Illinois Church Becomes World's First Blessed Sheen Parish
St. Mary Catholic Church in Illinois, where Blessed Fulton J. Sheen was baptized, will become the world's first parish named after him through a new merger.
St. Mary Catholic Church in Illinois, where Blessed Fulton J. Sheen was baptized, will merge with St. John Parish to form the world's first parish bearing his name.
Church Merger and New Name
Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria announced that St. Mary Catholic Church in El Paso, Illinois, will be part of a new structure. As a result of the merger with St. John Parish located in nearby Benson, the new entity has been designated as Blessed Fulton J. Sheen Parish.
Historic Baptismal Church and Celebration
St. Mary Catholic Church holds the distinction of being the historic site where Blessed Fulton J. Sheen was baptized on May 12, 1895. This significant transformation and merger process was scheduled to coincide with the first celebration of Sheen's feast day.
Mass of Thanksgiving and Meaningful Connections
The announcement was shared with the public following a Mass of Thanksgiving held at St. Mary Church. Bishop John O. Barres of Rockville Centre, who presided over the Mass, noted that he was personally baptized by Blessed Fulton J. Sheen decades ago, offering reflections on his legacy and this special process.