Paul Wattson


Paul Wattson

BornLewis Thomas Wattson
January 16, 1863
Millington, Maryland, United States
DiedFebruary 8, 1940(1940-02-08) (aged 77)
Garrison, New York, United States
ChurchCatholic Church
The Episcopal Church (formerly)
Ordained1910 (Catholic priest)
1886 (Anglican priest)

Paul Wattson, SA (born Lewis Thomas Wattson; January 16, 1863 – February 8, 1940), was an American priest who co-founded the Society of the Atonement with Mother Lurana White, and the Christian Unity Octave in The Episcopal Church. He was later received into the Catholic Church and is remembered as an advocate for ecumenism.[1][2][3][4][5]

Wattson was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1886.[2] He converted to Catholicism in 1909, and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1910.[6]

Wattson has been named a Servant of God.[6][7]

  1. ^ Orians, Thomas. "Brief History of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, 2020".
  2. ^ a b "Father Paul Wattson, SA, Servant of God, Apostle of Christian Unity and charity". OUR FOUNDER – FATHER PAUL OF GRAYMOOR. Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  3. ^ "Wattson, Paul James Francis". An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church. The Episcopal Church. Founder of the Church Unity Octave, which was a precursor of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
  4. ^ "FR. PAUL, FOUNDER OF GRAYMOOR, DIES; He Established Order While Episcopalian Rector, Then Became Catholic Priest ASSISTED HOMELESS MEN They Built the Monastery at Garrison--He Headed the Society of Atonement". Obituary. The New York Times. February 9, 1940. p. 24.
  5. ^ "Canonization Process Moves Forward for Servant of God Fr. Paul Wattson, SA". Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  6. ^ a b "In New York, Catholic convert takes a step toward sainthood". Catholic News Agency. EWTN. March 20, 2017. The Catholic convert who founded the Society of the Atonement, Father Paul Wattson, S.A., could be one step closer to recognition as a saint.
  7. ^ "US Conference of Catholic Bishops endorse sainthood cause for Fr. Paul Wattson". Crux Catholic Media. November 19, 2014. On November 11, 2014, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops endorsed the cause for canonization of Father Paul Wattson, SA, Servant of God, founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, at their fall meeting in Baltimore.