Vatican City: Pope Francis has authorized the canonization process for Fr. Martin de Porres Maria Ward, an American Catholic priest who dedicated over 40 years of his life to missionary work, teaching, spiritual direction, and serving as a chaplain. Brother Douglas McMillan from the Black Catholic Messenger Foundation confirmed that the Vatican’s canonization office, via the Brazilian Historical Commission, officially notified them of the decision. Fr. Ward, who was born in Boston, passed away 25 years ago, having spent much of his ministry in Brazil.

Born Matthias DeWitt Ward in 1918 to a Methodist family in Charlestown, Boston, he grew up with 11 siblings before moving to Washington, D.C. as a teenager. It was there that he attended his first Mass and converted to Catholicism at 17, being confirmed in 1940 at St. Matthew's Cathedral.

Ward moved to Brooklyn, where he joined the Franciscan Conventual Friars Minor. Ordained as a priest in 1955, he faced resistance from U.S. bishops who were hesitant to ordain an African-American priest, prompting his move to Brazil. He spent over 40 years serving as a missionary, educator, vocation promoter, spiritual guide, and chaplain, becoming beloved and revered as a saint by the people in Brazil.

Most of his priestly life was spent in the town of Andrilandia in southeastern Brazil, where in 1995, he was honored with the title of "Citizen of Andrilandia." Fr. Ward passed away at the age of 81 in 1999. He is now among four African-American priests advancing toward canonization.

The Diocese of São João is currently finalizing Fr. Ward’s biography and other documents for submission to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. The Vatican will then review the materials to determine if his life exemplified heroic virtue, after which he may be declared ‘blessed’ and continue on the path to sainthood.