Venerable Fulton Sheen, pictured in an undated photo, is remembered as one of the most influential and innovative evangelists in American history. On March 25, 2026, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints announced the beatification of Archbishop Sheen will take place on Sept. 24 in St. Louis. (OSV News, file)
by OSV News
Join the Conversation
Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor. Learn more
Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be beatified on Sept. 24 in St. Louis, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints announced March 25.
The beatification will take place in St. Louis, with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization, presiding.
On Feb. 9, the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, had announced that the Vatican had given the green light for the beatification of Sheen to move forward six years after the Holy See had postponed the beatification, initially scheduled for December 2019, only weeks before the event was to take place.
In a statement March 25, Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria said the beatification will take place at 2 p.m. CT at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis.
"With anticipation of a great number of people wanting to participate, we chose this location because of availability, being indoors, and the close proximity to the Diocese of Peoria," Tylka said.
Tylka added that a "number of events in Peoria" will be held "to celebrate this wonderful occasion."
"This is a moment of immense grace for the Church — especially for us in the Diocese of Peoria, where Archbishop Sheen was born, ordained, and first served as a priest," he added. "His life and ministry continue to inspire countless people to know and love Jesus Christ more deeply."
"The Beatification Mass will be a profound moment of prayer and celebration for the faithful near and far," Tylka said. "I invite all who have been touched by Archbishop Sheen's life and legacy to join us in spirit or in person for this historic event."
Advertisement
Msgr. Roger Landry, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies USA, received the news of the beatification date with "indescribable joy" and said he was "thrilled" Tagle has been chosen "to be the papal legate, celebrant and preacher of the beatification Mass."
Sheen — who himself was national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (1950-66) — "is an inspiration not only to all of us who continue his work of prayer and support for the Church's missionary work across the globe but for all those whose faith has been strengthened by his preaching, broadcasting, writing, and holy Catholic life," Landry said in a March 25 statement to OSV News.
"Cardinal Tagle, like Sheen," he added, is "an incredibly gifted preacher, but he will no doubt be able to emphasize the contributions that soon to be Blessed Fulton Sheen made and in many ways continues to make to the Church's mission work."
In February, when it was announced Sheen's beatification would go forward, Tylka called the prelate "one of the greatest voices of evangelization in the Church and the world in the 20th century."
"I have long admired his lifelong commitment to serve the Church as a priest, rooted in his deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist," Tykla said. "As he journeyed through the different stages of his life, his ability to share the Gospel and truly relate to people drew countless souls into an encounter with Jesus -- one that transformed not only his life, but more importantly, the lives of those he touched."
Sheen is remembered as one of the most influential and innovative evangelists in American history. Once dubbed "God's microphone," Sheen announced God's truth in a nonconfrontational, yet no less life-giving, manner to untold millions through radio, print and television.
That the announcement of the date of beatification for the archbishop was made on the Solemnity of the Annunciation is likewise very fitting," Landry said in his statement. "Archbishop Sheen spent his life continuing the work of the Archangel Gabriel, calling us to rejoice because the Lord is with us, and imitating the response of Mary in placing himself as a servant of the Lord, allowing his whole life to develop according to the Lord's word."
The priest added, "I can't wait to be in St. Louis on September 24 celebrating with Catholics from across the states and the world."
