The Catholic Weekly 12 July 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 7 12, July, 2020 In brief Recruit to Broken Bay role BROKEN BAY Bishop Anthony Randazzo has appointed former Syd- ney youth leader Tomasz Juszczak as the director of the diocese’s Office for Evangelisation. Mr Juszczak comes to the diocese from the Archdiocese of Hobart, where he has been work- ing for the past three years as its director of the Office for Youth Evangelisation. Prior to that he was the director of Catholic Youth Services in the Archdio- cese of Sydney. ter adoration at the parish church. “That night, he said his hands hurt,” Gail said. “I looked, but there was nothing. I asked him if his arms hurt, too, but he said no. Later, he said his head hurt.” On Good Friday, he stayed home, a very unusual action for the devout churchgoer. This continued through East- er. “After Easter, he had red spots the size of [coins] on his hands. He said they hurt, but didn’t want to discuss it,” she said. Deacon Terry Saunders told the U.P. Catholic , the newspaper of the Diocese of Marquette, that he saw Houle immediately after Easter, when Houle brought him Holy Communion. “He told me of the pain in his hands andwhen themarks appeared. He was nervous about it,” Deacon Saunders said. “Over time, I saw his hands swell, like they’d do if youwere hit with something. His hands split open, and after that, he had open wounds sometimes as big as a quarter or half-dol- lar [approximately 25-30mm in diameter]. “He wore bandages on the back of his hands for the rest of his life, and bands like sweatbands around them if he was bleeding.” Gail said they struggled in dealing with the stigmata. Doctors, priests, bishops and cardinals had examined his wounds, but they did not know what was happening. Houle said he suffered the Passion and had visions every night, with the pain beginning at 12:30 a.m. and lasting 35 minutes. He would then have visions until 2:30 or 3 am, he told priest and author Fr Robert J. Fox in an interview. Gail Houle never witnessed this part of her husband’s life, though several people, in- cluding his brother, did. An American diocese is hoping retired shoe salesman Irving Houle, above, is on the road to official sainthood. PHOTO: CNS, COURTESY IRVING HOULE ASSOCIATION She believed that her habit of falling asleep quickly was God’s way of shielding her. In one May 1993 vision, the Virgin Mary told him: “My be- loved Son: I come to you this night to tell you how much your prayers and suffering havemeant tomy Son andme. Your suffering has been long, my child. You have pleasedmy Son and me. We will be close to you. The graces have been given to you. Satan is trying to cause confusion among you. But I tell you, he will not suc- ceed…” Houle said he would feel intense pain, at times feeling as if he were being torn apart. During this time, God would show him for whom and what he was suffering, such as civil wars, abortion, homelessness, murders, and abused women and children. He saw the people for whom he suffered, but not their names. He would say “it usu- ally goes back to the sins of the flesh,” according to the Nation- al Catholic Register blog post. Deacon Saunders said all of Houle’s suffering was “for the conversion of sinners.” Bishop Doerfler has ap- pointed Dr Andrea Ambrosi, an expert from Rome, as pos- tulator of Houle’s cause. Ambrosi is involved in overseeing other canonisation causes, including that of the American archbishop and tel- evision personality Archbish- op Fulton Sheen. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints will review the case to determine whether Houle led a life of heroic vir- tue. Should the congregation and the pope approve, he will then be given the title “vener- able.” He could be beatified fol- lowing sufficient proof of one miracle, and canonised upon sufficient proof of another miracle. In 2005, Fr Fox published a book about Houle under the title A Man Called Francis , calling him “Francis” to pro- tect his identity. Fr Fox was an observer of Houle’s sufferings and esti- mated that Houle prayed over 200,000 people. In 2003, Fr Fox hosted Houle on his EWTN radio show Reclaiming Your Children for the Catholic Faith . The Irving “Francis” Houle Association has been formed to promote Houle’s canoni- sation cause and to help raise funds for expenses, including for the work of Ambrosi and others. It currently has between 100 and 150 members. Bishop Doerfler has named Deacon Terry Saunders as its president andmoderator. - CNA Serving the Sydney community since 1892 Our experienced Funeral Directors are committed to providing a personalised and meaningful service for your loved one. Prepaid funerals available. Newtown | Chatswood | Parramatta | Miranda 9519 5344 | wnbull.com.au Many believe Mr Houle, a grandfather, received the stigmata in 1993 at the age of 67. PHOTO: CNS/COURTESY IRVING HOULE ASSOCIATION Tomasz Juszczak NEWS