Vice-Postulation of the Cause of Canonization of Father Eustáquio

The Vice-Postulation, which works on the Canonization process of Father Eustáquio, is an institution of the Catholic Church, linked to the General Postulation of the Cause and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (based in Rome). Our mission is to gather all the material involving extraordinary events attributed to the intercession of Blessed Father Eustáquio van Lieshout.

Besides being responsible for the canonization process, we also have a duty to spread devotion to the Blessed throughout Brazil and the world. This work consists of presenting the life and history of this religious figure, spreading his veneration among the people of God, and also encouraging people to ask for graces through his intercession.

The word Postulation It is very common in the ecclesiastical world, and is also the root of the word "postulant," meaning a request for a person to be admitted to something or some place. In this process there are: a Postulator General and a Vice-Postulator. The Vice-Postulator works with the community where the Servant of God carried out his mission, while the Postulator represents the Cause in Rome at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

In Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, where the Vice-Postulation Secretariat is located, a team works managing and promoting the cause through electronic means (websites and social networks) and by selling religious articles (including images, books, prayers, and other devotional items). The sale of this material and the donations received cover the expenses related to the canonization process.

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[accordion title=VICE-POSTULATOR] Father Marcus Vinícius Maciel is a religious of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, Pro-Rector of the Sanctuary of Health and Peace and President of the Padre Eustáquio Daycare Center, in Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil. Father Vinícius, SSCC, was born in the capital of Minas Gerais, on October 24, 1961. He also completed his initial studies in Belo Horizonte. He graduated in Philosophy from PUC-Campinas (SP) and in Theology from FAJE (MG) and PUC-Santiago (Chile). He entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts in 1976. His priestly ordination was on December 28, 1990. He worked in several parishes in Brazil and was Provincial Superior (Brazil – Paraguay) from 2009 to 2015. He was appointed Vice-Postulator by Father Alfred Bell, SSCC, on December 8, 2008.

[accordion title=POSTULATOR GENERAL]Father David P. Reid is a religious of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, Postulator General of the Congregation, and responsible for editing the writings of Saint Damien of Molokai. Father David Reid, SSCC, was born in Ireland in 1942. He studied biblical studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and received his doctorate from the Pontifical Gregorian University, both in Rome. He served as Provincial of the United States – East from 2000 to 2006 and as Regional Provincial of India from 2007 to 2010. Before becoming Postulator General, Father David was a parish priest in Seat Pleasant, Washington, D.C. He was appointed Postulator General on January 21, 2015.

[accordion title=HISTORY OF THE CAUSE]The news of graces obtained through the intercession of the Servant of God, witnessing true popular devotion, led the Church to open the Canonization process in 1956. Father Eustáquio's fame grew each year. The process dragged on for a long time until, on April 12, 2003, Pope Saint John Paul II recognized the heroic nature of his virtues, and Father Eustáquio's name was inscribed on the list of Venerable Servants of God. The next step was the recognition of the miracle. The surprising cure of cancer, through the intercession of Father Eustáquio for the benefit of Father Gonçalo Belém, which occurred in 1962, was scientifically proven. On June 15, 2006, the solemn Beatification took place at Mineirão Stadium. This was the public recognition of a heroic life of virtue and service. The football stadium in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, hosted a multitude of faithful from parishes in the capital and other cities for the Corpus Christi celebration, totaling more than 80,000 people. The Venerable Servant of God, Father Eustáquio van Lieshout, a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, was inscribed on the list of Blessed by Pope Benedict XVI, who also granted that the liturgical ceremony be celebrated in Brazil. (Click here to learn more about the Beatification).

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