Q. Are there any causes for sainthood in process in Nebraska?
A. Yes, the one I am familiar with is Father Edward Flanagan (1886-1948), the founder of Boys Town.
I believe most everyone knows the story of Father Flanagan and the home he started. He is buried in the Dowd Chapel at Boys Town just off of Dodge Street in West Omaha.
The determination if one is a saint is a very lengthy and detailed process which involves much research and interviews of people who might have known the person.
The main steps of sainthood are:
> Being declared Venerable. This is where the person being considered a saint is recognized for his/her heroic virtue and contributions to the Church. In this step, he/she is called a Servant of God – as Father Flanagan is now called.
> Being Beatified. After study, prayer, and the discernment that a miracle can be attributed to that person’s intercession, one is beatified or declared blessed.
> Canonized a Saint. Ordinarily, after a second miracle is attributed to the person’s intercession he or she is canonized, or officially declared a saint. The act of canonization usually takes place in the context of the celebration of Mass.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
There are about 10,000 saints in the Catholic tradition. However, the number of people in God’s presence in heaven is almost incalculable and undoubtedly includes people we knew in our lifetimes, family members, people we worked with, or lived by. People who were God-fearing, hardworking, prayerful, family loving, and virtuous people.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church does not “make” saints; it recognizes them.
Thanks for the question.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered; people with personal questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest. Write to: 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln, NE, 68501-0328 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
