Vatican theologians advance sainthood cause of Wisconsin missionary priest

Vatican theologians unanimously voted in favor of advancing the canonization cause of Servant of God Joseph Walijewski, a priest from the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, who served as a missionary in Latin America.

The nine members of the Theological Congress of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints examined the “positio” for Walijewski, which is the formal document about his life that shows evidence of heroic virtue, a reputation for holiness, and his intercessory power.

In a unanimous vote, the theologians voted in favor of affirming the merits of his cause. The positio will be reviewed by the cardinals and bishops at the dicastery, who will determine whether to recommend his cause favorably to the pope. If they do, it would be up to Pope Leo XIV to decide whether to beatify him and grant him the title “venerable.”

“This marks a significant milestone and an important step forward in the advancement of his cause,” Diocese of La Crosse Bishop Gerard W. Battersby said in an announcement. “… While additional steps remain, the favorable vote of the Theological Congress represents a noteworthy affirmation and source of encouragement.”

Walijewski was born in 1924 to poor Polish immigrants in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and planned to eventually become a priest while he was selling newspapers as a child. He promised God he would serve in Latin America if he were ordained a priest.

According to the Father Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild, the servant of God began missionary work in Bolivia, where he built a parish in a jungle along with a rectory and a school. The location is now part of the urban center of Santa Cruz. He later served as a missionary in Peru, where he served the poor and operated an orphanage.

Battersby said the diocese received this news on Nov. 6, on the same day they celebrated the legacy of Walijewski and the work of Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, a home for youth in Peru. The bishop expressed gratitude for the “dedicated work of the theological experts, the dedication of those who have promoted the Cause, and the many faithful whose prayers continue to accompany this journey.”

“We give thanks to God, whose grace was evident in Father Joe’s priestly ministry and continues to bear fruit today through the lives he touched and the mission he inspired,” the bishop added. “I invite the faithful to continue praying for the successful advancement of the Cause according to God’s holy will.”