The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, has issued an edict concerning a possible cause for the canonisation of a father who died saving his son after he fell into a septic tank, seeking information about his life as well as any writings that have not been turned over to the diocese.
“We see in the life and death of Thomas Vander Woude a sincere response to the Christian call to sainthood,” Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington said in a Thursday, September 10, press release announcing the edict.
He continued: “As heroic as were the circumstances of Thomas Vander Woude’s death, this husband and father showed in a profound way that sanctity is to be sought first and foremost through personal faithfulness in daily life and to a consistent and sincere yes to God in the circumstances of one’s vocation and responsibilities.”
Thomas Stephen Vander Woude, 66, was the husband of Mary Ellen and the father of seven sons, the youngest of whom, Joseph, had Down syndrome. He was a devout Catholic, a Navy pilot and, along with his wife, taught natural family planning (NFP) to hundreds of couples. They lived on a 27-acre farm property in Manassas, Virginia. He was widely known as “Tom”.
On September 8, 2008, while working to winterise his family’s swimming pool, Tom realised he could no longer see his son Joseph, who was 20 at the time. He quickly realised that Joseph had fallen into a septic tank on the family’s property after the metal covering had given way.
After instructing a workman on the property to tell Mary Ellen to call 911, Tom jumped into the tank in an effort to save Joseph. With the help of the workman, Tom tried to hoist Joseph out of the tank. His last words were “you pull and I’ll push” before he passed out from a lack of oxygen in the tank. The workman was able to secure a strap around Joseph, holding him up until emergency services arrived.
Joseph was rescued from the tank. Tom had already died and paramedics were unable to resuscitate him. Thousands of people attended his viewing and burial.
In the years since his death, the Thomas Vander Woude Guild was founded. The website has many stories of “prayer favors” attributed to him since his death – many of which involve inexplicable healing of babies after their parents prayed for his intercession.
Catholics are invited to “communicate directly or to submit to the Reverend Monsignor Paul deLadurantaye, Chancellor of the Diocese of Arlington, all information from which elements favorable or contrary to the reputation for holiness, the offering of life, or the reputation for signs of Thomas Stephen Vander Woude may be inferred,” says the edict.
Additionally, “all writings attributed to Thomas Stephen Vander Woude, including diaries, letters, correspondence, manuscripts, notes, and any other private writings, as well as documents in any way relevant to the Cause, must be collected.” Anyone with these items should report them to the Diocese of Arlington.
“Thomas Vander Woude’s witness of Christian virtue and willingness to lay down his life for his son, together with the above-noted reputation for holiness, appear to be clear signs of the importance of the Cause to the Diocese of Arlington and the Church universal,” said the Diocese of Arlington.
“His life reflects the universal call to holiness proclaimed by the Church. His death, an unmistakable act of sacrificial love, invites the faithful not only to admire his example but also to seek his intercession.”
