New York Mass marks 25th anniversary of Archbishop Sheen's death

SHEEN-MASS Dec-10-2004

By Tracy Early

Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Family, friends and admirers of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen gathered at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York Dec. 9 for a Mass marking the 25th anniversary of his death.

In the homily Msgr. John E. Kozar, who as national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith holds a post the archbishop once did, said those participating in the Mass had come together to "celebrate his legacy" and "pray for the cause of his canonization."

The Mass was sponsored by the Propagation of the Faith office and the Sheen Foundation, and carried live on Mother Angelica's Eternal Word Television Network.

Archbishop Sheen died in New York, and although a sainthood cause is normally initiated where the individual dies, the Archdiocese of New York deferred to the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., because the archbishop was born and ordained there. The cause was opened in 2002.

Standing at an altar over the crypt where Archbishop Sheen's body is interred, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria celebrated the anniversary Mass, using a chalice Archbishop Sheen owned and left in his will to St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York presided at the Mass, and at the end declared to supporters of the archbishop's canonization: "One day we will see you in Rome."

Archbishop Sheen, already famous for his radio addresses on "The Catholic Hour," was national director of the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966, a period that overlapped with his popular national television broadcasts of the 1950s.

He was bishop of Rochester from 1966 to 1969. He was given the personal title of archbishop when he retired from that diocesan post and moved back to New York.

At the anniversary Mass concelebrants included about 60 priests and several other members of the hierarchy: Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Vatican nuncio to the United Nations; Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley of Boston; Bishop Basil H. Losten of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford, Conn.; Auxiliary Bishops Joseph N. Perry of Chicago and Ignatius Wang of San Francisco; retired Archbishop Peter L. Gerety of Newark, N.J.; and retired Auxiliary Bishop William J. McCormack of New York, also a former head of the Propagation of the Faith.

Msgr. Kozar said that his youthful reaction of hearing Archbishop Sheen was not understanding what he said but becoming very impressed by "those eyes."

"I also remember his voice," the monsignor said. "It was a commanding voice. It spoke with authority."

Msgr. Kozar said Archbishop Sheen became a great speaker because "first he was an intense listener to our Lord" in the Eucharist.

"Prayer for Fulton Sheen was not a monologue," he said. "He didn't do all the talking."

The archbishop was "never too busy, never too tired, never too distracted" for the holy hour with which he began each day, Msgr. Kozar said.

He noted that Archbishop Sheen was able to draw his radio and television audiences from people of all religions, and "was an ecumenical man before we even used that term."

The archbishop welcomed people with his most important message that "God loved each and every one of us," he said.

Msgr. Kozar said those who knew the archbishop reported that the job he liked best was directing the Propagation of the Faith and helping to put the missions on the map.

Moving to that job from his teaching post at The Catholic University of America in Washington, Archbishop Sheen interpreted the shift as a matter of opening the classroom to address the whole world, Msgr. Kozar said.

Citing a climactic accolade for a unique career, the priest recalled that when Pope John Paul II visited New York shortly before the archbishop's death, the pope embraced him and told him "you have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus."

Archbishop Sheen was "a holy man," "a servant of God" and "a missionary," the homilist summarized.

At a reception following the Mass, Msgr. Kozar presented Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Awards for excellence in use of television and radio, areas where the archbishop showed special talent. This was the second time the awards have been given; they are given every two years.

One award went to the bishops' Secretariat for the Church in Latin America in recognition of its video program, "Portraits of Faith: The Church in America." It was accepted by Daniel Lizarraga, executive director of the secretariat.

The other award went to the Diocese of Greensburg, Pa., for its radio program, "Accent on the Air," focusing on the work of the mission office there. It was accepted by the diocesan Propagation of the Faith director, Father J. Edward McCullough.

An honorable mention went to Paulist Productions for its program, "The Jesus Experience: Jesus in Latin America." It was accepted by Paulist Father Lawrence McDonnell, who, Msgr. Kozar noted, was ordained by Archbishop Sheen in 1953

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