Last month, a member of the Guild and the Vice-Postulator (Art Bennett) for Tom’s potential Cause were privileged to be invited to attend the first offering of the Center for Sainthood Studies Certificate Program at the Vallombrosa Retreat Center in Menlo Park, California. This intensive 6-day course guided participants through the rigorous sainthood application process and prepared us to effectively navigate through all the various canonical procedures. As God’s plan would have it, the Roman Postulator (Dr. Waldery Hilgeman) of Tom’s potential Cause was the leading instructor.

Art and our Guild member were able to have several one-on-one discussions regarding Tom’s draft libellus that was presented to Dr. Hilgeman. The main feedback was that the Postulator has the right to ask Bishop Burbidge to apply the principle of ne permeant probationes (“lest proofs be lost”). Dr. Hilgeman was prepared to do so immediately and after returning to speak with the diocese, all agreed to begin a preliminary Diocesan Phase of Inquires for certain “key witnesses” as soon as practical.

The libellus presented to Dr. Hilgeman was 88 pages in length with sections devoted to Tom’s life, his reputation of virtues and holiness, his reputation of intercessory powers, and a list of potential witnesses to attest to the facts as presented in the libellus.

In grateful acknowledgement, one of our Board Members – Tom’s fifth son, Christopher (Chris) – spent many hours researching and writing his father’s draft libellus. As a sample of the writings within the libellus, I’m adding the two final paragraphs of the sub-section on Tom’s life entitled “Final Gift of Self” immediately following:

At the hospital, Tom and Mary Ellen’s oldest son, a Catholic priest, walked over to the “body bag”, unzipped it. and anointed his father – his namesake. Undoubtedly when making the sign of the cross on his father’s forehead, Father Tom remembered the numerous times he had seen his father make the sign of the cross when starting the family rosary. He would have remembered his father signing the cross on his own forehead when he was a child. He would remember giving his father Holy Communion many times, being able to place the God of the Universe on the tongue of his father. Now he signed him for the last time, claiming him for Christ and the promise that Christ gives for those who love Him. The faith, which he witnessed his father live that led Father Tom to give his life in service to Christ and His Church, could not have been more evident than now, anointing his father who did as Saint Paul exhorts all husbands and fathers to do: to love as Christ loved.

As family and priests arrived at the hospital emotions ran high. For many of Tom’s children and grandchildren, they had just seen him the day before on a typical Sunday family gathering on the Vander Woude farm. Now they sat in the hospital room with their mother before the body of their father and grandfather. The man who had given them so much. First and foremost, he gave them the example of a man of God. A man who put his Faith above all else. A father who had not only given them life but in a real way had prepared them to live life in this world and into eternity. A father who had daily demonstrated St. Paul’s exhortation “husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church.” A father who sacrificed his own comforts so that his sons could attend Catholic high school and College because in Tom’s words “the type of man you are, is much more important than the job you complete.” A father who did all he could to support his sons, their wives and their families. A grandfather that welcomed his grandchildren by his side no matter what he was involved in. A man whose charity, joy and humility were now only a memory and a legacy.

While the Guild continues our efforts to promote and support Tom’s potential Cause, there are simple things others can do to help support also. They are:

• Forward or share this newsletter with your family and friends. It’s easy – PLEASE DO IT. One or more of them might know a story or two about Tom that could be used in the petition for the opening of Tom’s Cause.
• Let your friends and family know that they can sign up for the Newsletter at: www.tvwguild.org
• Please…. send us any stories of:
  • Prayers of intercession to Tom that were answered for you or a friend.
  • Christian service to his church, community, yourself, or a loved one.
  • Stories of his faith or reputation of his holiness.
• Please send any of the above to info@tvwguild.org
• Tell your pastor about Tom’s potential Cause and ask to host a group presentation at your church, women’s group, KofC Council, veteran’s group, etc. We are happy to support – just contact us via email at: info@tvwguild.org
• Finally, along with your prayers, please make a tax-deductible donation via our website or directly to our following address. We promise that we will protect your donation and use it wisely for the promotion, encouragement and support of Tom’s Cause.

Our Sincere blessings to you all,
Keith Henderson
Board Chairman