A priest who was born in Wisconsin and had religious instruction in Milwaukee has been beatified by Pope Francis.
The Archdiocese of Detroit says that the pontiff has brought Fr. Solanus Casey one more step along the path to becoming a saint - the process of canonization.
The Catholic Church's beatification of Fr. Casey means he has been "blessed by the clergy."
Casey was born near Oak Grove, Wis. in 1940, according to a web site operated by the Capuchins, the order of priests he joined. His family moved to Big River, Wis., where he lived for 10 years. He received religious instruction at Milwaukee's St. Francis High School Seminary.
He then moved to Michigan for his ministry, on what the Capuchin web side described as "the Blessed Mother telling him, 'Go to Detroit.' "
His main ministry was there, but he continued to study for the priesthood and became a deacon and priest in Milwaukee and Appleton, Wis.
"The beatification of Father Solanus Casey is an incomparable grace for the Church in the Archdiocese of Detroit and for the whole community of Southeast Michigan,” said Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, Archdiocese of Detroit, in a statement to TODAY'S TMJ4 sister station WXYZ-TV. “He is an inspiration to all us Catholics – and to all – of the power of grace to transform one’s life.”
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