Father Emil Kapaun’s cause for sainthood to be officially opened

[Holly3278]

Pilsen, KS, Jun 15, 2008 / 12:00 pm (CNA).- The Cause for the Canonization of Father Emil Kapaun, an Army Chaplain who died while in a North Korean Prisoner of War Camp in 1951, will be officially opened on June 29. Father Emil Kapaun, a native of Pilsen, was ordained for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita on June 9, 1940. After serving as a priest in the diocese, Father Kapaun asked to be allowed to serve as a U.S. Army chaplain.

catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12940

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

 

[shockerfan]

I attended Kapaun - Mt.Carmel High School in Wichita, KS. Fr. Kapaun was a true hero in every sense of the word…a “man’s man”. He was captured by the North Koreans because he would not evacuate when American positions were being overrun, because he would not leave wounded soldiers behind. He cared for the POWs who were too sick to care for themselves…stole food for the hungry soldiers, and secretly said mass.

He even made such an impression on his fellow soldiers, even those not in the same concentration camp, that one POW, who never met him, a Jew, carved a wooden crucifix about two feet tall out of a piece of metal from his shoe, in honor of Fr. Kapaun. He made this while in a concentration camp…no one really knows why the North Koreans let him do this. This crucifix hangs in the lobby at the high school.

I always felt a deep sense of pride attending that school that was named for a true hero, a true selfless human being. I pray for his sainthood.

 

[Michael_C]

I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. When I returned to the Church there was an oldtimer preist who always asked us to pray for Fr. Emil’s cause. After confession he would and out small prayer cards that told his story. It’s very inspiring.

I thought he was forgotten. This is very encouraging.

 

[TheGreenO]

I attended Kapaun - Mt.Carmel High School in Wichita, KS. Fr. Kapaun was a true hero in every sense of the word…a “man’s man”. He was captured by the North Koreans because he would not evacuate when American positions were being overrun, because he would not leave wounded soldiers behind. He cared for the POWs who were too sick to care for themselves…stole food for the hungry soldiers, and secretly said mass.

He even made such an impression on his fellow soldiers, even those not in the same concentration camp, that one POW, who never met him, a Jew, carved a wooden crucifix about two feet tall out of a piece of metal from his shoe, in honor of Fr. Kapaun. He made this while in a concentration camp…no one really knows why the North Koreans let him do this. This crucifix hangs in the lobby at the high school.

I always felt a deep sense of pride attending that school that was named for a true hero, a true selfless human being. I pray for his sainthood.

Even though I was a rival across town @ Bishop Carroll I am delighted to see this happening, and to know that Fr. Hotze’s work is making some headway on Fr. Kapaun’s cause.

 

[shockerfan]

Even though I was a rival across town @ Bishop Carroll I am delighted to see this happening, and to know that Fr. Hotze’s work is making some headway on Fr. Kapaun’s cause.

I would have gone to Bishop Carroll had I lived on that side of town…good school. I have a number of friends who went there.

I remember either my Jr. or Sr. year, that the man who carved the crucifix came to the school and spoke to the student body, about how eventhough he had never met Fr. Kapaun, he was so moved about what he had heard that he made the crucifix. It was an incredibly moving speech that I will never forget.

By the way, there is a book about Fr. Kapaun that I would recommend you read (even the reviews are moving)

amazon.com/Shepherd-Combat-Boots-Chaplain-Division/dp/1572493054

After you read it you will not feel so bad about Kapaun-Mt. Carmel High School beating Bishop Carroll HS in so many sports

 

[TheGreenO]

I’ll look into the book.

After you read it you will not feel so bad about Kapaun-Mt. Carmel High School beating Bishop Carroll HS in so many sports

About above, you must have gone to school a different time, and maybe a different dimension. Carroll was always kicking Kapaun’s backside Especially in Football!

Class of '99

Looks like we may have gone to the same college Go Shockers!

 

[prayingmama]

In Kaiserslautern, Germany, there is an Air Station named after Fr Emil Kapaun - Kapaun Air Station. I believe it is the only US military installation in the world named after a chaplain. I’m trying to get people around here to pronounce “Kapaun” the Kansas way, with emphasis on the “Ka” and not the “paun”. They make it sound French sort of like “Capone”. Perhaps we Kansans have been pronouncing it incorrectly this whole time??? The Kaiserslautern Military Community has a KofC group named after Fr Kapaun.

Fr Emil Kapaun, pray for us!