By Pamela Seal

Special to the American Press

There was something about Venerable Fulton J. Sheen — whose cause for canonization was opened in 2002 — that reminded Rickard Newman of those older, influential people from his youth.

“I think the same way people attach themselves to (Saint) John Paul II, that grandfatherly figure, that’s who Fulton Sheen has been for me,” said Newman, Secretary of Christian Formation for the Diocese of Lake Charles.

Newman’s own love for humor coupled with his affection for the late archbishop inspired him to compile “Long Time No Sheen,” a 168-page soft cover book to benefit Respect Life Ministries in the Diocese. Proceeds will support Rachel’s Vineyard and Grief to Grace — two healing retreats for those suffering from post-abortion trauma or sexual, emotional or physical abuse.

Based on a collection of Sheen’s best jokes from radio and TV, the title comes from an opening line Sheen used after he returned to television from a hiatus.

Billy Graham was hardly exaggerating when he called Archbishop Sheen “the Great Communicator,” Newman said. Often referred to as one of the first televangelists, Sheen had a weekly listening audience of four million people on his radio show “The Catholic Hour” (1930-1950). With his TV program “Life is Worth Living” (1952-1957), he won an Emmy Award in 1952 as “The Most Outstanding Personality on Television” reaching more than 30 million Americans weekly. His final presenting role was on the syndicated “The Fulton Sheen Program” (1961-1968).

Newman first heard about Venerable Sheen during his conversion journey from atheism to Catholicism about eight years ago.

“People had recommended books by Pope John Paul II, G.K. Chesterton, and Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” recalls Newman. “I started to explore Sheen’s TV shows online, some of his radio shows and read a couple of his books, ‘Life of Christ,’ and ‘Three to Get Married.’ He was a very captivating speaker and writer with a deep faith and phenomenal ability to express the Catholic faith in a way that made sense.”

As a convert, Newman wondered where humor fit into the picture of Christianity. He came to recognize that Sheen’s warm humor and playful wit has a way of making a point that one can ponder because there is a deeper meaning behind his jokes.

“I tried to lay this out in the book’s introduction,” said Newman. “It’s because we are living in this divine comedy that we find things humorous. Beneath the visible reality of our corporeal world lies a divine surprise. Fulton Sheen knew this very well, and as the great storyteller that he was, he used humor to lead the audience to this heavenly reality. Sheen described humor as having the ability to see through things in the world. Life is full of apparent contradictions: paradoxes that point us to deeper truths.”

Newman said one doesn’t have to be religious to be funny, but he thinks it certainly helps.

“Faith and humor are both grounded in paradoxes,” Newman continues in his introduction. “Either we laugh at ourselves or we laugh at God. Unfortunately, if we choose the latter, the joke is on us.”

“Long Time No Sheen” is a way for Newman to share the gift of his faith with others while supporting two important healing ministries.

“There’s a lot of brokenness in the world, and Southwest Louisiana is no exception,” Newman noted. “What is exceptional are the many sources of outreach in our area for opportunities of healing in order for people to rediscover God’s love.”

“Venerable Sheen’s work and jokes were a gift to me through my conversion, and it’s nice to repackage something and regift it in a way for others to enjoy,” Newman continued. “That’s how it is with faith and everything that flows from it.”

The collection of more than 70 jokes is grouped in five categories: Church Life, Men and Women, Psychology, Contemporary Society, and Children. Each joke is cleverly and creatively complemented with illustrations by local caricature artist Sterling West, who also designed the book’s cover. A longtime supporter of many pro-life fundraisers in the Diocese, Sterling was a “perfect fit,” said Newman.

Also included in the back of the book are prayers to further the cause for Venerable Sheen’s canonization, as well as a prayer for favor seeking his intercession.

A copy of the book will be included in the Trinity Package for the third annual Clergy Cook-off planned Saturday, April 18, at Prien Lake Park.

Books may also be obtained with a $40 or more donation to Respect Life Ministries. Payments to purchase cook-off tickets or to make a donation may be made online at www.lcdiocese.org and clicking on Event Registration, Clergy Cook-Off. In celebration of Diocesan Clergy Day, observed on March 11, every priest in the Diocese received a complimentary book.

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For more information, contact Rickard Newman at 337-439-7400, ext. 313, or email rickard.newman@lcdiocese.org.