Parishioners at St Gregory the Great, Northampton, have joined Catholics around the world in celebrating the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, a pioneer of Catholic evangelisation through the media and a priest whose ministry was rooted in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Following the beatification of Fulton J. Sheen in St Louis, Missouri, on 24 September, parishioners gathered at St Gregory the Great for a Sung Mass celebrating the life and witness of the new Blessed, who is known as the ‘First Media Evangelist’ and titular Archbishop of Newport.
The Mass was followed by the parish Novena, led by Janet Northing, which was offered especially for priests ordained within the last ten years and for an increase in vocations to the Sacred Priesthood.
A particular moment of joy came when more than 35 people came forward to venerate a relic of Blessed Fulton Sheen, generously loaned to St Gregory the Great by Fr Liam Castle of Northampton Cathedral.
An image of the new Blessed had also been placed temporarily in the church, providing a focus for personal prayer. Several parishioners left petition slips before the image, entrusting their own intentions to the intercession of Blessed Fulton Sheen.
The morning of prayer and devotion concluded with parishioners taking home an image of the new Blessed as a reminder of his witness and encouragement to continue sharing the Gospel.
A pioneer of evangelisation
Born in Illinois in 1895, Fulton Sheen was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Peoria in 1919. A gifted philosopher, theologian, author and preacher, he became one of the most recognisable Catholic communicators of the twentieth century.
From 1930 he used radio to bring Catholic teaching into homes across the United States through The Catholic Hour. From 1951, his television programme Life Is Worth Living reached millions, using the emerging medium to speak about faith, morality, suffering, family and human dignity.
Yet behind his public ministry was a deeply prayerful priest. The Vatican notes that Sheen maintained a daily Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament throughout his priesthood, regarding this time of prayer as essential to his relationship with Christ and to the fruitfulness of his ministry.
His example therefore speaks powerfully to the Church today: evangelisation through communication is ultimately rooted not simply in what we say, but in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pope Leo XIV has also highlighted Sheen’s example for those engaged in evangelisation, pointing to his joyful and creative use of the media to proclaim the Gospel.
For the parishioners of St Gregory the Great, the celebration in Northampton offered an opportunity not only to give thanks for the life of a remarkable Catholic communicator, but also to pray for the Church’s priests and for those whom God may be calling to priestly ministry.
As the parish community continues to pray with the Church for the intercession of the new Blessed, its prayer is simple:
Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us!
Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests and for an increase in vocations to the Sacred Priesthood!
