New Awe in America

The year 2026 has been special in celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Independence of the USA, and the continued effects of the founding principles and the values of this country and how they were lived out through distinguished people.

A great opportunity arose to celebrate a very distinguished American and an august Roman Catholic bishop in September.  After many years, the Roman Catholic Church approved the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.  This honor was fully realized at a special Mass held at the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis.  When I realized this Mass would be held in St. Louis in 2026, I knew it was a great way to keep celebrating the USA, and I was eager to be there.

I had already done 5 train trips in 2026 when I got in fellow parishioner Brian's car around 5 PM on Wednesday, September 24, and we headed south to Summit for my 6th trip by train.  Unlike the other trips, I took advantage of the convenient features of the location of the Summit Metra/Amtrak station for a more streamlined drop-off, pickup, boarding, and detraining than at Chicago Union Station.

I walked to the north side of the platform and struck up a conversation with three other passengers waiting to board the train.  I told them about my plans to attend the Fulton Sheen Beatification Mass as they shared theirs.

Around 5:40, Amtrak train #305, the southbound Lincoln Service, arrived, as shown in the photo below.  (Please note that all photos in the post are mine unless otherwise stated. And all times in this post are CDT.)

Five of us boarded.  I had seen the new trainsets on the Midwest regional routes, and I was excited to ride in them.  They had automatic sliding doors between cars and in the washrooms.  The seats and tray tables were nice.  The cafe car also had a fabulous water fountain station.  

Inside the coach car

Looking out the back window at the Springfield station

At the back of the train

Automatic sliding doors

Water fountain

Passageway to seating

The route between Joliet and St. Louis at certain points clocked over 100 mph.  During the ride, I ate my dinner, talked with Mom, watched part of the Fulton Sheen Holy Hour at the Cathedral in Peoria, and watched episode 2 of Life is Worth Living--please see photo below.

It was after 10 PM when I saw the amazing scene of the St. Louis skyline lit up at night as the train crossed the Mississippi River.  I thought about how September 23 was the day the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived back in the St. Louis area 220 years prior in 1806, and here I was journeying there on a high-speed rail train.  The train arrived at the St. Louis Gateway Station at 10:15, a few minutes early.  While seeking an Uber ride, a taxi driver asked if I wanted a ride.  After initially saying he would take me to my hotel for $50, I stood my ground in saying I would get an Uber ride for about $30, and eventually, he decided to take me for $30.  Around 11 PM, I arrived at the Country Inn and Suites.  After getting settled, I went to sleep.

My hotel room

The next morning, Thursday, September 24, I was up shortly before 8 AM.  September 24 was a special day in 2005 when I participated in a powerful retreat 3 weeks before my Confirmation in 2005.  In 2015, I watched live Pope Francis's speech to a joint session of the US Congress.  Today would add another special distinction to this day.  Within an hour of waking, I was downstairs in the breakfast space for my meal.  I enjoyed a waffle among other items--please see photo below.  

As I ate, I noticed someone wearing a Knights of Columbus tie and immediately got talking with him and his wife.  They were both headed to the Beatification Mass and offered to give me a ride.  I took them up on their offer, and around 9:20 we were on our way west to downtown St. Louis.

Looking toward the Gateway Arch while crossing the Mississippi River on the M.L. King Bridge

Looking north while crossing on the M.L. King Bridge

They found parking a short distance from the Dome at America's Center, where the Mass was to be held.  I walked in with them as we joined the throngs, stopping for photos at Fulton Sheen cut-outs.  Once they got to their section, we parted ways.  I went to the upper level 4 and found my seat.  Then I decided to visit the Expo Hall.  There was a wide variety of exhibitors.  I got into a great conversation with someone at the Knights of Columbus table.  There was also a display from the Fulton Sheen Museum.  And I saw Abby Johnson at a table for And Then There Were None.

Knight of Columbus booth

JMJ was a signature series of letters that Bishop Sheen used.

Toward the bottom right appears Abby Johnson at the booth for And Then There Were None.

The Fulton Sheen Museum display

Here I'm posing on a representation of the set for Life is Worth Living, with Archbishop Sheen and St. Carlo Acutis.  A fellow visitor photographed me.

After a few minutes in the Expo Hall, I went to a nearby hall where there was a Eucharistic adoration chapel--please see photo below.  It was quite a change to go from the buzz in the hall to a very quiet and prayerful space, and fitting because of Fulton Sheen's dedication to praying a daily holy hour.

A few minutes later, I went back into the Expo Hall.  As I navigated a stream of people exiting, I got excited when I saw Jeff Traylor. He works with the Sock Religious Company and co-hosts the All Set for Sunday podcast. I immediately called out to him, and we exchanged selfie pictures--please see photo below.

I told him how I listen regularly and enjoy it.  Inside the Expo Hall, I got a pair of Holy Spirit socks from the Sock Religious booth.

Then I attempted to get lunch, which was more difficult than I realized, with hundreds of people getting in line to buy lunch at all the various concession stands.  I waited for over 40 minutes, passing time with others waiting in line, including a family from Oklahoma and a group of Hillsdale College students.  As I got closer, I saw the opening procession move into position outside of the Clergy Vesting Hall, starting with the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and then seminarians.

The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus line up to start the opening procession.

Seminarians follow the 4th Degree Knights in the opening procession.

When I got to the end of the line, there were no entrees available to purchase, with mostly snack food left.  I decided to skip lunch and head straight to my seat so I could be ready for the opening prayers of Mass.  From my seat high up, I saw the long stream of the opening procession, with about 1000 priests, 450 seminarians, and 89 bishops.  

In the arena during the opening procession.

Cardinal Tagle processes in toward the end of the line of Bishops--please see above and below.

Close-up on screen

Around 2:20, Cardinal Tagle, the Pro-Prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization, the Pope's official representative and principal celebrant, reached his spot in front on the stage and lead us praying, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."  His presence reminded me of the National Eucharistic Congress, when he also celebrated the Closing Mass.  Other parts of this gathering reminded me of the NEC, like being in a large sports venue for Mass.

The rite of the Beatification happened close to the beginning of the Mass.  It was another example of the power of the formula in the rites of the Church, and in the days after the Mass, I was asked about it more than once.  First, Bishop Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria formally requested Beatification from Cardinal Tagle.   Paul Cunningham, the great-nephew of Archbishop Sheen, spoke a short biography about his great-uncle.  Cardinal Tagle then read the decree from Pope Leo XIV in Latin declaring Fulton Sheen blessed.  Bishop Tylka then read the English translation of the decree.  Next, Fulton Sheen's official portrait was unveiled.  And then, a Fulton Sheen relic was presented by 16-year-old James Engstrom, who was miraculously healed when he wasn't breathing after his birth.  There were songs to celebrate the moment of Beatification.

Bishop Tylka requests Beatification for Fulton Sheen

Fulton Sheen's great nephew Paul Cunningham reads a biography about his great uncle.

Cardinal Tagle reads the official Latin decree from Pope Leo declaring Fulton Sheen as Blessed.

From what I can remember, in this photo, Bishop Tylka reads the English translation of the official decree declaring Fulton Sheen as Blessed.

Blessed Fulton Sheen's portrait has been unveiled.

James Fulton Engstrom presents a relic of Fulton Sheen accompanied by his family.

Cardinal Tagle offers the collect.

Then came the Liturgy of the Word, with the first reading in Spanish and the 2nd reading in Portuguese.  The readings had a clear theme about the Church as mission.  In his homily, Cardinal Tagle's talked about what it means to be blessed, and primarily, he focused on the idea that being blessed is about living out God's mission. We are truly blessed when we go forth in the name of God to fulfill His mission.

The communion procession was also lengthy.  At the end of Mass, we prayed the Fulton Sheen Canonization prayer.  It was powerful to pray with 50000 people, and to offer that prayer for the first time since Fulton Sheen's beatification just a little while ago.

Bishop Tylka offers closing remarks.

Inside the arena as Mass concludes.

The start of the recessional

Mass concluded around 5 PM.  I joined with throngs exiting, including a group of nearly 150 from the University of Illinois, who stood out in their orange shirts.  Before exiting, I posed for a photo with the image of the newly Blessed Fulton Sheen.

A fellow attendee photographed by by the poster of Blessed Fulton Sheen near the entry/exit doors, following Mass.

I exited the venue and started making my way south to visit a Schnuck's grocery store.  I stopped to talk with someone promoting the campaign to support Amendment 3 in Missouri.  I also struck up a conversation with a seminarian named James.  I asked him what it meant for him to be at this Beatification Mass during his time in seminary.  He spoke about how this experience points him toward another person to look up to as an example, which reminded me of the "cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews.

After a few minutes, we parted ways, and I headed west to Schnuck's.  I bought a few salad bar items to munch on to hold me over until dinner, and it was so nice to eat melon and cucumbers.  I also bought a few treats.

Subsequently, I walked to the Basilica of St. Louis by the riverfront, unaware it was already closed for the day.  So I then walked north by the Gateway Arch.

Standing underneath the Gateway Arch

Looking toward the Mississippi River

The Gateway Arch gleams in the light of the setting sun

Here I pose with the Gateway Arch behind me.  Someone in the park area photographed me.

Around 7 PM, I was on the platform at the Laclede Landing Station waiting for the Metrolink train that would take me back to Fairview Heights. 

It was interesting to see the Gateway Arch framed in the arch structure of the Eads Bridge at the Laclede Landing Metrolink station.

The Metrolink train arrives.

I struck up a conversation with a couple and their young son who had clearly attended the Beatification Mass.  Once I boarded, it was about 20 minutes until the Fairview Heights Station.  Then I waited for the Route 12 bus that took me on a 10-minute ride back to the neighborhood of my hotel.

Just before 8:30, the bus stopped by the Bob Evan's near my hotel, and I exited and went inside for a great meal:  Beef soup with vegetables, a turkey meal, and banana pudding pie for dessert.

Beef noodle soup

Turkey dinner with a berry/lemonade-flavored drink

Banana pudding pie for dessert

Then I returned to my hotel to relax before bedtime.

The next morning, on Friday, September 25, I awoke around 7 AM, with bright sunshine pouring through the window of my hotel room.  

View toward the southeast, with I-64 appearing in the near distance

Here's the front entrance of the hotel, with lots of morning sunshine.

My hotel room was on the second floor.

For breakfast, I decided to have pancakes with the pancake iron in the breakfast area and used strawberry-flavored batter--please see photo below.

By 8:20, I was done with packing, checked out, and walked a short distance from the hotel main entrance to the bus stop.  I rode the same bus route back to the Fairview Heights station.  

The platform of the Fairview Heights station

From there, I rode the Metrolink to the Civic Center station, which was adjacent to the Gateway Station.  

Inside the Metrolink train

Approaching the Mississippi River crossing, with the Gateway Arch in full view

The train I rode departs the Civic Center station.

The FlixBus I rode

I waited a few minutes, and right before 10 AM, I boarded the Flix Bus to start making my way back to Chicagoland.  The bus wound its way around on the Interstates before heading east and I bade farewell upon the crossing of the Mississippi River back into Illinois, the 6th and final time I crossed the river during this pilgrimage.

Crossing the Mississippi River one final time

Traveling I-55

During the ride, mostly on I-55, I rested and listened to some radio programs.

Around 11:50, the bus arrived at the stop in Springfield, which was a large bus station for regional and local buses, just east of the downtown area.  As I walked west toward, two ladies who exited the bus at the same time as me saw my Fulton Sheen bag and we got talking a little about the Mass the day prior.

After walking close to a mile, I decided to have lunch at the Long 9 Junction Diner, across the street from the Old State Capitol.  I got a Greek bowl with slow-roasted pork, salad greens, a creamy sauce, rice, and beans--please see photo below.  It was tasty.

Next, I walked to the Amtrak station to put my bag in storage.  Then I walked to the Illinois State Capitol. I thought it would be fitting to connect with my own state capitol during the 250th Anniversary Year of US independence.  I spoke with the Secretary of State tour guide to join the next guided tour.  Shortly thereafter, a middle school group arrived, and the tour guide had me join them as the one "tourist".  We visited the House Chamber gallery, the rotunda, the Hall of Gubernatorial portraits, and the old Supreme Court chamber.  When it ended, I walked around a little more, and went into the Senate chamber gallery.

The august view of the Lincoln statue and the Capitol

The Liberty Bell on the grounds of the capitol.

Looking up into the Dome

Jonathan, the tour guide, talks about the Old Supreme Court chamber.

A fellow visitor photographed me inside the rotunda.

Here I pose with the Capitol behind me.  I stopped someone who looked like a worker to photograph me.

Then I exited through the west side and walked to the Illinois State Museum.  I walked up to the front desk inside and said I was there to see Amanda. She is on staff with the museum and worked to create an Oral History Project on Route 66, for which I recorded a video, and then she participated in creating a special exhibit on the Centennial of Route 66. She came to the front lobby to greet me and then she showed me the exhibit and we talked about Route 66.  The exhibit did a great job looking at different aspects of the road, like motels, restaurants, safety, the experience of African-Americans who were limited in what services they could patronize, Bob Waldmire, and art, with many museum artifacts on display.

A car on display in the lobby of the museum as a introduction to the Route 66 exhibit

Once she went back to her office, I lingered to look more at the exhibit. It's amazing to see how much of an afterlife Route 66 has had, considering the immense impact it had on US culture.

Amanda photographed me above and below in the Route 66 exhibit.

I then walked to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for a short time of quiet prayer. Then I returned in earnest to the Amtrak station, browsing the vintage cars on display in the streets around the Old State Capitol for the annual Route 66 festival. 

Commemorative signage on the street in Springfield

I also bought a chicken sandwich from a vendor.  At the station, I got talking with someone wearing Illinois General Assembly apparel, who told me about this work supporting the legislators.

Around 4:45 or so, train #318 arrived, which had started in Kansas City that morning and was bound for Chicago.  

Train #318 upon its arrival at the Springfield station.

Since it was a Friday, the train almost filled to capacity.  I found a seat in the car behind the engine.  During the ride, I enjoyed a variety of media, including the All Set for Sunday podcast.  I also got a hot soft pretzel as a snack.

Sunset scene between Dwight and Joliet

Above and below are electronic signboards inside the coach car.

About 5 minutes away from Joliet, the train had to stop, and we were in a holding pattern for nearly 2 hours because a red signal on display to indicate the presence of track construction had not been removed by the foreman, and we had to wait for the foreman to return and verify the tracks were clear of equipment and remove that signal so we could proceed.  I felt a stirring as we kept waiting and waiting:  I drew into the bank of prayers I had for the Mass and started praying as my pilgrimage experience stretched out longer than expected.  

Around 9 PM, the train was finally on the move again.  Just past 9:30, I was gathered with a group of other passengers near the train door to detrain at Summit.  We exited and then waited on the platform to cross over to the other side by the parking lot, with the bright light of the full moon shining upon us.

On the platform at the Summit station upon arrival

Gazing up at the bright moon at the Summit station

Soon after returning from this pilgrimage, I spoke with someone about it.  She asked me when I first became aware of Fulton Sheen.  I've known him for several years, but I can't remember exactly when I first heard about him.  Over time, I recognized his extraordinary gifts, especially as I read daily books with his words.  So I was excited to attend his Beatification Mass, and I knew it would be an inspiring experience to go on pilgrimage to be present for hearing the decree proclaiming his beatification.  It's an important step in the canonization process, and I knew it would be the chance of a lifetime to hear the words of the decree.  It was especially profound to be at this Beatification Mass during the 250th Anniversary year of the Independence of the United States, as we celebrate how God was at work mightily in Fulton Sheen in the Church in the USA and beyond during his life, and how the work continues even after his death.  Clearly, the thousands of people gathered was a sign of how much influence Fulton Sheen continues to have from Heaven in this world.  The organizers did a great job making this Beatification Mass a special and sacred experience, with the addition of the pre-Mass show and the Expo Hall with exhibitors who contribute something special to faith.  I was thrilled to connect with Jeff Traylor of Sock Religious, a modern-day YouTube celebrity in the spirit of a media celebrity from years past.  I was glad for other ways I connected with people there, starting from the moment I saw someone wearing a Knights of Columbus tie in the hotel breakfast room before I departed, to the family I conversed with on the Metrolink ride back into Illinois.

People have traveled on pilgrimages for thousands of years for Kairos moments, significant encounters with God.  Unlike the pilgrims of past who walked to sacred sites, I traveled by modern means, even at some point going nearly 110 mph onboard the Amtrak Lincoln Service route.  I was thrilled to make Amtrak part of this pilgrimage, and to see the features of the newer trainsets and experience the speed.  I was also glad to make a Springfield stop part of this pilgrimage, to visit the State Capitol in the wake of celebrating the honor bestowed upon a son of Illinois. The Route 66 exhibit was a great way to connect with an important part of the past that still has an afterlife going strong.

Throughout the journey of life, there are Kairos moments, critical moments when we encounter God, and it transforms us for what we have ahead.  The journey of Fulton Sheen's canonization process reached such a Kairos moment in St. Louis.  It was a Kairos moment for me, and I think seminarian James's response to my question really emphasizes the impact of Fulton Sheen, who is another example of a saint in the cloud of witnesses who are supporting us from Heaven as God continues to do the greater works that Jesus speaks of, through us.

It was either my fellow Knight or his wife who photographed me by this figure of Bishop Sheen soon after our arrival at the venue.