Cause for the Canonization of 

Servant of God 

Demetrius Gallitzin

"Apostle of the Alleghenies"

 

 

Home

Who was Demetrius Gallitzin?

Catholic Register - Biographical Sketch

Intercessory  Prayer

Report Favors

Help Fund the Cause

Prince Gallitzin Cross Awards

Events

Places to Visit

Books, Letters and Articles

Other Resources

How is one declared a saint?

 

 

June 6, 2005

SAINTHOOD EFFORT FOR PRINCE GALLITZIN TAKES STEP FORWARD

Bishop Joseph Receives Permission from Vatican to Continue Process

(HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA) – The process that could eventually lead to the Reverend Prince Demetrius A. Gallitzin being declared a saint has taken a step forward, the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph V. Adamec of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has announced.

The Congregation for Saints of the Holy See recently notified Bishop Joseph that the diocesan process for submitting the name of Father Gallitzin for eventual canonization could continue.  The Vatican issued the permission in response to a letter of request from the Bishop, which he authored in March.

“In effect, the Congregation states that it sees no obstacle at this time to proceed with the process that could result in a possible declaration of sainthood,” said Bishop Joseph.

The Bishop said the Congregation now refers to Father Gallitzin as “Servant of God”, a title by which he shall be known for the remainder of the process which usually takes years to complete.
 
A diocesan task force, chaired by Betty Seymour of Loretto, performed the preliminary work on studying the possibility of submitting Father Gallitzin’s name to the Vatican.  As a result of their efforts, the letter from Bishop Joseph was sent as the first step in the canonization procedure.  The task force also includes representation from the neighboring Diocese of Erie as it considers Father Gallitzin the first Vicar General of that church.

In his letter, Bishop Joseph noted that Father Gallitzin “never wavered in his service of the Church in the wilderness of Western Pennsylvania”.  The Bishop also accented the fact that Father Gallitzin “surrendered his wealth” and “gave up his family” as a member of Russian royalty to serve as the only priest people could call upon from Lancaster, PA to St. Louis, MO.

Since receiving the Holy See’s permission, Bishop Joseph has taken the next step of the process by asking the diocesan bishops of Region III (Pennsylvania and New Jersey) for their input.  Bishop Joseph will follow up by appointing members to two commissions—historical and theological—that will continue the study of presenting Servant of God Demetrius Gallitzin as a candidate for beatification and canonization.

In addition to the formal steps required by the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Joseph is also asking the faithful of the area to submit any useful information or miraculous intervention on the part of the Servant of God Demetrius Gallitzin to the Chancery Offices of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
                              

 

   
Google
 
Web www.demetriusgallitzin.org