Sainthood cause for Virginia farmer who saved his son moves forward
‘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.’
By Kate Quiñones, EWTN News and
Southern Nebraska Register
Chris Vander Woude will visit St. Teresa Parish in Lincoln Sunday, Nov. 22 to talk about the sainthood cause for his father, Tom Vander Woude.
The talk is open to the public. It will be held at 7 p.m. in St. Teresa’s Kaczmarek Hall.
The Diocese of Arlington, Va., announced in September that the sainthood cause of Tom Vander Woude is moving forward. Vander Woude, a father of seven sons, died saving the life of his youngest son, Joseph, who has Down syndrome.
The diocese will begin gathering information — a key initial stage in the Catholic Church’s process of determining sainthood.
When Joseph, a teenager at the time, fell into a septic tank, Tom climbed into the tank with him, pushing him up toward the surface, away from the toxic fumes, saving his son’s life. Tom, 66, died Sept. 8, 2008, in the accident, leaving behind his wife and seven sons.
His legacy didn’t end there, however. Because of his self-sacrificial act, a group of Catholics, formally called the Tom Vander Woude Guild, began to advocate for his cause.
“His final act of self-sacrificial love was widely regarded as the culmination of a Christian life marked by faith, charity, humility, fortitude, and generous service to others,” read Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge’s edict, also signed by Msgr. Paul deLadurantaye, the chancellor of the diocese.
After receiving a formal petition from the cause’s postulator, Waldery Hilgeman, the diocese is asking for all information that could affect the cause to be brought forward. The bishop is also collecting any writings by Vander Woude and any documents about him.
“We see in the life and death of Thomas Vander Woude a sincere response to the Christian call to sainthood,” Burbidge said. “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.”
Burbidge spoke about the cause in a podcast Sept. 10, describing Vander Woude as “a holy, faithful, selfless, sacrificial man who serves as an inspiration for us.”
“That’s what saints do,” he continued. “They show us that we, who are ordinary and flawed, can live heroic and holy lives.”
“When you move forward in this cause, itʼs not just because of that one heroic event, but also the day-to-day faithfulness as a husband, as a father, as a citizen, as a man of God,” Burbidge said.
Chris Vander Woude, a son of Tom Vander Woude who is advocating for his cause, expressed his excitement at the progress.
“I am grateful to the Diocese of Arlington and Bishop Burbidge for taking this step in the investigative process; it is truly exciting and incredibly humbling at the same time,” Chris Vander Woude told EWTN News.
“Not a day goes by without missing Dad, but witnessing how his story continues to inspire so many is a consolation,” he said. “I think his commitment to his daily vocation as a husband and father, culminating in his sacrifice for my brother, resonates with all sorts of people — especially parents. We continue to pray that Godʼs will be done in this process.”
Chris Vander Woude has taken a break from his career in education for the last year to travel to share his dad’s story.
“Having worked in all levels of Catholic education,” he said, “I am always looking for ways to present my dad’s story to young people.” He has presented to parishes, schools and small groups, as well as interviews on Catholic radio and various podcasts.
His visit to Lincoln will include talks for Pius X High School and St. Francis Oratory. For more information about the Tom Vander Woude Guild, visit www.tvwguild.org. To contact Chris Vander Woude to arrange a presentation, email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
