Will Fulton Sheen’s beatification play in Peoria?

Peoria chaplain investigated miraculous healing attributed to Bishop Fulton Sheen . . .

Monsignor Jason Gray

Monsignor Jason Gray
Peoria Chapter

Monsignor Jason Gray has above-average responsibilities in the most average city in America. In addition to serving as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Peoria, the 40-year-old is the diocesan judicial vicar. Most of his work for the tribunal involves annulments, “a most important ministry.” Recently, however, his work in canon law took a turn from the mundane to the miraculous: He headed the investigation into a possible miracle attributed to Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen, whose cause for beatification the Peoria diocese is promoting on behalf of its most famous native son.

Tell us about your call to the priesthood.

When I was young I was involved in my parish as a musician, playing the piano and organ. But I was fairly resistant to the possibility of priesthood. It was more of a sudden conversion that came down to whether I was seeking God’s will or mine. That was the hurdle I had to come over.

When I was a senior in high school, the assistant pastor at my parish urged me to go a diocesan vocation retreat, so I went — mainly to get him off my back. Soon afterward I felt very strongly that the priesthood was my path. I went directly from high school to Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. From there I went to the North American College in Rome, arriving the same year Cardinal Timothy Dolan became rector — a very exciting time to be there because he’s so dynamic.

How did you become acquainted with Legatus?

After the chapter’s first chaplain was reassigned to other duties in 2008, Bishop Daniel Jenky asked me to step in. I guess I was a natural choice, being pastor of a sizeable parish where some of the parishioners were Legatus members.

By drawing together Catholic leaders in this area, Legatus allows them to draw support and encouragement from each other. To feel that you’re not fighting your battles alone — the strength of that support is a great assistance. Legatus is a blessing for the Peoria diocese because it strengthens the Catholic identity of lay leaders.

How would you like to see the chapter progress?

One of the good qualities of this chapter is the depth of members’ devotion. There are about 20 member couples, and they’re sincere about the faith and their desire to promote it. I’d like to see more members attend the annual Summit. Some have, and they came back mightily encouraged in their Catholic identity.

How do you approach your role as chaplain?

I see my role as providing spiritual assistance. By celebrating Mass I want to share with members the sacraments and challenge them in the faith. I also want to encourage them in their own spiritual devotions. To the extent that I can provide them with spiritual nourishment in a way suited to where they are, I will. I’m available for Confession before Mass, and I’m open to providing in-depth, one-on-one spiritual direction.

You have a vocation, of course. Any avocations?

I’ve been playing the piano and organ since the second grade. When I was at the North American College, I had the awesome opportunity to play the organ at St. Peter’s Basilica during ordinations of deacons.

Tell us about your work involving Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen.

I headed the diocesan tribunal into the inquiry about a local miracle attributed to him. A child was considered stillborn — he had no pulse for the first 61 minutes of his life. He was about to be pronounced dead by doctors, but then his heart started beating after his parents prayed for Fulton Sheen’s intercession. The boy, James Fulton Engstrom, is one-and-a-half years old now and doing just fine.

The tribunal has been closed, and we sent our findings to Rome last December. I enjoyed the opportunity to apply my canonical studies in a rigorously scientific manner. We had to know if the science was solid and that we’d be able to say the only explanation was the Servant of God Fulton Sheen’s miraculous intercession.