Mrs. Joan Sheen Cunningham, niece of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, joined CNEWA’s Msgr. John Kozar today to honor the legacy of this trailblazer of the North American church.
Known as one of the first “televangelists,” Venerable Sheen hosted radio and television programs for nearly 40 years, beginning in 1930 until his retirement in 1968. His programs — The Catholic Hour, Life is Worth Living and The Fulton Sheen Program — brought the stories from the missions and the lessons of the Gospel into the homes of millions.
The Peoria, Illinois, native served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New York from 1951 until 1966. From 1958 until his appointment as bishop of Rochester, he served as the national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
The author of more than 70 books, Venerable Fulton J. Sheen is buried in the crypt of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
For her part, Mrs. Cunningham has worked tirelessly to support the cause for her uncle’s canonization. For more on his life, visit this website: ArchbishopSheenCause.org.