THE ROAD TO SAINTHOOD

A priest in the Diocese of Orange conducted an investigation for the canonization process of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

The priest, who served as the director for the Office of Ecumenical and Inter-religion Affairs at the Marywood Pastoral Center, was asked by Fr. Tim Freyer, the vicar for priests, to interview Edythe Brownett. Brownett served as the lifelong personal secretary to Archbishop Sheen. The priest conducted the investigation, known as a positio, to assist in the first step of the canonization process to declare Sheen a servant of God.

Brownett lived in Orange County, California. Her sister, Marlene Ann Brownett, was a member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Following the death of Archbishop Sheen, Brownett supported his cause for sainthood and served on the board of directors for the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation.