A Diocese of Toledo Catholic at the Fulton Sheen Beatification
For Brynna Schroeder, the opportunity to attend the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was more than a chance to witness a historic moment in the life of the Church. It was an opportunity to celebrate a Catholic communicator who has shaped her own faith — and whose example continues to resonate with her work today.
Schroeder, multimedia specialist at St. Charles Catholic School in Lima, traveled to St. Louis for the beatification with friends, drawn by what she described as a “once in a lifetime experience.”
“It felt like a once in a lifetime experience to go to the beatification of an American Catholic, not too far from home,” she said. “It was one I didn’t want to pass up celebrating with the whole Church family.”
Sheen has been a familiar figure to Schroeder for years. Her mother first introduced her to his work, bringing home some of his books while Schroeder was in high school. Later, the two read Three to Get Married together while Schroeder was in college.
“He helped me appreciate aspects of the faith in a deeper way that allowed me to learn and grow,” she said.
That interest eventually led Schroeder to Sheen’s recorded talks, where she discovered another connection: his ability to use media, humor and storytelling to communicate the Catholic faith.
Before becoming a bishop and archbishop, Sheen became one of the most recognizable Catholic voices in American media. Through radio and television, he brought explanations of faith, culture and the Gospel into homes across the country.
For Schroeder, who now works professionally in multimedia and storytelling, that legacy feels particularly relevant.
“As someone who works in media and loves storytelling, I enjoy watching and listening to Sheen use his creativity, humor and charisma in his talks to bring the Gospel to people in the television and radio format,” she said. “It’s wonderful to watch how he used what he had in his day and age to reach so many people who otherwise may not have been reached.”
That connection took on new meaning during the beatification Mass.
Schroeder described the atmosphere as something like “one big Catholic family reunion,” with Catholics traveling from across the country to celebrate together. She and her friends repeatedly encountered people they knew unexpectedly, catching up in the halls and gathering spaces surrounding the Mass.
Among the moments she remembers most were the large number of priests and seminarians in the opening procession, the music and the presentation of Sheen’s relic by James Fulton Engstrom, whose healing was recognized as the miracle that cleared the way for Sheen’s beatification.
Then came the moment the Apostolic Letter was read, formally declaring Archbishop Fulton Sheen “Blessed.”
For Schroeder, another line from the Mass has stayed with her.
“In Cardinal Tagle’s homily at the beatification, he mentioned that Fulton Sheen didn’t tire of telling the story of Christ,” she said. “It inspires me to want to get better at sharing it too.”
The trip also brought a more unexpected connection to Sheen himself.
While eating at an Irish pub, Schroeder and her friends noticed another group wearing shirts displaying Fulton Sheen’s family tree. They struck up a conversation and discovered that the group included relatives of Sheen through his first cousin.
“They showed us photos they had with him, explained where they were on the family tree, and allowed us to take a photo with them,” Schroeder said.
A day after the beatification, the groups unexpectedly crossed paths again while sightseeing and had the chance to reconnect and talk about the celebration.
Schroeder and her friends also used the trip to visit several Catholic landmarks in St. Louis, including the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, known for its extensive mosaics, and St. Francis de Sales Oratory.
Yet the most lasting impression was not simply one building, one moment or even the historic significance of being present for a beatification. It was the sense of communion Schroeder experienced throughout the trip.
“I’m so glad I was able to experience the beatification Mass in person and be in communion in a special way with so many Catholics,” she said.
For a young Catholic communicator inspired by Sheen’s example, the pilgrimage also offered renewed encouragement for her own work.
“I’ve found it relatable in wanting to use creativity and media in a variety of forms as a way to share the Good News,” Schroeder said.
And after a weekend filled with unexpected encounters, shared faith and a celebration of one of the Church’s best-known American communicators, she came away with one additional conclusion:
“It’s safe to say Blessed Fulton Sheen has a way of helping Catholics grow closer to each other and closer to the Lord.”
Posted October 1, 2026 at 9:13 am