Charlene Marie Richard, Auguste “Nonco” Pelafigue and Joseph Dutton are one step closer to sainthood after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved the vote for canonization.

“The bishops voted to advance the cause of canonization of three Servants of God today: Charlene Marie Richard, Auguste Robert Pelafigue and Joseph Dutton,” USCCB posted on Facebook.  

The organization has established a three-step path hood for sainthood with the Pope initially recognizing a person as having lived a “heroically virtuous” life, making them “venerable.” That step is preceded by that person being “blessed” through a miraculous encounter and if found that a subsequent miracle can be attributed to that person, followed by sainthood.

According to Christendom Alumni, Charlene Marie Richard was born in a rural community in Louisiana in 1947 with a religious upbringing. When she was 12 years old she saw a “lady in black” and became ill shortly after with acute lymphatic leukemia and passed away within two weeks. As her cancer spread, hospital workers stated that she was stoic and faithful and a cause for her canonization was opened in January of 2020, according to records.

Auguste “Nonco” Pelafigue was born in France in 1888 and moved to Louisiana with his parents as a child, according to Pillar Catholic. Pelafigue's career involved being a school teacher, along with belonging to the Apostleship of Prayer. During his spare time would comfort the sick with prayer.  

Ira Barnes Dutton was born in Vermont in 1843 and was a member of the Union Army during the Civil War where he was a great leader, according to Damien Church. Dutton sought to comfort a failed marriage through the use of alcohol to no avail. Seeking to break his addiction, Button sought out catechism, along with being baptized when he turned 40 with the moniker of Joseph due to his admiration to St. Joseph.

“Dutton felt called to serve the lepers who had been banished to Molokai in Hawaii, and spent decades caring for and counseling them,” according to Damien.