Fulton Sheen

Central Illinois native Fulton Sheen is now "Blessed," and as the first American-born bishop to be beatified, has a clear path to sainthood.

The Peoria diocese Sunday afternoon celebrated the 107th anniversary of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s ordination as a priest ahead of his beatification ceremony on Sept. 24.

St. Mary's Church in El Paso will host a watch party for the Sept. 24 ceremony in the same parish hall where Sheen was baptized.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, an El Paso native who attended high school in Peoria, is receiving attention from the worldwide Catholic church. Sheen, who was also ordained and served in Peoria, will be beatified at a mass on Sept. 24 in St. Louis.

The legal fight continues over where the remains of Archbishop Fulton Sheen should rest.The Manhattan Supreme Court ruled last month that Sheen’s remains…