The Catholic Diocese of Peoria announced Pope Francis has formally approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
The Pope’s attribution gives the Diocese the go-ahead to hold a beatification ceremony for Sheen, which will bestow upon him the title of “Blessed.”
“It is truly amazing how God continues to work miracles. I am so grateful that the Vatican acted so quickly after last week’s transfer of Sheen’s remains from New York to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria,” Bishop Daniel Jenky said in a news release.
A seven-member theological commission in Rome in June 2014 unanimously agreed a miracle should be attributed to the intercession of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen. But, the process of getting the recommendation submitted to the Pope was put on hold while a legal battle ensued between the Archdiocese of New York and Sheen’s niece, Joan Sheen Cunningham, on where Sheen should be interred. Sheen’s remained were moved last week from St. Patrick Cathedral in New York to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.
The beatification ceremony will be held in St. Mary’s Cathedral where Sheen, a native of El Paso, was ordained as a priest in 1919. Jenky is hopeful the ceremony can take place during this 100th anniversary year of Sheen’s ordination.
The miracle involves a stillborn baby born to Bonnie and Travis Engstrom in their Goodfield home in 2010. The baby showed no signs of life for 61 minutes while doctors at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center worked to revive him.
The parents prayed for Sheen’s intercession into their child’s health and moments before the doctor was going to declare the infant dead, there was a heart beat, and the baby started breathing normally. After sixty-one minutes without a heartbeat, the baby was alive. After a few weeks in the hospital, the infant was sent home and has now grown into a healthy young child. The child, named James Fulton Engstrom, will turn
The parents prayed for Sheen’s intercession into their child’s health and the baby’s heart started beating. The child, named James Fulton Engstrom, will celebrate his ninth birthday in September.
In 2011, the Diocese of Peoria initiated a canonical investigation into the events of this miraculous recovery. This investigation examined medical records and testimony provided by family members, EMT’s, doctors, nurses, and others present at the time of birth. Each testified that there was no medical explanation for the infant’s recovery. Nearly all involved, and some with tears, stated, “It was a miracle.”
Even after beatification, before Sheen can be declared saint, a second miracle will need to be proven. Jenky, in a 2014 interview with 1470 & 100.3 WMBD, said the Diocese will not be able to use any other miracles it has considered up to now.
“We can’t save some in the back,” Jenky said. “So the next one has to come in at least after it’s announced (Sheen’s) beatified.”
The Diocese of Peoria has established a website in order to assist the faithful in preparing for the Beatification. Jenky said after the date of Beatification is established, the website will include instructions for obtaining tickets for the Beatification celebration.
St. Mary’s Cathedral is open during the following times to allow the public to visit the tomb of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
12 p.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday
3-6 p.m. Saturday
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday
