St. Mary Parish to present Venerable Sheen's final homily, guest speakers
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent
The faithful of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, have a special place in their hearts for Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. With a majority of its parish community in the 55-plus age group, many can still remember his radio and television programs being broadcast in their childhood homes.
When Bill Cox, St. Mary parishioner and member of the Knights of Columbus, saw an opportunity in 2011 to offer a “Night with Archbishop Sheen” that included screening the movie “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All,” he took it. And ever since then, parishioners have been asking for more.
To that end, Cox helped plan the upcoming evening, “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” scheduled for May 6, 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Parish hall. The evening will include a screening of Archbishop Sheen’s final Good Friday homily in 1979.
Following the screening, special guests will address his cause for canonization: Father Andrew Apostoli of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, vice-postulator of the cause; and Father Charles P. Connor, historian of the Diocese of Scranton and professor at Mount Saint Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., will speak about the life and spiritual legacy of Archbishop Sheen.
Eileen Garvin, a St. Mary parishioner, works with Cox. After seeing a drawing Garvin created of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Cox gave her his copy of a 1979 photo of St. John Paul II embracing Archbishop Sheen, and asked if she would make a similar piece replicating that moment. She responded with a remarkable drawing, “A Saintly Embrace” – copies of which will be presented to Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC, bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., and Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York.
“She’s very devout, and she just has this talent,” Cox said of Garvin’s work. “She works in charcoal and pencil, mostly black and white … she gets into such fine detail.”
Cox said that Garvin, while not employed as an artist, creates mostly religious artwork for personal enjoyment. And he knew that the drawing she gave him could work as a catalyst for furthering Archbishop Sheen’s cause.
“I just knew if we could just get this out to the people involved, they would respond,” Cox explained. “The next thing I knew, Father Apostoli was calling me!”
Cox reached out to Bishop Jenky and Cardinal Dolan as well. The Diocese of Peoria has responded with materials about the cause for canonization that will be present at the May 6 gathering. A copy of Garvin’s drawing will be taken to Bishop Jenky by Father Apolstoli. Meanwhile, Bishop Jenky and Cardinal Dolan, as well as Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., have prepared video greetings that will be shared that night.
Though unable to attend the event, Cardinal Dolan invited Cox, Garvin and St. Mary pastor, Msgr. Ken Tuzeneu, to join him for lunch April 27, when the group will present the drawing to Cardinal Dolan. Cardinal Dolan assured Cox that it will be hung in the Sheen Center in New York.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen served as Archbishop of New York, Bishop of Rochester and Archbishop of the Titular See of Newport, Wales. Known for his preaching, particularly his work on television and radio, Archbishop Sheen’s role as one of the first televangelists included a night-time radio program The Catholic Hour (1930-50); the television show Life Is Worth Living (1951-57); and The Fulton Sheen Program (1961-68). He won two Emmy Awards for Most Outstanding Television Personality; his shows are now being re-broadcasted by the Catholic Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).
Archbishop Sheen’s cause for canonization was opened in 2002. Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a degree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in June 2012, which stated that Archbishop Sheen lived a life of “heroic virtues” – leading to him being referred to as “Venerable,” a major step toward beatification.
The event is free and open to the public, but donations to the Sheen Foundation will be gratefully received. For more information, call St. Mary Parish at 609-698-5531. St. Mary Parish Hall is at 100 Bishop Way, Manahawkin.
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By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent
The faithful of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, have a special place in their hearts for Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. With a majority of its parish community in the 55-plus age group, many can still remember his radio and television programs being broadcast in their childhood homes.
When Bill Cox, St. Mary parishioner and member of the Knights of Columbus, saw an opportunity in 2011 to offer a “Night with Archbishop Sheen” that included screening the movie “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All,” he took it. And ever since then, parishioners have been asking for more.
To that end, Cox helped plan the upcoming evening, “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” scheduled for May 6, 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Parish hall. The evening will include a screening of Archbishop Sheen’s final Good Friday homily in 1979.
Following the screening, special guests will address his cause for canonization: Father Andrew Apostoli of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, vice-postulator of the cause; and Father Charles P. Connor, historian of the Diocese of Scranton and professor at Mount Saint Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., will speak about the life and spiritual legacy of Archbishop Sheen.
Eileen Garvin, a St. Mary parishioner, works with Cox. After seeing a drawing Garvin created of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Cox gave her his copy of a 1979 photo of St. John Paul II embracing Archbishop Sheen, and asked if she would make a similar piece replicating that moment. She responded with a remarkable drawing, “A Saintly Embrace” – copies of which will be presented to Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC, bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., and Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York.
“She’s very devout, and she just has this talent,” Cox said of Garvin’s work. “She works in charcoal and pencil, mostly black and white … she gets into such fine detail.”
Cox said that Garvin, while not employed as an artist, creates mostly religious artwork for personal enjoyment. And he knew that the drawing she gave him could work as a catalyst for furthering Archbishop Sheen’s cause.
“I just knew if we could just get this out to the people involved, they would respond,” Cox explained. “The next thing I knew, Father Apostoli was calling me!”
Cox reached out to Bishop Jenky and Cardinal Dolan as well. The Diocese of Peoria has responded with materials about the cause for canonization that will be present at the May 6 gathering. A copy of Garvin’s drawing will be taken to Bishop Jenky by Father Apolstoli. Meanwhile, Bishop Jenky and Cardinal Dolan, as well as Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., have prepared video greetings that will be shared that night.
Though unable to attend the event, Cardinal Dolan invited Cox, Garvin and St. Mary pastor, Msgr. Ken Tuzeneu, to join him for lunch April 27, when the group will present the drawing to Cardinal Dolan. Cardinal Dolan assured Cox that it will be hung in the Sheen Center in New York.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen served as Archbishop of New York, Bishop of Rochester and Archbishop of the Titular See of Newport, Wales. Known for his preaching, particularly his work on television and radio, Archbishop Sheen’s role as one of the first televangelists included a night-time radio program The Catholic Hour (1930-50); the television show Life Is Worth Living (1951-57); and The Fulton Sheen Program (1961-68). He won two Emmy Awards for Most Outstanding Television Personality; his shows are now being re-broadcasted by the Catholic Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).
Archbishop Sheen’s cause for canonization was opened in 2002. Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a degree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in June 2012, which stated that Archbishop Sheen lived a life of “heroic virtues” – leading to him being referred to as “Venerable,” a major step toward beatification.
The event is free and open to the public, but donations to the Sheen Foundation will be gratefully received. For more information, call St. Mary Parish at 609-698-5531. St. Mary Parish Hall is at 100 Bishop Way, Manahawkin.
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