Today the first ever beatification to occur on US soil will give the title “Blessed” to a member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey (SCNJ), Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, S.C. Sister Miriam’s beatification will be held at 9:30am at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey. In 2005 the Church adjusted the process by which saints are named. As part of this, it is now permitted for beatifications to occur in the native land of the person to be beatified.

Sister Rosemary Moynihan, General Superior of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, said of Sister Miriam Teresa:

“God makes saints out of the simple events of life. Holiness is not beyond any one of us in our daily, ordinary lives. Miriam Teresa made it clear that the grace of God is given to each of us freely. Each day we are given the invitation and strength to live in union with the Spirit of God found in each and every one we meet and in all creation.”

Our colleagues at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton will be holding a special Mass in the Basilica today at 1:30pm to mark the beatification. The Mass is open to the public. For more information see the Shrine’s website

Learn more about Sister Miriam Demjanovich’s life and cause for canonization in this site from the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth.