Tens of thousands of Catholics are expected to attend the beatification ceremony of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, one of the most influential and innovative evangelists in American history, on September 24. The Diocese of Peoria has released a schedule of events surrounding Sheen’s beatification in St. Louis. A nine day novena of holy hours, which began on September 15, is taking place at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria every day at 7 PM.
In March, Bishop Tylka announced that The Dome at America’s Center was selected as the venue, anticipating a large turnout for the beatification day events. On beatification day, an expo will open at The Dome at 8 AM, followed by Eucharistic adoration, confession, and a pre-Mass program featuring speakers and musicians. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside over the beatification Mass at 2 PM. There will also be veneration of a relic of Sheen from 4 to 6 PM.
James Engstrom, whose miraculous recovery helped pave the way for Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s beatification, will attend the historic ceremony in Saint Louis with his family. It is likely that James will present the relic of Sheen during the beatification ceremony.
James was born on September 16, 2010, without a detectable pulse after a difficult delivery. He suffered severe oxygen deprivation as he had no detectable pulse for 61 minutes. However, he made a remarkable recovery after his parents prayed for Archbishop Sheen’s intercession. In July 2019, Pope Francis approved the miracle and the beatification of Fulton J Sheen.
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