Family | Leadership | The Church
No Greater Love: The Heroic Story of Tom Vander Woude
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
6:30 pm EST - 8:00 pm EST
Catholic Information Center
1501 K Street NW
Washington,
DC
20005
United States
Description
In 2017, Pope Francis approved a new path to sainthood: the offering of one’s life in an act of heroic charity. The Diocese of Arlington is investigating the potential Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of Tom Vander Woude—who gave his life to save his youngest son, Joseph, who has Down Syndrome. Joseph had fallen into a septic tank. And without hesitation, Tom jumped in after him, lifting up his son so he could breathe.
And you’re invited to join the CIC on Wednesday, November 18 at 6:30 PM as Chris Vander Woude tells the story of his father’s heroic death.
This selfless act of fatherly love exemplifies Christ’s teaching that “No greater love has a man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).
11/18/2026 Schedule:
- 6:15 pm: Doors open for registrant check-in
- 6:30 pm: Chris Vander Woude presents “No Greater Love” (this portion of the evening will be offered both in-person and virtually via a livestream)
- 7:30 pm: Light happy (half) hour social
- 8:00 pm: Evening Concludes
Please RSVP to attend this program either in-person or virtually through a livestream.
To learn more about Mr. Vander Woude’s story, visit the Tom Vander Woude Guild.
RSVP for this Event
About the Speaker
Chris Vander Woude is the fifth of Tom and Mary Ellen’s seven sons, and he now carries the story of his father’s life and death across the country, as well as sharing the process towards canonization that began this year with the assignment of a postulator in Rome.
Chris is devoting the next two years of his life to spread awareness about his father’s story through his work for the Tom Vander Woude Guild.
