For me, Fulton Sheen remains the gold standard for Catholic preaching — and his connection to the world of communications (notably, television) has always resonated with me.

He also has a personal connection to my parish in Queens. In the 1960s, he’d sometimes drop by to preach — he was friends with a bishop in residence at the parish — and the plaza outside would be mobbed with people. To this day, there are speakers set up outside, above the front doors — rusty relics of the Sheen appearances.

And I can’t help but admit that I feel my knees go weak and my throat go dry every time I climb the pulpit stairs and think: “Sheen was here.”

So I was intrigued to find this personal remembrance of the archbishop, over at Busted Halo:

In 1975, I was an intern reporter for WROC-TV news in Rochester, New York. The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was a famous priest who wrote numerous books and hosted a television series entitled “Life is Worth Living” (still seen today).

He’d also served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Rochester earlier in his career, and was back in town to deliver a noontime speech at one of the local hotels. The news director assigned me to assist a full-time reporter covering the event.

When the cameraman and I arrived at the event, several other reporters milled about in a holding room waiting for Archbishop Sheen to make an appearance. And he most certainly did. Attired in colorful robes and attended by an entourage of church and hotel assistants, the Archbishop entered the holding room and headed directly toward the stairs leading to the stage.

To me, unfamiliar with church pageantry, he looked like a king. I was amazed that all the other reporters simply watched as he glided by. No one asked for an interview. My full-time reporter colleague had not yet arrived, so emboldened with a cub reporter’s drive to get the story, I decided to approach Sheen.

The scene was chaotic. The noise from the preliminary speeches upstairs resounded in our holding area. News personnel clamored with heavy cameras, lights and film equipment (yes, we actually developed film in those days before videotape).

The Archbishop’s entourage marched forward. I was nervous, afraid of looking like a fool. I reached out and lightly touched the back of Archbishop Sheen’s shoulder.

“Do you have a moment for Channel 8?” I asked.

By this time, I fully expected him to ignore my request and keep walking. I felt the eyes of all the other “real” reporters watching me. But the Archbishop turned around to look straight into my eyes. He was completely calm amid the media madness.

“Of course,” he replied gently.

You’ll have to read the rest to find out what happened.

And you should also check out this website for information about the sainthood cause of Archbishop Sheen.