New saint to be canonized by Catholic Church
New saint to be canonized by Catholic Church after Los Angeles area priest experiences “miracle” recovery from Achilles injury
The Catholic Church is set to canonize a new saint after a Baldwin Park priest experienced what is being called a miracle recovery from a torn Achilles tendon back in 2017.
Juan Manuel Gutierreaz, 38, was playing basketball at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo at the time when he hurt his ankle. With the injury seeming to worsen over the next few days, he visited a doctor and was diagnosed with a torn Achilles, according to Angelus News, a magazine published by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
With a long journey of recovery ahead, Gutierrez decided to do a “novena” — a set of nine prayers offered for nine days straight — and offering prayers to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian journalist who died of polio at 24 years old in 1925. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1987 for his charity, devotion to the Catholic church and drive to help with social reform in Italy.