St. Peter and St. Casimir parishes addressed why Catholics pray to saints in their Aug. 30 newsletter, explaining how persons are declared saints after death.

Fr. Arul Joseph Visuvasam of the parishes said the concept of Catholics having statues of saints and praying in front of them is misunderstood.

Pointing to John 11:25-26, Visuvasam said Jesus declared that those who believe in him and die, live.

“Based on this declaration by Jesus Himself, we can certainly believe that those who are in heaven are certainly alive and remain in union with God,” Visuvasam said in the newsletter.

The Catholic Church pronounces a person as a saint after they have scientifically proven and confirmed at least two miracles by the person.

“If one is declared a saint, then he/she is in communion with God and alive,” Visuvasam said in the newsletter. “Hence, all saints, including Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God who was taken into heaven with body and soul, are all alive.”

If the saint is alive in communion with God, then they can intercede for people still alive to bring favors from God, Visuvasam said.

“So, when a Catholic spends time in prayer before the statue of a saint, he/she understands that the saint is in heaven with God and the same saint can be a channel of grace to the one who prays,” Visuvasam said in the newsletter.

Saints can intercede on a human's behalf as a way to receive all needs from God.

“God has given us angels and saints to be our spiritual support. Let us, therefore, seek for their intercession in all our needs,” Visuvasam said in the newsletter.

St. Peter Catholic Church is located at 800 Fourth Avenue and St. Casimir is at 203 Casimir Road, both in Stevens Point.