Sheen-toberfest? Theologian’s Bookstore Starts ‘Fulton Fridays’ After Beatification
People are already calling it “Sheentoberfest.”
After all, it happens every Friday in October in Atchison, Kansas, a town that vigorously celebrates Octoberfest.
The 7 p.m. “Fulton Friday” events start October 2 at Pace e Bene, at 503 Commercial Street in Atchison. Pace e Bene is a family-run Catholic book and gift store popular for its gelato, pastries, and sandwiches.
Benedictine College theologian Mark Zia is the proprietor of the store. He is the author of The Enduring Faith and Timeless Truths of Fulton Sheen and other theological books. Zia will present a different aspect of Fulton Sheen at each Fulton Friday.
Zia says he is beginning the events after Sheen is beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis because “he’ll be official then.” Zia will be attending the beatification ceremony along with others from Benedictine College. But the event is already a perfect fit his store, he said — Fulton Sheen’s Life of Christ is a top seller at the shop.
“The first topic will be to introduce people to Sheen’s life and relevance,” said Zia. “Five reasons that set him apart from other figures, endear him to us, and make him relevant to our lives today.”
Other topics Zia hopes to cover during the month include Sheen’s view of Mary, the cross, marriage and his Eucharistic spirituality
Zia’s book on Fulton Sheen is the only book written so far that looks at Sheen’s specific contribution to theology and his particular understanding of the Catholic faith.
Pace e Bene is already a go-to spot for shoppers in Atchison. Many local Catholic events are held there, including Communion and Liberation meetings and public events such as the recent discussion of artificial intelligence with Bishop Erik Varden.
Zia said he is grateful to customers for helping prove the naysayers wrong.
“People who are experts in this area told me we wouldn’t make it,” he said, “but we are almost in our fourth year, due to the people of Atchison and the kindness of those at Benedictine College and St. Benedict’s Abbey who recommend us to out-of-town visitors.”
In fact, Pace e Bene has become a significant Benedictine College hangout spot.
“What I’m most happy about is that we are building Catholic community and building Catholic culture. A lot of people who aren’t Catholic come to the store and really appreciate the store. They like the experience here.”
Zia cited the features of the store that give it a special character:
- A display of relics and explanation of the Catholic devotion to them.
- A life-sized Shroud of Turin display with a large facsimiles of the Shroud’s image.
- A presentation of St. Carlo Acutis’s Marian Apparitions around the world posters.
But the biggest attraction, he said, is “just having a place where you can sit and be peaceful. I call that building community and culture, and having a part of that is very rewarding.”
Fulton Sheen would agree.
