On May 16, 2024 Christopher (Chris) Vander Woude became our newest Board Member. Chris is currently the K-12 Dean of Students and Athletic Director at Chelsea Academy, Front Royal, VA. Being Tom’s fifth son, he was raised on the family farm in Nokesville, VA. After graduating from Christendom College, Chris soon became their Athletic Director and then the Dean of Students. Just prior to joining Chelsea Academy, Chris was the Athletic Director at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Dumfries, VA.

Another key change for the Guild was that Rev. Monsignor Paul F. deLadurantaye has been identified as the Guild’s new contact at the Catholic Diocese of Arlington regarding Tom’s Cause. Msgr. deLadurantaye has recently returned to the diocese after almost 6 years living in Rome while serving as an English interpreter for Pope Francis.

In early August of 2024, Msgr. deLadurantaye became the diocese’s Chancellor. The chancellor’s main role is to manage diocesan records and documents. Specifically, he is responsible for:

• Gathering, arranging, and safeguarding the acts and archives of the diocesan curia.
• Maintaining sacramental registers that detail the sacramental history of each parish in the diocese.
• Serving as the official notary on documents issued by the diocesan bishop.
• Preserving the recorded history and historical artifacts of the diocese.
• Other duties that the bishop might require of him.

A Board Member of the Guild met with the Monsignor, and we are looking forward to working with him and, hopefully, utilizing his experience of working with many of the Roman curia staff.

As many of you are aware, we have been asking for: 1) Stories of Tom’s Christian service to his church, community, yourself, or a loved one; and 2) Stories of his faith and/or the reputation of his holiness. In July, Kevin Kelly and his wife invited us to attend a small dinner party at their home. They also invited two other couples that knew Tom well. We recorded the stories that they told us about Tom and the added details of stories that we had heard or read about in various news reports prior, but there was a need for additional personal details. The conversation was wonderful, and they were of great help in adding to Tom’s reputation for holiness and Christian service to so many with whom he came into contact.

In previous newsletters, we also mentioned that we would support any gathering at a church or organization to “spread the word” about Tom and his Cause. Gratefully, we have been asked to speak to a group of parents in a “Family Faith Formation Program” at St. Michael’s Catholic Church just outside Boston, MA in early November. They wanted to know more about Tom Vander Woude, his family life, and his Cause. Many people are interested in “what it takes for someone to be made a saint”. Luckily, Fr. Oetjen has been very helpful in delineating the “early diocesan stages” of the process. Both the Board Chairman and our newest board member, Chris Vander Woude, will be speaking to the group.

Finally, we will also be promoting Tom’s Cause at the 15th annual Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, October 14, 2024, at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club, Front Royal, VA. The club is rated as one of the 10 best places to play golf in the state of Virginia by Golf Digest. Please stop by our table and say “hello”.

All proceeds from the Golf Tournament will go to support the Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is for two $5,000 four-year renewable scholar-athlete scholarships awarded each fall semester to two incoming students. Students must meet certain criteria and apply for the scholarship.

Our Sincere blessings to you all,
Keith Henderson,
Board Chairman

Our Sincere blessings to you all,

Keith Henderson

Board Chairman

• Established the Catholic Diocese of Arlington as the Petitioner for the Thomas S. Vander Woude Cause for Canonization.
• Appointed Dr. Waldery Hilgeman as the Postulator of the Thomas S. Vander Woude Cause for Canonization. 

   Bishop Burbidge is very supportive of Mr. Vander Woude’s Cause. Both he and our Vicar General, Fr. Workman, understand the importance of ensuring the process goes well and that the “Norms” established by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (see the “About” menu of the tvwguild.org website) are explicitly followed. This will save both time and money in the long run so that various aspects of the process and/or documentation will not have to be redone or “cured”.

   Currently Bishop Burbidge has asked the diocesan financial staff to establish the appropriate budgets for his approval and set up the proper accounting so that contract arrangements with Dr. Hilgeman can be finalized.

   Our diocese has the opportunity to have a saint declared from within our midst. Many people in the diocese knew Tom well, respected him, and were good friends with him and his family. Many of those have wonderful stories of his Christian faith; his virtue; his humility; his mentorship; and his service to county, church, community, and family. Whether it be a sentence, a paragraph, or several pages, please send these stories to our email.

Our Sincere blessings to you all,

Keith Henderson,

Board Chairman

The Guild has reached out to two very experienced and successful Rome-based Postulators. Both have had the opportunity to look over the various stories, pictures, and video relating to Tom’s life on the Guild’s website. Both have provided us with very kind responses and have shown their interest in potentially working on Tom’s Cause.

This coming Wednesday, February 28, Fathers Workman, Walsh, and Oetjen (see Newsletter #4) will be meeting with the Guild’s Board members. Our discussions will concern all the various roles, activities, and processes that are necessary regarding the current canonical process for carrying out the Diocesan Inquiry stage. We will also be meeting with the Vice Postulator of SOG Fr. Capodanno’s Cause, Mary Preece.  She has kindly offered to bring along some resources and help us with our understanding and successful accomplishment of the various tasks needed to award a Servant Of God title to Mr. Thomas S. Vander Woude.

Mrs. Preece will also help us to understand the day-to-day working relationships between ourselves, the Roman Postulator, and the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. She has been very involved with Fr. Capodanno’s Cause for a long time. We are so very glad and thankful for her offer to help and support our efforts. It was Mrs. Preece who recommended both Postulators to whom we are in contact.

Sincere blessings to you all,
Keith Henderson, Board Chairman

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.

Fr. Kevin Walsh, the current pastor of Precious Blood Catholic Church in Culpeper, received his priestly formation at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD., and was ordained by Arlington BishopJohn R. Keating May 16, 1992. Father Walsh has served in many churches in the diocese, as well as being the chaplain of Marymount University for two years. Fr. Walsh was first appointed as a pastor in 2004 to St. Philip Church in Falls Church. After a 3-month sabbatical to Vietnam in 2008, he returned to serve as the pastor to two other churches prior to advancing his education. In 2013 Fr. Walsh began full-time studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, studying for a license in Sacred Theology with a concentration in Biblical Theology.

Fr. Steven Oetjen graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and then attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA. After his second year of seminary, Arlington’s Bishop Loverde requested that he continue his studies at the Pontifical North American College (“The NAC”) in Rome. Upon his return to the diocese, he continued his studies in Cannon Law full-time at the Catholic University of America.

Father Oetjen was ordained as a priest on June 10, 2017. Currently, Fr. Oetjen is an Advocate for the Respondent at the diocese’s Office of the Tribunal while continuing his studies part-time at Catholic University toward a Doctorate in Cannon Law (JCL) degree. You also may have read his article in the September 7-20, 2023, edition of The Arlington Catholic Herald explaining why the Lord told Peter to forgive 77 times.

Through the grace of God; the wonderful generosity of a good and supportive Bishop; and two priests who are willing to say “YES” when called upon; the Tom Vander Woude Guild is now being aided by an experienced theologian and an energetic cannon lawyer. Blessed be our God.

There are still many steps and much work that must be done which would allow sufficient information for Bishop Burbidge to thoughtfully and prayerfully be able to make a decision regarding the “official start” of Tom Vander Woude’s process toward Canonization. The Office of the Tribunal and its capabilities will be used for various interviews and documentary collections/validations. Also, the theological aspects of Tom’s faith and holiness will be well recognized and authenticated thanks to our two newly added diocesan priests.

Please tell other people about the existence of the tvwguild.org website. Also, about the formation of the Guild and its initial goal to have Tom designated as a Servant of God in celebration of the Arlington Diocese’s 50th Anniversary.

Please remember to bookmark our website and “spread the word”:    www.tvwguild.org
Finally, your kind and generous tax-deductible donations are truly appreciated and always welcome.

Our sincere blessings to you all,

Keith Henderson
Board Chairman

There are still many steps and much work that must be done which would allow sufficient information for Bishop Burbidge to thoughtfully and prayerfully be able to make a decision regarding the “official start” of Tom Vander Woude’s process toward Canonization. We all pray that the upcoming meeting in September will be extremely productive. We also pray that everyone who knew, respected, and loved Tom prays for the Bishop’s favorable decision.

Please tell other people about the existence of the tvwguild.org website. Also, about the formation of the Guild and its initial goal to have Tom designated as a Servant of God in celebration of the Arlington Diocese’s 50th Anniversary.

Please remember to bookmark our website and “spread the word”

Finally, your kind and generous donations are truly appreciated and always welcome.

Sincere blessings to you all,

Keith Henderson
Board Chairman

Peter’s Prayer Favor 

Peter was not in Virginia when Tom Vander Woude died. He was taking care of his mother in Colorado. The farm where she lived was in the flat and dry area of that state. Shortly after Tom’s death, Peter received a call from his sister telling him about the death of Tom and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Peter didn’t think of the heroism and holiness of Tom’s act, only that it was a terrible way to die. Peter had cleaned out septic tanks on their farm before and realized the horrible and hazardous conditions they epitomized.

The farmhouse has a picture window that looks out toward a small tree that had dead branches at the top. After his sister’s phone call Peter was praying, looking out the window, and asked for a sign that Tom was in heaven. The sign he asked for was a blue jay. Tom had graduated from Creighton University and their mascot was the blue jay. Peter had never seen a blue jay on the farm, and he wasn’t even specifically praying to see a living blue jay. He just wanted some sort of blue Jay sign. Maybe just a picture of a blue jay, and not even immediately.

Very shortly after Peter had finished his prayer, there was a big wind that blew, and a whole flock of blue jays appeared and landed in the tree. The blue jays stayed only a few seconds, then flew off in that wild wind. Peter could hardly believe what he had just seen – so strange, even without the prayer; but so amazing after having made the prayer. Peter thanked God for giving him his sign and the comfort that knowing Tom was truly in heaven.

Many people have asked, “Why hasn’t Tom’s Cause been started before this?” The only answer I can find is that a sufficient cadre of those that knew him and of his works for the community hadn’t realized that it was not only possible but also how to go about doing it. So many people are busy with their own lives and priorities, that it’s difficult for them to add one more task to their daily schedule. That is why we have started the Tom Vander Woude Guild – a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation. We hope it will provide background information; access to a cadre of Tom’s friends and acquaintances; and sufficient support to the Arlington Diocese in carrying out the pursuit of Tom’s Cause for Sainthood. Please refer to Newsletter # 1 on the tvwguild.org website, or Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio (also on the website) for further information regarding the requirements associated with Tom’s Cause for Sainthood.

Please tell other people about the existence of the tvwguild.org website. Also about the formation of the Guild and its initial goal to have Tom designated as a Servant of God in celebration of the Arlington Diocese’s 50th Anniversary.

Please remember to bookmark our website and “spread the word”

Finally, your kind and generous donations are truly appreciated and always welcome.

Sincere blessings to you all,

Keith Henderson
Board Chairman

After reading through all the various Vatican requirements and documents regarding the total process, it became clear to me that I would need an “accountability partner”. Rick Von Ehr became that accountability partner. He serves as the Vice Chair for the Guild. Since Fr. Fasano was the person that instigated my journey regarding Tom’s Cause, I was able to convince him to become the Treasurer. Finally, I drafted a retired Army Colonel, John Lundberg, to become the Guild’s Secretary. After several months of filling out forms; sending them into various State and Federal agencies; then awaiting their replies – the Tom Vander Woude Guild became an official Virginia State Nonprofit Corporation with a Federal 501(c)(3) tax exemption status so that donations may be tax deductible.

The “offer of life”, in order that it to be valid and effective for the beatification of a Servant of God, must respond to the following criteria:

1. a free and voluntary offer of life and heroic acceptance propter caritatem (meaning: because of charity or through love) of a certain and untimely death;
2. a nexus (connection or link) between the offer of life and premature death;
3. the exercise, at least as ordinarily possible, of Christian virtues before the offer of life and, then, unto death;
4. the existence of a reputation of holiness and of signs, at least after death;
5. the necessity of a miracle for beatification, occurring after the death of the Servant of God and through his or her intercession.
It is the opinion of the Guild and others that Tom meets at least the first four (4) criteria. The final criteria is yet to be identified and approved, but I believe it eventually will be. There are still many steps that must be taken for Tom’s Cause to be fully recognized by the Church.

Before any actions by the Church in Rome can take place, Tom needs to be designated as a Servant of God. This is within the purview of the Bishop of the Arlington Diocese in consultation with other Bishops and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

I spoke with Bishop Burbidge late last fall, and he said: “Pope Francis wishes for us (the Bishops) to be highly sensitive to considering ‘everyday’ folks for beatification.” He also said: “It might be very possible for it to happen (meaning begin the process) this year.” Finally, he said: “Just make it easy on us”.

I believe his last statement meant that a lot of the research, documentation, justification and substantiation should be done prior to officially asking for the Diocese to begin the process of designating Tom as a Servant of God. This would also mean that a large cadre of people within the Diocese would agree with and support Tom’s Cause. That is why the Guild was formed and a website developed to help “spread the word”; receive comments and stories about Tom; and make as many people as possible aware of the Diocese’s ability to have one of its most beloved and respected men to become a Saint.

While the website isn’t completely finished yet, please tell other people about its existence and also about the formation of the Guild and its initial goal to have Tom designated as a Servant of God in celebration of the Arlington Diocese’s 50 th Anniversary.

Please remember to bookmark our website
Finally, your kind and generous donations are truly appreciated and always welcome.

Sincere blessings to you all,

Keith Henderson
Board Chairman