In a Minnesota Star Tribune story published on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the Duluth Diocese is exploring the process of canonization of Slovenian priest, Joseph Buh. Father Buh was born in what is now Slovenia in 1833 and was active in working with a number of missions in northern Minnesota and was the link between central Minnesota (St.Stephen-St. Cloud area) and the Iron Range and where he learned English and Ojibwe in addition to four other languages.
The first step in the canonization process is to see how strong a “following” Father Buh had among local Catholic officials being he was given the title of monsignor and was considered the “patriarch of the Diocese of Duluth” or as the Rev. Richard Kunst, priest at St. James and St. Elizabeth churches in Duluth stated, “We’re discerning whether or not there is an organic devotion to this man” or in simple terms how popular was he. If there seems enough support of regional priests there could begin the long layered process leading to canonization.
There have been past movements to recognize Buh’s impact on the Catholic church. In Feb. 1922, Bishop Timothy McNichols referred to Buh as a “saintly priest and made preparations to have him buried in a protective metal lined casket, since it was possible he would be later exhumed. According to Christa Lawler at the Star Tribune, that sacred ceremony took place on July 25, 2024. Bishop Daniel Felton, now Bishop of the Duluth Diocese, along with an on site group found bones, part of Buh’s cassock and a plaque attached to his casket reading “Rest in Peace.”
It will take decades to see if sainthood is proclaimed for Buh but for now there is excitement about the possibility that Buh would be considered for sainthood. For complete details of this story see Christa Lawler’s article published August 27, 2024. https://www.startribune.com/long-dead-duluth-priests-body-exhumed-to-begin-winding-path-to-sainthood/601132155
