A Potential Healing Credited to Venerable Catherine McAuley

On Saturday, September 1, about 100 people gathered in the chapel of Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to participate in a Mass of Thanksgiving marking the end of a Tribunal convened to investigate a healing that had taken place at the hospital through the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley founder of the Sister of Mercy. In attendance were Bishop David A. Konderla, bishop of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, members of the tribunal, witnesses who had been called to testify, Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan and of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the family of the three year old child who had experienced an unexpected recovery from a traumatic brain injury.

Image: L-R: Sister Yvonne Mary Louks, Oliver Thomas and his parents, Sean and Sara, Oliver's doctor, Sister Sheila Carney, Sister Brigid Mary Meeks and Mother Mary Patricia Glowski enjoying the celebration following the liturgy. Photo: Claudia Ward rsm

A ceremony of sealing the documents took place before the liturgy with Bishop Konderla inviting all the sisters present, as well as the members of the tribunal, to participate by dripping the wax onto the document which he then impressed with the diocesan seal. In his homily, Bishop Konderla reminded the congregation that, no matter the outcome of the Roman process, we had all witnessed a marvel. Indicating the child who had experienced healing, he reflected that the marvel was among us – this healthy, active child. Following the liturgy, all were invited to a reception in the hospital convent. During the reception one of the physicians who had cared for the child gave a moving testimony of the effect that the experience had had on him personally and professionally.

Later in September, Fr. Michael Knipe, Episcopal Delegate for the tribunal and Sister Brenda Dolphin, postulator for the Cause of Catherine McAuley, will meet in Rome and personally deliver the documentation to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

We continue to pray and hope for a favourable outcome of this study.

Messages to: Sheila Carney rsm - Vice-postulator Americas

More images are being posted on this page as they become available