Theology

An 1147 Word Interview with Dr. Peter Howard

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Dr. Peter Howard, founder and president of the Fulton Sheen Institute and the Fulton Sheen Movement, via phone on July 28th, 2026. I rearranged, edited, and paraphrased some of the questions and answers to improve the reader experience while preserving the integrity of the original responses.

Additional context: the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation- based in Diocese of Peoria- all the canonical things goes through this organization- is distinct from the following: 

  1. Fulton Sheen Institute- that’s the formation arm (retreats pilgrimages, media)
  2. Fulton Sheen Movement- a non-profit to help get the beatification back on track

Can you share how you first became interested in Venerable Fulton Sheen?

I listened to a remastered recording of a 1974 retreat for priests and seminarians.

I knew by the end of the retreat that I had to make some big decisions and I knew that Fulton Sheen was going to be a big part of my life.

Fulton Sheen became my academic obsession when I was studying and working on my doctorate. I used every chance I had to share the word about Fulton Sheen. After my doctorate, I wanted to build something that wasn’t in existence. I started the Fulton Sheen Foundation in 2019. 

I know that the reintroduction of Sheen will lead to a resurgence of the priesthood and the New Evangelization. Over the last three years, I have been fighting for the beatification of Fulton Sheen. For example, when I saw Pope Leo XIV, in Rome as he was passing me by, I shouted out “Restart the cause for Fulton Sheen.” I believe the Holy Father heard me. It helps that Pope Leo is an American and was already familiar with Fulton Sheen.  

Everything in this journey with Fulton Sheen is being choreographed by God. We need someone to lead America into the next generation and that person is Fulton Sheen. 

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The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies: Episode 36

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Welcome to another The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies! Growing up, one of my favorite parts of Sunday was flipping to the comics section of the newspaper: a little pocket of humor, color, and light-heartedness to start the week.

Now, in that same spirit, I’m excited to share this weekly collection of wholesome, funny Catholic comic strips. Thanks to the incredible talents of artists like Father Alvaro Comics, The Catholic Cartoonist, Sam Estrada, Tomics, and Fr. Michael DeBlanc. These comics bring a joyful twist to our shared faith, reminding us that laughter is one of God’s great gifts.

Enjoy Catholic comics!

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“Jesus Left the House”: When God Feeds in Abundance

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By: Mauro Russo

Editor’s Note: Articles originally published on Pane Vivo.

A Reflection on Matthew 14:13-21

Jesus left the house, crossed the sea and withdrew to a deserted place. But the crowd followed him. And seeing them, he had compassion on them and healed the sick. This is the heart of Matthew 14:13-21, and every time I read it I stop on one word alone: compassion.

It is not the same as duty. It is not the same as giving alms. I can give alms without feeling anything for that person, for their poverty, for their pain. The gesture is concrete but remains cold, antiseptic. Compassion is something else: it is entering into another person’s pain, taking it on, feeling it as your own.

Jesus did not heal to build an audience. He had no need of recognition. He was the Almighty. Jesus healed because he loved. And those he healed felt it: they felt understood, not merely assisted.

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Patron Saints of Accounting: Lessons from Two Unexpected Holy Ones

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Sponsored: This article is made possible by Your Catholic CPA, supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.

For many people, accounting is simply about numbers, tax forms, audits, and financial reports. Yet behind every balance sheet is something much more important: trust.

Whether an accountant serves a family business, a nonprofit, or a Catholic parish, the work requires honesty, careful judgment, and faithful stewardship. Those aren’t merely professional skills. They are Christian virtues.

I’ve always had an appreciation for the field of accounting. Before I was born, my mom earned an accounting degree and worked in the accounting department at Cargill (a major United States company that was expanding in the 1980s). After starting our family, she made the difficult decision to leave her career so she could become a stay-at-home mom. That choice never meant leaving accounting behind. My mom managed our family’s finances with remarkable care and, years later, used those same skills to help build a successful cleaning business. Looking back, I realize that her work with numbers was never just about mathematics. It was about serving our family well.

I’ve also felt a personal connection through my namesake: Saint Matthew the Evangelist. Before following Christ, Matthew worked as a tax collector, handling money and financial records every day. Although I eventually chose to study history instead of accounting in college, I can appreciate why the profession attracts people who enjoy solving problems, bringing order to complexity, and helping others make wise decisions.

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Safe in the Storm: Faith, Jesus, and the Journey Back to Shore

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33

My brothers and sisters, I want to begin today by telling you the story of a man—let’s call him Michael. Michael was a faithful husband to his wife, who had been handicapped for many years. He worked hard throughout his life, building a career in an office, supporting his family with love and quiet strength. But as the years went by, he found himself facing the challenge that so many in our world know too well—he was laid off, not because of his work ethic or his skills, but simply because of his age.

Michael had more degrees than most of us could hope for—multiple Master’s, years of experience, and the sort of reputation that makes people smile when they hear your name. Still, every application, every interview ended the same way: “We’re sorry, but we’re looking for someone else.” Each rejection stung, not just for what it meant for his own future, but for his wife as well.

Yet Michael refused to give up. He decided that if the world would not give him a job, he would make one himself. He studied, he passed test after test, he learned the ins and outs of financial advising, determined to help others navigate the stormy waters of their own lives. But it wasn’t easy. Each day brought a new challenge—one day it was marketing, the next it was finding clients, the next it was another bill he wasn’t sure he could pay. It felt, he later said, as if he was stuck in a tiny boat, far from shore, battered by winds and waves, and never sure if he would make it.

There were times when Michael felt completely alone. His friends could not help. His efforts seemed to disappear into nothing. He wondered if his boat—his life, his hope—might finally sink.

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