Springfield Priest A Candidate For Sainthood

Tools

Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

By Scott McDonnell

Story Published: Jun 23, 2009 at 7:04 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 23, 2009 at 7:04 PM EDT

Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell was on hand at the Sacred Heart Church Tuesday to bless a ceremony in honor of Father Theodore Foley.

Father Foley was born and raised in Springfield and is now being considered for the honor of sainthood with the Vatican.

"There is holiness and then there is the superheroes of holiness, and many people recognized him as a superhero of holiness"

That's how Bishop McDonnell described the Springfield native. Foley grew up attending mass at the Sacred Heart parish, which no doubt had a profound influence on him.

"He was a person who, if he was talking to you he had your undivided attention, if somebody asked you later, did you meet father Foley, you would say oh yes I'm a friend of Father Foley" said his cousin Maureen Hanigan.

Foley's vocation led him to the Passionists Monastery in West Springfield, which is now home to an elderly community, his cousin remembers the visits he used to make to the family home.

"When he would come out to see us in Sturbridge he would go fishing with my father, and dad would always buy special steaks and fresh corn, oh he loved a good meal", said Hanigan

Foley served as Superior general of the Passionist community, headquartered in Rome until his death in 1974.

Where as it may be sometime until Foley future as a saint is decided, Bishop McDonnell says the city of Springfield could use a bit of the inspiration that Foley provides right now.

"Sometimes we think of Springfield and we think negatively, its nice to realize that holiness comes out of here as well, here is a man who was exceptionally good, exceptionally loving of God and neighbor"

Father Foley is the only person to ever be a candidate for sainthood in western Massachusetts.

The process of canonization does take a while, next the Vatican will review and examine all of the writings of Father Foley. from their his journey towards sainthood will move on to the next step.

Next article Teen Arrested For Take-Out Food Murder

Add a comment

More Good Stuff

Weather

Current Temp 93.0 °F

A Few Clouds

Wind : Southwest at 15.0 MPH (13 KT)

Humidity : 42 %

Pressure : 1012.5 mb

More Weather

Weather

More Weather

On Demand

Stock Quotes

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.