Eileen O’Connor’s sainthood cause is now in the hands of the Vatican, after Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP delivered documentation compiled in Sydney to Dicastery for the Causes of Saints prefect Cardinal Marcello Semeraro. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
This comes following the conclusion of the diocesan phase, when Archbishop Fisher signed the final decree for the acts of the cause at Cathedral House in August.
As “actor” for the cause, Archbishop Fisher delivered the documents to Cardinal Semeraro in Rome on Monday. He was joined by several Sydney priests, including Fr Anthony Robbie, the local Postulator for the Cause of Eileen O’Connor.
“It is an honour to share this special moment with some of our Sydney clergy who are familiar with the rich legacy of Eileen O’Connor and the Brown Nurses and their service of the poor,” Archbishop Fisher said.
Following the conclusion of the diocesan phase, there is still a long road ahead.
The documents delivered by Archbishop Fisher will now be examined in Rome and a positio prepared.
This is a summary of the diocesan evidence, which is examined by theologians who vote on whether the candidate lived a heroic life.
If a majority of the theologians vote in favour, the cause is passed on for examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
Only after this stage, if successful, does the Dicastery Prefect present to the Pope the case for the Servant of God to become “Venerable,” the step needed before beatification and any subsequent canonisation.
Sydney Archdiocese chancellor Chris Meney says it is a long process that can potentially take decades.
Mr Meney said that following five years of hard work compiling documents, the most significant part now left for the people of God in Sydney is prayer.
“With the delivery of the documents, the diocesan phase, which was completed in August, has come to an end. Any future deliberations and decisions are now in the hands of the Vatican,” Mr Meney said.
FULL STORY
Eileen O’Connor, the making of a Saint (By Marcus Middleton, The Catholic Weekly)
