On November 17, 2023, the Board of Directors met with Fathers Walsh and Oetjen (see Newsletter #4) to discuss the priorities for moving forward with Tom Vander Woude’s Cause. The clarification of certain processes by Fr. Oetjen, and the initial diocesan needs for the opening of Tom’s Cause were extremely helpful.
We all reviewed the various “prayer favors” that had been submitted so far and decided to select at least two or three to pursue in detail. The documentation and appropriate witness testimonies would be collected and transcribed by the tribunal should it become necessary at this preliminary stage.
Two critical steps will be to: 1) ensure that the Tom Vander Woude Guild can act as a “Juridic Person” to become the Petitioner of the Cause; and 2) select and formally designate a Postulator of the Cause who is currently living in Rome, and with experience on other Causes for Canonization. We have been provided with three names of potential Postulators so far and will contact each of them beginning in early January 2024.
Fr. Oetjen will be reviewing the Articles of Incorporation and Corporate By-Laws of the Guild. He will help us with gaining “Juridic Person” status within the diocese. He has also provided the Guild with a briefing presented to the Canon Law Society of America regarding the current canonical process for carrying out the Diocesan Inquiry stage regarding a Servant Of God.
