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Follow on Google News | US Conference of Catholic Bishops Endorse Sainthood Cause for Fr. Paul Wattson, SA, Servant of GodBishops approve first step in the Catholic Church’s canonization process for apostle of Christian unity and charity
Before their vote, the New York Archdiocese’ Father Paul is remembered for his work with people who suffer from alcohol and drug addiction as well as his world wide ministry in ecumenism. He founded what became the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” in 1908, which the Church still celebrates today. The ministry of At-One-Ment has blossomed to exemplary dialogue within the Christian Church as well as interreligious dialogue with Jews, Muslims and other world religious communities. Fr. Paul’s landmark homeless shelter St. Christopher’ Father Paul was born on January 16, 1863, in Millington, Maryland, to Rev. Joseph Wattson and his wife Mary Electa Wattson. In 1898, twelve years after he was ordained as an Episcopal priest, in collaboration with an Episcopalian nun, Lurana White, he helped to found the Society of the Atonement at Graymoor in Garrison, NY. This new religious order was formed in the tradition of the Franciscans with the mission of promoting Christian unity and working with the poor. In 1908, Father Paul initiated the Church Unity Octave believing that a time set aside for prayer and seminars would hasten Christian unity. Both advocates of corporate reunion between the Anglican and Catholic churches, he and Mother Lurana White made a decision to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church one year later in 1909. Father Paul was ordained a Catholic priest by Archbishop John M. Farley in 1910. An apostle of Christian unity and charity, Father Paul founded St. Christopher’ In 1903 he founded an organization, the Union-That-Nothing- Fr. Paul Wattson died on February 8, 1940 at Graymoor in Garrison, NY. The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement continue his work toward Christian unity on three continents. Very Reverend Brian F. Terry, S.A., Minister General of the order of Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, founded by Father Wattson said, “Father Paul was a builder of bridges with outstanding Christian virtues. He was a true Franciscan who loved the poor. He also loved the supreme gift God gave us in atonement, his only Son.” Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, has said of the contributions of Father Paul Wattson to the Church and the New York Diocese, “The work of the Holy Spirit is evident in Father Paul’s tireless efforts toward Christian unity, support of missionary activity and loving care for those in need that continues today at St. Christopher’ The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Catholic order of brothers and priests founded in 1898 by Fr. Paul Wattson, S.A., Servant of God, at Graymoor in Garrison. Since that time, the Friars have worked for reconciliation and healing through “at-one-ment” End
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