with great wisdom and wit.”
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Decades later, the Vatican has cleared the way for his beatification, centered on one reported miracle.
“I just trusted that Fulton Sheen was praying for us,” Bonnie Engstrom said.
In 2010, Engstrom’s son was born without a pulse.
“There was a knot in James’s umbilical cord… and it tightened so much that it cut off his blood supply and his oxygen supply so that when he was born, he was essentially a stillborn baby,” Engstrom said.
Doctors tried to restart her son’s heart, and Engstrom kept praying.
“I do remember very clearly in my head repeating Fulton Sheen’s name over and over and over again,” Engstrom said. “I kind of think it was like my cry for help.”
Then, after more than hour, there was a miracle.
“Everyone took their hands off to call time of death,” Engstrom said. “And it was at that moment after James not having a heartbeat for 61 minutes, that his heart started to beat again. And then it never stopped.”
Engstrom named James Fulton after Sheen. Today he’s a healthy 15-year-old boy.
Engstrom says doctors found no medical explanation. The Vatican later recognized it as a miracle tied to Sheen.
“It’s something that we try to stress to our kids, like you should appreciate this,” Engstrom said. “Our family has a special like footnote in all of church history in a way that most people do not like in the history of the world.”
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“To have a Chicago-born pope, you know, be the one to finally sign off on moving forward… signing off on a remarkable individual who’s another son of the land of Lincoln,” Bishop Tylka said. “It’s just kind of all those things line up.”
The beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton Sheen is set for September 24. in St. Louis, Missouri. The location was chosen to accommodate the anticipated large crowds.
More details about Sheen’s ceremony from the Catholic Diocese of Peoria can be found here.
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