THE Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory have announced the appointment of Jesuit Fr Vincent Ferrer Blehl as postulator of the cause of John Henry Newman. Fr Blehl SJ was the chairman of the historical commission which conducted the investigation into the life, virtues and reputation for sanctity of Cardinal Newman.
The Birmingham diocesan process of research into the cause, which has been under the direction of Mgr Anthony Stark, master of the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom, is now complete, and its findings have been passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.
Fr Blehl will act as a consultant to the Congregation in all matters pertaining to Newman. His permanent residence will remain the Oratory in Birmingham.