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

Great News. Tom Vander Woude’s memory and story will be honored and celebrated January 24, 2026 in San Francisco, with a very prestigious award. The St. Gianna Molla Award for Pro-Life Heroism will be presented posthumously to his fifth son, Chris Vander Woude, at the Annual Walk for Life – West Coast. This prestigious award honors those who show “heroic virtue in the defense of the unborn and their mothers and fathers, usually to the extent of profound sacrifice,” according to Dolores Meehan, co-chair of the West Coast Walk for Life. “The fact that his son has Down syndrome made it all the more important

This summer has been a busy one for everyone associated with the Guild and Tom’s potential Cause. Chris Vander Woude has spoken at several events describing his father’s life and the process toward the opening of his Cause for Canonization. Chris has also provided Tom’s story on two YouTube interviews which you can watch on the following links. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYu5kHlOoR8 https://youtu.be/F6SCHxtnQqc?si=m_r5iANirJWxSqP7 An initial 88-page draft “libellus” which contains the various required information and facts that might be needed to begin the Diocesan Phase of Investigations for Tom’s potential Cause, along with a list of potential witnesses, has been delivered to the Vice-Postulator, Art Bennett. He, in

This month, another major step has been completed. Bishop Burbidge has authorized Art Bennett, who served as President and CEO of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Arlington for a decade, to assume the role of Vice-Postulator for Tom’s Cause. In this capacity, Mr. Bennett will collaborate closely with the Postulator in Rome, Dr. Waldery Hilgeman. Recently, members of the Guild’s Board, together with Mr. Bennett, convened with Msgr. deLadurantaye to delineate our respective roles and responsibilities. Also, this month, another Board Member was added to the Guild. John Paul Vander Woude is now the sixth member of the Guild’s Board. John Paul, one of

Our diocese could 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 people have wonderful stories of his Christian faith; his virtue; his humility; his mentorship; and his service to his county, church, community, and family. Whether it be a sentence, a paragraph, or several pages, please send these stories or prayer favors to us today! a. The Postulator prepares the official Petition (“Libellus”) to be presented to the Bishop, requesting the beginning of the Cause. b. The Bishop discloses receipt of the official

The summer has been long and hot, but very productive. One of the first actions that took place was that the Guild added another Board Member. For some time, the Board felt that we needed a member of the Vander Woude family on the Board to represent their interests and help with the identification and collection of various documents and details of Tom’s life. 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