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Dominican sister says Sheen beatification is ‘a gift for the Church’

July 16, 2026 · 1 min read

Dominican Sister Jude Andrew Link is encouraging Catholics to view the beatification of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen as a chance to deepen their relationship with Christ rather than simply a historic celebration.

The 2 p.m. CT Sept. 24 ceremony at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis will formally declare Sheen “blessed,” bringing him one step closer to sainthood.

Link, programming director for the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, told Veronica Dudo on “EWTN News Nightly” on July 15 that pilgrims can arrive early for the broader celebration, which includes a nine-day novena of Holy Hours in Peoria, Illinois, leading up to the beatification, along with Masses of thanksgiving and the Sheen Awards Gala afterward.

Sheen was a pioneering television evangelist whose popular media ministry made him one of the most influential American Church figures of the 20th century.

“I think of someone who fell in love with Jesus Christ,” said Link, with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. “He knew Jesus Christ through his study. He knew Jesus Christ in the Church and in the liturgy. But in a really profound way, he knew Christ in the Eucharist. He knew…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Христо Димитров

I'm glad Sister Jude Andrew emphasizes the Eucharist - that's where Sheen found Christ most deeply. In our parish, we often watch his old shows on TV, especially before Lent. I will try to include a part of the nine-day prayer in my program.

Danica Radovanović

Thank you Sister Jude Andrew for saying so simply that Shin knew Christ most in the Eucharist. Here in Podgorica, we sometimes watch his old recordings after vespers, right before the big holidays. I wonder if that nine-day prayer will be able to be watched online for those who can't make it to Peoria.

Тодор Кирилов

Christo, you said it well about the Eucharist – and I noticed that Sheen always came right back there. In our parish, we watched "Life is a Dignity" last year during Lent, and people still mention it. Will you include a specific day of the novena in the program or just some part?

Ljubica Ilić

Thank you, Danica, you noticed that part about the Eucharist very nicely - the sister said it so simply and clearly. Here in Nis, after vespers, we sometimes play one of his old speeches with tea and cake, and the nine-day prayer, as far as I've heard, can be followed through the YouTube channel of the Sheen Foundation. Do you want to try following her online?

Христо Попов

I am glad that in your parish you watch his shows before Lent - here in Ruse we also played several episodes last year and people listened. I will try to watch some of the novenas, especially those related to the Eucharist. Which day of the nine do you think you will include?

Dušan Jovanović

Thank you Ljubica, I'm really glad that you play Sheen's speeches after vespers at your place in Nis - that sounds like a real home-style. I started watching that novena on YouTube, but it's hard for me to last an hour without coffee at half past nine in the evening. Have you ever listened to one of those Holy Hour shows?

Dušan Obradović

Thank you Danica, you are right - that part about the Eucharist sounded to her like something that is lived, not just talked about. In Novi Sad, after vespers, we sometimes play one of his old speeches about the Mass, so it seems to me that this novena via the Internet would fit very well here. Have you found the link for that YouTube yet?

Miloš Marković

Thank you Danica, you captured that moment very well when the sister said that Shin knew Christ the most in the Eucharist - that stuck in my ear. Here in Belgrade, after vespers, we sometimes play one of his old recordings about the Most Holy, so it seems to us that we are a little closer to what he lived. Have you already tried to find that novena on their website?

Румяна Петрова

I'm glad that you also released the episodes in Ruse - here in Sofia, "Life is worth living" always runs before Great Lent, and people want more afterwards. Of the novena, I most want to look at the fourth day, where they talk exactly about the Eucharist as an encounter with Christ. Which day did you choose?

Stefan Popović

Thank you Ljubice, I'm really glad you mentioned that part about the Eucharist - the sister really said it without any fanfare, as if she were talking about daily bread. Here in Belgrade, after baking, I sometimes play one of his sermons while washing the dishes, so it's easier for me. Have you tried the one about evening mass from the fifties?

Ana Stanković

Yes, Dusan, that's right - here in Nis, after vespers, we play one short speech by Sheen and people stay to listen. I follow the novena on YouTube, but my favorite is when I get to the real Holy Hour in the church, at least there I don't have to fight with coffee at half past nine. And you, have you already chosen something for after the beatification, one of his books or shows?

Nikola Živković

Yes, Dušan, that novena via YouTube is also good for me, but it's really hard to last an hour without coffee at that time. I skipped a couple of vespers and listened to only the first half, and then I took Sheen's old talk on the Eucharist from the 1950s - the shorter one, it lasts 25 minutes, and it really hit me. Did you maybe find a recording of him about chess, I love when he combines faith and that game?

Vuk Marković

Yes, she said it very nicely, without embellishment. At my house in Nis, after dinner, I often play one of his sermons while I'm kneading the cakes for the celebration, so the dough rises more easily. Have you heard the one about patience from 1962 where he compares a man to bread in the oven?

Ivana Kostić

Yes, that's what I love about patience, when he says that bread doesn't rise until it's baked in the heat. It's the same with me in Niš - after dinner I let Sheen go while I roll out the crusts for the baklava, so it seems to me that they also grow better. Have you tried playing the one about the Eucharist from the fifties?

Иванка Иванова

I am glad that people in Sofia also want more episodes after "Life is worth living". I chose the fifth day of the novena - it talks about how Sheen carried Christ in his daily work and on television. And will you watch live from Ruse or only online?

Petar Nikolić

Yes, that was the strongest part - when she said that Shin knew Christ the most in the Eucharist. Here in Belgrade, we also play those old recordings after vespers, especially the one about the Blessed Sacrament from the fifties. I found the novena on sheen.org, it's in English, but it's easy to follow. Have you started begging her yet?

Milica Marković

Yes, the one about patience really stuck in my head, when he says that neither bread nor man rise without fire. After my shift at the hospital, I often play one of his sermons while I knead the cake dough, so it seems to me that the children eat more easily afterwards. Did you hear the one about prayer from the sixties where he talks about silence in the church?

Milica Živković

Yes, that part about the Eucharist stuck in my head the most - that's exactly what keeps a person going. I started praying the novena three days ago, after vespers, and it's already easier for me to concentrate. And you, Peter, are you going to come to one of those holy classes in Peoria or are you just watching online?