CHARLOTTE — Five priests from the Diocese of Charlotte are from Venerable Fulton J. Sheen’s hometown of Peoria, Illinois: Father Matthew Kauth, Father Christopher Gober, Father Matthew Buettner, Father Lucas Rossi and Father John Eckert.
Four of them went to the same high school as Sheen and those four also had or have a role in the diocesan vocations:
- Father Matthew Buettner – Former vocations spiritual director
- Father Christopher Gober- Former vocations director
- Father Matthew Kauth – Rector of St. Joseph Seminary
- Father John Eckert – Vocations director
They describe his impact on their vocation stories in their own words:
Father Matthew Kauth - rector of St. Joseph College Seminary
“You could not be from Peoria and Catholic without having knowledge and affection for Bishop Sheen.
That said, the specific influence he had, aside from his intercession, in our vocations was his clear teaching. At a time in which catechesis was not strong, many of us young seminarians turned to him for clarity. I read about everything he ever wrote and listen to all the recorded talks I could. When we were in major seminary, we had a tradition on Friday that instead of our spiritual reading time we would sit together and listen to a talk or homily by Bishop Sheen.
Perhaps the most profound effect he had on us directly which has found its way into the lives of our seminarians and newly ordained, was his absolute insistence on a daily holy hour. That has been and remains a staple in the life of the seminary.
I am so delighted about his canonization and for mentoring me and others across time and space.”
Father Matthew Buettner - pastor of St. John the Baptist in Tryon
“I have a profound devotion and friendship with Fulton Sheen. When I first entered the seminary, I listened to one of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s talks on the importance of the Holy Hour, which immediately influenced my serious conviction and decision to make a Holy Hour every day.
For the past 30 years, since my first week in seminary, I have maintained that practice of spending at least an hour with Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament every day.
I attribute my perseverance in the priesthood, as well as any insights, wisdom, and good preaching, teaching, and counsel to the work of the Holy Hour.
In addition, whenever I visit my family in Peoria, I always visit and pray at the tomb of Fulton Sheen at St Mary’s Cathedral asking for his intercession for our seminarians and priests. Perhaps his heavenly intercession has something to do with the remarkable growth of vocations in our diocese, but only God knows. As the spiritual director of the seminary, I always promoted the practice of the daily Holy Hour with the seminarians and I do think that they took seriously the practice of making the Holy Hour.”
Father John Eckert - pastor of Sacred Heart ib Salibsbury and diocesan vocations director
“I am just grateful, along with my brother priests, of that personal connection to him in the fact that we went to the same high school, and we are from the same part of the world. It is a huge gift that inspires me to try to be a saint myself and to help others to do the same.
He has always been one of my heroes…his preaching style has such a presence. His radio program and his books had an impact on me while I was going through seminary. He is kind of like one of those holy heroes I always looked up to.
But the glorious thing is that that is the way God works. In His good providence so many things have a way of connecting - He knows what He is doing before we ever do.
When I was given permission to come down here to visit when I was in seminary in Peoria, Father Gober was the vocations director. Those are some figurative and literal big shoes to fill. Finding out he was from Peoria as well, it was like God’s good providence.
I still have a special place in my heart for Peoria.
Father Lucas Rossi- pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Waynesville and Immaculate Conception in Canton
“I am sure we all feel we have a different type of connection with Sheen than others because we all grew up where he did and in the diocese he served. I became familiar with Sheen in the seminary, in 2004, in the Diocese of Peoria prior to my transfer to Charlotte.
Fulton Sheen inspired all of us in some way to consider the priesthood. He was part of our journey, where we learned about his life and prayed for his intercession. He was a good example.
Fulton Sheen never, ever missed an hour of Eucharistic prayer, even when he traveled. He encouraged and challenged us to do the same. He kept faithful to that. That is the most inspiring thing I have taken. I am doing it everyday as much as I can. He is a reason I have kept the Holy Hour as a devotion of my life as a seminarian, and all the way into my 16 years as a priest. It’s my oxygen. If I didn’t have that daily hour with Jesus, I shudder to think what might happen. I couldn’t imagine being a priest without it.
Having an American bishop beatified is crucial for the Church. Bishops kind of have their own intercessor, and most bishops today would know him and probably grew up listening to his shows when they were little. So, it is good, it is going to bring tremendous renewal to the Church in the United States.
I am glad it is finally happening. We had our first American pope and now our first American-born beatified bishop.”