Illinois Native Might Become Catholic Saint, Community Invited to Beatification in St. Louis

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SAINT LOUIS - An Illinois native is in the process of becoming a saint in the Catholic Church, and the community is invited to celebrate this canonization.

On Sept. 24, 2026, at The Dome in St. Louis, the church will mark the official beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. There will be several other events, Masses, and activities tied to the beatification in the days leading up to it. Steve Mattern, Senior Vice President for Mission Services with OSF Healthcare, noted that this is especially powerful for OSF because the miracle that triggered Sheen’s beatification took place at an OSF facility.

“This is a tremendous event that impacts not only the local church, not only the Midwest, but will really have an impact around the entire world,” Mattern said. “This beatification Mass and all that sits around it, all that goes into it, is going to be one of the most significant events of our times.”

Sheen was born in El Paso, Illinois, in 1895. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois in 1919.

Mattern said Sheen was “extraordinarily impactful,” with “a sharp mind and a deep heart for God.” Throughout his life, Sheen wrote over 70 books and ministered through the radio and television.

He died in 1979 while praying before the Blessed Sacrament. His cause for canonization was opened in 2002.

Sheen’s life was already impressive, but a “profound miracle” sparked the beginning of the beatification process. In 2010, an unresponsive newborn was at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. This baby had no heartbeat and had not taken a breath in over 60 minutes. But as the team looked to the clock to establish an official time of death, the baby’s heart beat again and he began to breathe.

The baby’s mother had prayed to Sheen throughout her pregnancy and again, fervently, during the medical crisis. Today, the “miracle baby” — named Fulton — is 16 and living a healthy, happy life.

To complete the canonization process, another miracle needs to be “indisputably recognized and recorded.” The Church is currently investigating five miracles as part of this process.

Mattern emphasized that while the 2010 miracle was major, Sheen’s life was full of miracles and ways that he helped others.

“His teaching, his proclaiming, his witness, his support for the missions, all of that apostolic dynamism was drawn out of a heart in deep prayer,” Mattern said. “The miracle was a profound miracle, but we’re also seeing the miracle of lives touched and transformed and a true conversion of heart. People look at him from all vantage points. He spoke to Catholics, Protestants, persons of the Jewish faith, all persons of good will. He saw the whole world as his mission field, and he was greatly respected for that.”

Community members are encouraged to buy tickets for the beatification on Sept. 24 in St. Louis so they can celebrate and honor Sheen. The experience promises to be deeply meaningful.

Mattern emphasized Sheen’s local legacy as an Illinois native whose miracle took place at an OSF Healthcare facility, as well as his work around the world. Mattern hopes Sheen’s beatification inspires others to emulate his life and faith.

“He’s someone who lived heroically. He lived his baptismal identity that began in El Paso, Illinois. He lived it with profound vigor and love and faith and hope,” Mattern said. “We want to let the glow and the radiance of his life remind us of our own personal calling to intimate union and love with Christ. It’s going to be a miraculous time.”

For more information about Sheen, his beatification, and other surrounding events, visit the official CelebrateSheen.com website.

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