Bishop Louis Tylka announces St. Mary Catholic Church in El Paso, Illinois, to be part of world’s first parish named for Blessed Fulton J. Sheen

Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria announced that St. Mary Catholic Church in El Paso, Illinois, will merge with St. John Parish in nearby Benson to form the first parish in the world named for Blessed Fulton J. Sheen. The new parish is scheduled to be named Blessed Fulton J. Sheen on Dec. 9, which marks the first feast day observance for the newly beatified archbishop.

Bishop Tylka made the announcement on Sept. 26 following a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary, the site where Sheen was baptized on May 12, 1895. Bishop John O. Barres of Rockville Centre, New York, celebrated the Mass. Bishop Barres, who was baptized by Sheen, noted during his homily that the celebration took place two days after Sheen's beatification.