A sealed box containing evidence of a miraculous healing of a seemingly stillborn baby in Illinois is on its way to Rome where it will be considered as a possible miracle attributable to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
Bishop Jenky holding sealed box of evidence. Photo courtesy of The Fulton J. Sheen Foundation
According to The Catholic Post of the Diocese of Peoria, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, presided over ceremonies in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, the same church where Archbishop Sheen was ordained in 1919. The ceremony marked the official close to the investigation of the miraculous healing of now 15 month-old James Fulton Engstrom.
“May God, who has begun this great work, bring it to fulfillment,” said Bishop Jenky, CSC, after affixing a wax seal on the box containing evidence gathered in the past three months by an investigative tribunal.
Sitting contentedly in a front pew with his parents and siblings was little James Engstrom who was born prematurely at home on Sept. 16, 2010. Considered stillborn, he was without a pulse for the first 61 minutes of his life. His mother, Bonnie, who had prayed to Archbishop Sheen to watch over her pregnancy, began desperately pleading for his help while watching CPR administered on her newborn son. Just as doctors at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria were about to declare the time of death, James’ heart started beating.
But according to doctors, James wasn’t out of the woods yet. The Engstroms were warned that their son would have serious medical issues such as blindness and might not be able to function normally, but the child is now a healthy one year-old. He is currently medication free, has just been released from physical therapy, and continues to meet growth milestones.
“He’s just a normal kid,” said Bonnie, who credits Christ with healing her son “for his greater honor and glory.”
The couple named their child James Fulton in honor of Archbishop Sheen, who died in 1979.
During the ceremonies on Sunday, Bishop Jenky noted that they were taking place on the Third Sunday of Advent, which is known as “Rejoice Sunday” because the Lord’s birth is drawing near.
“Today, our local church has a special reason to rejoice,” said Bishop Jenky, who wore a pectoral cross that once belonged to Archbishop Sheen. He reminded the asssembly that as Archbishop Sheen’s cause continues to progress that “we recognize we are all called to be saints.”
In addition to James’ healing, the Engstroms have even more cause to rejoice as Bonnie announced she is expecting the couple’s fourth child. She told the Post that she continues to “pray to and communicate with” Archbishop Sheen, and occasionally watches YouTube videos of him in those rare moments of parenting three young children “when I have eight minutes free.”
“To me, no matter what happens with James’ case, Fulton Sheen would be a phenomenal saint for our times,” she said after the Mass.
Archbishop Sheen’s cause for sainthood was opened in 2002 and a second miracle will be necessary before he will be declared a saint.
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