Contact: Rev. Kevin Pius Manion, 512-773-5447

LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, an expert in sainthood causes, will attend the opening session of the inquiry by the Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles into the life and virtue of Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF (1905-1981). The opening session is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2015.

Father Aloysius was a Claretian missionary priest who ministered in Southern California for nearly 40 years. A few months ago, on September 19, 2014, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles accepted the request made by advocate Dr. Andrea Ambrosi to open a Cause for Beatification of the Servant of God, Father Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF. In doing so Archbishop José Gomez asked his Ecclesiastic Tribunal to carry out all necessary steps to instruct this archdiocesan process.

According to the norms issued by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, "once the petition has been accepted … the bishop is to publicize the petition of the postulator … and to invite all the faithful to bring to his attention any useful information which they might have to offer regarding the cause." (Normae serenade, n. 11b)

Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, a canon lawyer from Rome, is in the United States for the official closing of the inquiry into the life and virtue of Father Edward J. Flanagan (1886-1948), the founder of "Boys' Town" made famous by the Spencer Tracy movie of the same name. Dr. Ambrosi has been popularized in the press as a "saint maker." He has served as advocate for causes of beatification and canonization in several high profile causes including (Saint) Pope John XXIII, Father Michael McGivney, Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Father Patrick Peyton, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman, Anne Catherine Emmerick, Cardinal Terence Cooke, and Sr. Marie de Mandat-Grancy among others.

The Tidings, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, published in its print edition of May 15, 2015 the petition which included the words: "Anyone who has useful information about Father Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF - that is, about his heroic virtues and/or about his reputation for holiness and for intercessory power - is asked to put this in a letter addressed to Archbishop Gomez in care of his office at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center, 3424 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010."

Historic for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, this is truly the first cause of sainthood ever to be brought to the attention of the Archbishop of Los Angeles, and it will undoubtedly be an historic moment for the City of the Angels and the people of California.

Father Aloysius' petition for sainthood was brought by the Association for the Beatification and Canonization of Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF. A world class documentary film, The Angel of Biscay, has been produced on the life and message of Father Aloysius. More information is available at www.aloysius.com.