advisory board

Bishop Louis Tylka is the ninth Bishop of Peoria and heads the Fulton Sheen Foundation as the promoter of the Cause for Canonization.  He was ordained a priest in Chicago in 1996 and a co-adjutor bishop in Peoria in 2020.  He became Bishop of Peoria in 2022.  The promotion of Archbishop Sheen’s cause is at the heart of his pastoral plan, which also includes many of Sheen’s own priorities of evangelization, discipleship, promoting vocations and devotion to the Eucharist.

Msgr. Jason Gray was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria in 1997 and was appointed Executive Director of the Fulton Sheen Foundation in 2023.  Msgr. Gray holds a doctorate in canon law and has been involved with the Cause of Archbishop Sheen since it opened in 2002.  In 2011, he carried out the investigation of the miracle for beatification.  Msgr. Gray worked in the Dicastery of the Causes of Saints in Rome from 2012 to 2015.

Patricia Gibson is the Chancellor and Diocesan Attorney for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. She holds degrees in both civil and canon law.  She has been intimately involved in the cause for the canonization of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen for over two decades.

Msgr. Philip Halfacre was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria in 1991. Msgr. Halfacre is a pastor, high school teacher, and author. Since 2019, he has served as Vicar General for the Diocese of Peoria and as a member of the Fulton Sheen Foundation.

John Alves is the founder and President of Alumen Fundraising Consultants having managed school, parish, and Diocesan capital campaigns across the U.S. and currently serving parishes in the Diocese of Ft. Worth, Texas.   Joining the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation Board in January 2026, he has promoted Bishop Sheen through digital video platforms, Catholic radio interviews, Catholic school service program (Serve Like A Saint Today.org) religious art (e.g., Archbishop Sheen with St. Mother Teresa), and sponsored and collaborated on the Sheen documentary, “Follow That Bishop” - finalist in the “Best Documentary” category of the International Catholic Film Festival, Mirabile Dictu 2024.

Rev. Ray E. Atwood was ordained in the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 1994 and is a pastor of two parishes. He has been writing about Fulton Sheen since 2012, when he published a book on preaching titled “Masters of Preaching,” featuring Bishop Sheen and other great Catholic preachers. He is currently writing a full-length biography of Archbishop Sheen.  He joined the Fulton Sheen Foundation Board in 2026.

Bill Conger has been the Chief Curator at Peoria Riverfront Museum since 2017. Prior to that, he was an educator and curator at Illinois State University starting in 1998. Himself a practicing Catholic, he worked with the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation in 2019 to install an intimate exhibit on Sheen’s achievements. Conger joined the board in 2026 to help further Sheen’s legacy as a bridge between the worlds of faith and mainstream culture.

Paul Sheen Cunningham is the grand-nephew of Archbishop Sheen and has been involved with the Cause for over 20 years.  Born in New York City, Paul received all his sacraments from Archbishop Sheen.  Growing up, Paul and his family spent many memorable times with the Archbishop in Rochester and New York City.   His mother, Joan Sheen Cunningham, began traveling with the Archbishop from the age of 10 and looked after the Archbishop during the last few days of his life.  Recently retired after 27 years of financial administration at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Paul continues to be an ardent supporter of the Cause.

JD Dalfonso is native to the Peoria area and serves as President and CEO of Discover Peoria, the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  As a member of the Foundation Board, he has promoted the renovation of Sheen's high school, the Spalding Institute to be rebranded the Sheen Experience. Additionally, his duties surrounding the hospitality industry will serve as a bridge for further promotion of the Cause and future pilgrimages.

Oscar Delgado is an independent Hollywood producer, and former NBC News war correspondent. Following his journalism career, Delgado transitioned into producing faith-based films through his company, Candelaria Productions, Inc..  Following the example of Archbishop Sheen, he has avidly supported Catholic media, including radio and podcast programs.

Sister Judith Ann Duvall, O.S.F. is a member of The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis who govern OSF Healthcare System with the Diocese of Peoria.  She was Major Superior of the Community and Chair of the OSF Boards 2006 to 2024 and continues to serve on the Boards today.  Her Sisters have known Bishop Sheen and encountered him and have a deep love and respect for him.

Gerri Kearns is an accomplished Business Development Executive in the New York area who has been involved with the Archbishop Sheen Cause for over 25 years, having worked with Fr. Andrew Apostoli, the first Vice Postulator before the inception of the Cause. Gerri served as a member of the original Board of Directors and holds a Master’s Degree in Theology from Georgian Court University.

Msgr. Roger Landry is National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies USA, a position that Archbishop Sheen zealously and expertly filled from 1950-1966. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River and since his 1999 ordination has served as a pastor, newspaper editor, high school and university chaplain, attaché to the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the UN and ecclesiastical assistant to Aid to the Church in Need USA.

Bob Manning is a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley.  He is a life-long Peorian and served on the Peoria City Council. Bob is a graduate of Archbishop Sheen’s alma mater, Spalding Institute, and has been a strong supporter of preserving and repurposing the Spalding building.  He previously served on the Diocese’s Finance and Investment Committees under Bishop Jenky for several years.

Dolores Sheen of Peoria, Illinois, is the niece-in-law of Fulton J. Sheen. Her late husband, John Sheen, was Archbishop Sheen’s nephew. As a devoted member of the Sheen family, Dolores has been a steadfast and enthusiastic supporter of his Cause for beatification and canonization. Through her generosity, she has shared treasured family photographs with the Sheen Museum, allowing others to glimpse the personal and family life of the beloved archbishop.

Allan Smith is a Catholic author, speaker, and founder of Bishop Sheen Today, an apostolate dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. He was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation in 2013 and has supported the Cause through publishing, media outreach, and international promotion of Sheen’s writings. Smith has compiled and edited more than seventy books featuring the works of Archbishop Sheen in multiple languages.

Dr. Varela is a physician with more than 45 years of experience. He has been a longstanding devotee of Archbishop Sheen and participated as the medical expert in the investigation of the miracle attributed to Archbishop Sheen for his beatification. Dr. Louis and Alicia have promoted the Cause of Archbishop Sheen in Texas to build his spiritual legacy and awareness. They were introduced to the Cause and to the Foundation in 2007 by Fr. Andrew Apostoli and have been strong supporters. They actively spearhead numerous fundraising efforts in the Galveston Houston Diocese.