The Diocese of Arlington has officially advanced the cause for sainthood of Tom Vander Woude, a Virginia farmer whose life ended in an act of paternal sacrifice. Bishop Michael Burbidge issued the formal edict on September 10, moving the process into the information-gathering phase.

Vander Woude died on September 8, 2008, at age 66, after entering a septic tank to rescue his teenage son, Joseph. Joseph, who has Down syndrome, had fallen into the tank and was in danger from toxic fumes. Vander Woude climbed inside to push his son toward the surface, ensuring Joseph’s safety while losing his own life.

Formal Investigation Begins

The diocese is now tasked with collecting documents, writings by Vander Woude, and testimonies regarding his life. Monsignor Paul deLadurantaye, chancellor of the diocese, signed the edict alongside Bishop Burbidge to initiate this canonical step.

In a podcast discussion on September 10, Bishop Burbidge highlighted the character of the deceased farmer. “His final act of self-sacrificial love was widely regarded as the culmination of a Christian life marked by faith, charity, humility, fortitude, and generous service to others,” Burbidge said.

The cause is supported by the Tom Vander Woude Guild, an advocacy group dedicated to promoting his recognition. Waldery Hilgeman serves as the postulator for the cause, overseeing the administrative requirements of the investigation.

A Family’s Witness

Vander Woude was a father to seven sons. His son Chris Vander Woude has been active in advocating for the cause. “I am grateful to the Diocese of Arlington and Bishop Burbidge for taking this step in the investigative process; it is truly exciting and incredibly humbling at the same time,” Chris Vander Woude said.

The story of Vander Woude’s death has resonated within Catholic communities as an example of heroic virtue. The Church teaches that martyrdom and acts of supreme charity are paths to holiness, reflecting the self-giving love of Christ. Vander Woude’s life, spent in agricultural work and family devotion, is now under formal ecclesiastical review.

The diocese will continue to gather evidence over the coming months. This phase does not yet declare him a Servant of God but establishes the factual record necessary for future discernment by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

For those interested in similar stories of Catholic witness and sacrifice, see how Blessed Stanley Rother’s martyrdom is being brought to a wider audience, or read about a Chicago-area graduate who ran 3,000 miles for pregnant women.