J.M.J.
June 28, 2012
Friends,
Good news travels fast! At least, I am certainly hoping that the GREAT news about the Cause for Archbishop Fulton Sheen has reached you and your friends by now. On June 28, the Holy Father Pope Benedict promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic virtue of Archbishop Fulton Sheen – and therefore, Fulton Sheen is now rightly called “VENERABLE” – the last major “title” before “blessed.”
This announcement marks the culmination of ten years of hard work, generous donations, and mostly lots of prayers. And you have been a part of this team-effort all along. I think this calls for a celebration!
On Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 10:30am in the Cathedral of Saint Mary, Peoria, Illinois, Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC, will offer a Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate Venerable Fulton Sheen. This is the same Cathedral where Sheen received his vocation, was ordained a priest, and offered his first solemn Mass. There could be no better place to give glory to God and to honor Venerable Fulton.
As you have been part of this work, I invite you to share in this party!
Come! Our enclosed newsletter includes information about the September 9 celebration. Our website --- CelebrateSheen.com – includes all the help you need in planning your pilgrimage to Peoria and provides exclusive invitations to our “friends of Sheen.”
Pray! From the beginning, this cause has been and remains a spiritual work. Especially if you aren’t able to physically come to Peoria, you can be truly spiritually present. Use the enclosed envelope to send us your intentions. These intentions will be presented during the Offertory of our Mass of Thanksgiving and placed on the altar of the Cathedral. At the end of Mass, these petitions will be entrusted to the Lady’s Altar, just as Father Fulton Sheen entrusted his priesthood to our Lady on the day he was ordained a priest.
Give! Your generous financial support has brought the Cause to this point and has helped to lead others to Christ through Fulton Sheen’s spiritual legacy. You have helped to bring over 200,000 Wartime Prayer Books to our military. You provided over 5000 books to our seminarians. And the work continues. Even as we celebrate Venerable Sheen, there is much work to do here and in Rome. Please consider a gift in honor of Venerable Sheen.
It has been my profound experience that Fulton Sheen brings people together – and I am very grateful that he has brought you into this work. Together let us celebrate – and be rededicated in prayer and effort. As God wills and the Church approves, there are even greater celebrations just ahead!
Commending you to the care of the Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue, I am,
Sincerely in the Lord,
Msgr. Stanley Deptula
Executive Director
