Catholics around the world celebrated a historic moment on September 24, 2026, as Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was beatified in St. Louis, Missouri.
Now known as Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, the beloved son of the Diocese of Peoria has been recognized by the Church for his heroic witness of faith and his lifelong mission to bring Jesus Christ to the world.
Through his preaching, writing, radio broadcasts, and pioneering television ministry, Blessed Sheen introduced generations to the Gospel. His beatification invites Catholics today to follow his example by proclaiming Christ with creativity, conviction, and joy.
A Church Gathered in Prayer
The spiritual preparation for the Beatification began in Peoria, Illinois, with a Novena of Holy Hours at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, where Fulton Sheen was ordained a priest in 1919 and where his earthly remains now rest.
Each evening focused on an aspect of Blessed Sheen's discipleship: prayer, education, the Eucharist, the Cross, the Blessed Mother, priesthood, evangelization, missions, humility, and the call to sainthood. Modeling Blessed Sheen’s lifelong commitment to a daily Eucharistic Holy Hour.
At a special Mass, faithful in the hundreds gathered at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois, to commemorate the anniversary of Archbishop Sheen's priestly ordination, providing an opportunity to remember that before he became a bishop, broadcaster, or internationally known evangelist, Archbishop Sheen was first a priest of Jesus Christ.
On the eve of the Beatification, nearly 1500 bishops, clergy, religious, and faithful gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis for Vespers.
The Beatification
The faithful gathered at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri, for the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. A total of 51,000 tickets to those from 48 states and 10 countries were distributed for the Beatification. Registered participants included 89 bishops, 1,000 priests, 240 deacons, 850 seminarians, and 850 men and women religious from nearly 100 orders. Striking was the diversity of the Church represented there: different generations and vocations, clergy and laity, families and young people, longtime devotees of Sheen and people just beginning to discover him.
The faithful were offered opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, an extensive Sheen Expo, a Celebrate Sheen pre-program, and prayer throughout the day. After the Mass, pilgrims could venerate his relics.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Celebration
Following the Beatification, eight Masses of Thanksgiving were celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois, including one celebrated by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. In addition, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at St. Mary Parish in El Paso, Illinois, where Archbishop Sheen was baptized. Pilgrims visited Blessed Sheen's tomb. Hundreds waited in line to pray and to visit the nearby Archbishop Fulton Sheen Museum. The atmosphere throughout Peoria was one of pilgrimage.
On the evening of September 25, the faithful gathered at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois, for the inaugural Sheen Awards.
Celebrating Sheen’s Mission Today
The inaugural Sheen Awards, hosted by Bishop Tylka and emceed by actor and filmmaker David Henrie, recognized individuals and organizations carrying Sheen’s legacy into a new generation through media, evangelization, technology, and missionary service.
The awards celebrated Sheen’s pioneering approach to communication. Just as he embraced radio and television to reach millions, today’s honorees use contemporary platforms to share the Gospel and invite others to encounter Jesus Christ.
The days following the beatification brought additional milestones. Bishop Tylka announced the establishment of the world’s first parish named Blessed Fulton Sheen Parish. The new parish will unite St. Mary Parish in El Paso and St. John Parish in Benson, with its official establishment scheduled for December 9, 2026.
The announcement was made at St. Mary Church in El Paso, where Sheen was baptized. The new parish will carry forward his legacy by forming generations of disciples who know, love, and share Jesus Christ.
The celebration’s impact also reached the Vatican. On October 5, Bishop Tylka and Msgr. Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, met with Pope Leo XIV and presented the Holy Father with a relic of Blessed Sheen.
Bishop Tylka described the meeting as a profound joy, noting the special significance of presenting a relic of an Illinois-born bishop to the first American pope. The visit also highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s appreciation for Sheen’s missionary heart and his ability to use the communication tools of his time to proclaim the Gospel.
The Mission Continues
The beatification of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen marks a historic chapter in the life of the Diocese of Peoria and the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, but it is also a beginning. Blessed Sheen’s example challenges the faithful to use their gifts, their voices, and every available means to lead others to Jesus Christ.
The Diocese of Peoria and the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation give thanks for this extraordinary moment and look with hope toward the day when, God willing, Blessed Fulton Sheen will be declared a saint of the universal Church.
Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us!
Learn more about the Catholic Diocese of Peoria at cdop.org. Join the celebration of Blessed Fulton Sheen at CelebrateSheen.com. Watch the recordings and explore resources at CelebrateSheen.com/recap.