Pastor's Weekly Message

25th Sunday in ordinary time, 20 Sep 2026

†

HS

              JMJ               

My Dear Fellow Saints-in-the-Making,

Greetings in Jesus our Lord!

As we continue to make our way (rapidly) through the liturgical year with the celebration of the Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (out of 33 Sundays of Ordinary Time!), God is giving us the joyful occasion to glorify Him by the elevation of an American Priest to the rank of the Blesseds in Heaven with the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen this Thursday, September 24, in St. Louis, Missouri.

As mentioned in the June 21, 2026 bulletin article “From Our Pastor’s Desk,” Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was a pioneer in the use of new technology, i.e., radio and television, from the 1930’s to 1950’s and then 1950’s through 1970’s respectively, to evangelize the culture and bring the Good News of salvation from Jesus Christ into the homes—and hearts—of Americans throughout our great nation. He drew in audience numbers in the millions, on a par with the great television personalities of his time (including Milton Berle), which meant that in an age where the VCR, DVR, and any other kind of home television recording equipment, 30 million people made the intentional choice to watch, “Uncle Fultie over Uncle Miltie,” as Fulton Sheen and Milton Berle were nicknamed.

Far more than a television personality, Fulton Sheen was first and foremost a Priest of Jesus Christ and used his God-given talents of intellect, charm, humor, and pedagogy to preach the Gospel accessibly to all. Indeed, more than merely Catholics were drawn to him. Many Protestants and Jews also watched Fulton Sheen’s weekly television show Life Is Worth Living. He would spend 35 hours per week preparing for each episode that lasted under 30 minutes and was so well-prepared (having written the script in English, French, and Latin every time to keep it in his memory), that he led his viewers through the teachings of the dignity of the moral life God has given to us without his ever having to look at notes or cue cards.

But his primary preparation was not academic nor intellectual. Instead it was Eucharistic. On the day of his Ordination, he promised God that he would make a Holy Hour every day before the Blessed Sacrament—and this in a day and age where Holy Hours were not as common as they are today. Fulton Sheen promoted the Holy Hour as we know it today!—and it is from this Fount of Wisdom that gave life and substance to his preaching both in the pulpit and on his televised appearances.

He also spoke against the evils of his day, including atheism, communism, socialism. Indeed, so powerfully and effectively did he preach against communism, that the communist party referred to him as “Public Enemy Number 1.” Even in the face of such hatred against him, Fulton Sheen boldly professed that “Evil will have its hour. But God will have His day.”

He wrote 73 books over his lifetime, almost half of which while teaching at Catholic University. No less a person than Saint Mother Teresa herself never travelled anywhere without carrying (and reading and re-reading) Fulton Sheen’s Life of Christ. When Pope Saint John Paul II visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral on October 2, 1979, where Archbishop Fulton Sheen had been preaching, the Holy Father embraced him and said, “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church.” I can say, personally, that I am deeply grateful to God for this my friend in Heaven so faithful to the Lord our God. 

As we prepare for our Annual Diocesan Marian Pilgrimage at Holy Spirit Church in New Castle, DE on Saturday September 26, two days after the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, let us listen to his wisdom from his extraordinary book The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God. Deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and dedicating every one of his books to her, he advocated for all to be devoted to the Mother of God. After all, Jesus spent 30 years in the House of Nazareth with Mary and only 3 years with His Apostles during His time on earth. Therefore, “let those who think that the Church pays too much attention to Mary give heed to the fact that our Blessed Lord Himself gave ten times as much of His life to her as He gave to His Apostles.”

I will pray for you all at the Beatification Mass of soon-to-be Blessed Fulton J. Sheen.

Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us!

God love you! [These are Fulton Sheen’s own words]. I do. [Those are mine].



In Christ,

Fr. Lewis