In 1985, Mother Marija, Superior of Holy Annunciation Monastery, Sugarloaf, PA, along with her community, formed the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League and began its quest to see the Canonization of Rev. Walter J. Ciszek, SJ.

The next several years began the collection of materials and documentation spanning Father Walter Ciszek’s entire life - personal correspondences, writings (both published and unpublished), photos and interviews with family and friends.

Under the authority of the Byzantine Eparchy of Passaic, the Most Rev. Michael J. Dudick, D.D. began the official diocesan process of investigation and appointed Rev. John F. Levko, SJ and Rev. Thomas J. Sable, SJ as co-postulators.

On October 11, 1990, His Eminence, Angelo Cardinal Felici, Prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints, sent a letter (Prot.N.1749-I/90) to the Most Rev. Michael Dudick, designating Bishop Dudick as being “competent to instruct and Cause of Canonization with all due rights and obligation.”

With official permission having been received from Rome, the first phase of the Canonization process, the Diocesan Inquiry, began and Father Walter Ciszek was given the title, SERVANT OF GOD.

In 1996, the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League was transferred to the Diocese of Allentown under the authority of the Most Rev. Thomas J. Welch and who appointed Msgr. Anthony D. Muntone as co-postulator.

In February 2006, all accumulated documentation was shipped to the Jesuit Postulator General in Rome, Italy.

In 2007, the documents were presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.