Ahead of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s Sept. 24 beatification, the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, recently released a schedule of events, inviting those who plan to travel to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, for the beatification to “go deeper” and “transform your trip into a sacred journey.”
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be beatified on Sept. 24 in St. Louis, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints announced March 25.
A personal reflection recalls the lasting impact of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s groundbreaking TV ministry, from packed living rooms in the 1950s to his enduring legacy as a beloved preacher, media pioneer, and candidate for sainthood.
He was perhaps the first Catholic influencer. Long before TikTok or Instagram, there was Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
In an era when entertainment dominated the airwaves, Sheen transformed a classroom-style lecture into one of the most successful programs in American media history. His Emmy Award-winning show, “Life Is Worth Living,” resonated with 30 million viewers each week — many of them not Catholic.
After a years-long postponement, Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria, Illinois, announced on Feb. 9 that the Vatican has greenlit the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen — a beloved preacher, author, and media pioneer of the 20th century.
