Peter John Sheen, later known as Fulton John Sheen, was born on May 8, 1895, and passed away on December 9, 1979. He was an American bishop of the Catholic Church who gained recognition for his exceptional preaching abilities and his work in television and radio.
Sheen was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in 1919 and quickly established himself as a renowned theologian, earning the prestigious Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923. He went on to teach theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America and served as a parish priest before being appointed as the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in 1951.
He held this position until 1966, when he was elevated to the Bishop of Rochester. Sheen resigned in 1969, as his 75th birthday approached, and was subsequently appointed as the Archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales.
As "Father Sheen," later Monsignor, he hosted the popular nighttime radio program "The Catholic Hour" on NBC from 1930 to 1950. He then transitioned to television, presenting "Life Is Worth Living" from 1952 to 1957. His final presenting role was on the syndicated "The Fulton Sheen Program" from 1961 to 1968, which had a similar format to his earlier show.
Throughout his career, Sheen received numerous accolades, including two Emmy Awards for Most Outstanding Television Personality and a feature on the cover of Time magazine. His shows were re-broadcast on the EWTN and Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks starting in 2009, recognizing his significant contribution to televised preaching.
Due to his pioneering work in televised preaching, Sheen is often referred to as one of the first televangelists, a term that has since become synonymous with charismatic Christian leaders who use television to spread their message.
