exclamation

Important notice: To continue serving our valued readers during the postal disruption, complete unrestricted access to the digital edition is available at no extra cost. This will ensure uninterrupted digital access to your copies. Click here to view the digital edition, or learn more.

Archdiocese of Toronto explores Sr. Carmelina Tarantino's sainthood cause

By 
  • March 22, 2009
{mosimage}TORONTO - The journey to possible sainthood for Sr. Carmelina Tarantino has begun.

A panel of theologians and historians, under the auspices of  the archdiocese of Toronto, has officially started an examination of the life of the Toronto nun to ascertain her candidacy for sainthood. The inquiry was to be opened at a Mass celebrated at St. Paschal Baylon Church March 16 by Archbishop Thomas Collins.

The archdiocese received approval to proceed — the nihil obstat — from the Vatican last September. An  examination of life is the first of four steps in the process to sainthood.

The examination is being conducted by the archdiocese of Toronto because that is where Sr. Carmelina died in 1992.

Sr. Carmelina was born in Italy in 1934 and came to Toronto in 1964 in search of answers to an unexplained illness. A rare cancer was suspected but never confirmed through a period of suffering that included amputation of a leg and a mastectomy.

She remained devout throughout her ordeal and, despite being confined to a hospital bed for 24 years, became a nun with the Passionist Sisters of the Cross in 1977. From her hospital bed she dispensed counselling to thousands of people in person or by phone before her death at age 55.

During the examination phase, the investigating panel will interview witnesses, review documents and invite members of the public to come forward with information and evidence.

Anyone with evidence is invited to contact Deacon Joe DiGrado (905-876-9486).

More in this category: « Dr. Maria Fischer-Slysh of Toronto donates $1 million to Ukrainian Catholic University Becoming a priest »

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE