Msgr. Gray Named Executive Director

In May, Bishop Tylka appointed me as the new Executive Director of the Fulton Sheen Foundation. I am happy to receive the appointment and I look forward to placing fresh emphasis on the Cause for the Venerable Servant of God. I was ordained for the Diocese of Peoria in 1997 and will celebrate 26 years of priesthood this summer. I have served in different parishes in the Diocese of Peoria, but I was also sent for my license in Canon Law during which I took classes on the canonical process governing Causes of Canoniza-tion. This coursework was very helpful as we were in the process of investigating the life and virtues of Archbishop Sheen at the time. I was present when Bishop Jenky opened the Cause and appointed Msgr. Richard Soseman to lead the Tribunal of Inquiry. After that lengthy process was complet-ed, I was appointed to lead the Tribunal of Inquiry into the miraculous healing of a newborn child through the interces-sion of Archbishop Sheen. As you know, that miracle was submitted to the Holy See and was confirmed by Pope Francis.

In 2012, I was invited to work in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome and I was grateful for the three years of experience that I had working in this dicastery. This work gave me a new per-spective on the Church’s careful study of Causes before a Servant of God is to be beatified or canon-ized. I worked on my doctorate in canon law on the topic of the Devil’s Advocate in Causes of Canoni-zation and in 2015 I returned to the Diocese of Peoria.

I hope you will join me in continuing to pray with new vigor for the success of the Cause of Archbish-op Sheen. I look forward to doing my part to promote his great legacy and move forward this great figure in the Church. -Msgr. Jason Gray, J.C.D.