Bishop Kemme: pray for an end to the pandemic
Continued from page 1. the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops entitled Moral Considerations Regarding The New COVID-19 Vaccines, both of which I highly encourage you to read and study, I determined that receiving the vaccine was the best option for me. I am grateful that the church's teaching clearly states that we can receive these vaccines in good conscience, even though they have more or less been developed and/ or tested in an unethical way. Like you, I lament that these vaccines have a connection, even if remote, to the unspeakable evil of abor- tion. I join the growing number of pro-life people insisting on more ethically developed vaccines. Nev- ertheless, the church in her moral analysis of this matter deems it permissible to receive these vac- cines. Because of that determination, I decided in good conscience that the Pfizer vaccine was the best choice for me, in support of my own health and the desire to con- tinue my ministry uninhibited as bishop as well as in support of the health and well-being of the many with whom I work or have contact. I received this vaccine in January and February of this year and plan to receive the booster as soon as I am able. Happily, I had few side effects from the vaccine and be- lieve it has kept me healthy and able to work. I am confident it has kept others safer in my presence. Therefore, I want to encourage you to get vaccinated or at the very least to give serious consideration to it, unless you have a medical reason prohibiting you from re- ceiving a vaccine. At the moment, it is the best weapon we have to fight this virus, to help us continue our mission, to gather safely for the Mass and other sacraments, to keep people work- ing, to keep children in school, and to help us overcome the many oth- er challenges Covid-19 has caused in our society. Pope Francis has stated that he considers getting the vaccine an act of love. I share that same sentiment. Having said this, however, I ac- knowledge that some have serious personal objections to the vaccines and are of the mind that they can- not in good conscience take it. While there is no religious teach- ing of our tradition that opposes vaccinations, the church teaches that one cannot act contrary to one's conscience. In section 1782 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states, "Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. He must not be forced to act contrary to his con- science." The following of one's sincerely formed conscience is also part of supporting the common good, but one who does so must also weigh the consequences of those deci- sions and be prepared to accept them, consequences that neces- sarily require them to utilize other means to do their part in reducing the spread of this contagious virus. I therefore also stand in support of those who in freedom oppose one or another of these vaccines based on a well-formed conscience. We should all therefore respect each person's right to make deci- sions about their health and that of their children and others under their authority. Shaming, criti- cizing, and ostracizing others for these decisions is not Christian and should be stopped immediate- ly. Instead, we should respond to others with love and support. Ours is not to pass judgment on those who have judged and chosen differently in regard to these vac- cines. St. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 said, "Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do." Let this ad- monition be our moral compass in this and all things. As for our gatherings at the Mass, and other liturgical prayers, etc. I have communicated to our pastors that they remind you, as I am doing now, that if you are sick, you are excused from the Sunday celebration of the Mass during your illness and that if you feel particularly vulnerable, you may request from our priests a person- al dispensation from attending the Sunday celebration of the Mass, that masks remain encouraged, but optional, that we continue to offer Holy Communion only under the form of the Eucharistic Bread, and that the exchange of the sign of peace be discontinued indefinitely. It is my hope that these means will give each of you the confidence you need to gather safely in our churches and chapels. Thank you for your cooperation and under- standing. Some parents in our Catholic Schools are expressing concerns about masks. Some are demanding a mask mandate, while others are adamantly opposed. This presents a very challenging scenario for school leadership. Superinten- dent Janet Eaton and her team of advisors are carefully monitoring this situation, which is changing daily. Mrs. Eaton keeps me well informed. I have complete confi- dence in her leadership. I ask that you cooperate with our Catholic School Office and each of our pastors and principals in respond- ing in the most appropriate way to questions regarding the safety of our children. My friends, we in leadership are trying to do our very best to re- spond to the many challenges this current crisis is presenting. Please know of my daily thoughts and prayers for each of you and your families. Please strive for unity in our diocesan family, resisting all temptations from the evil one to divide and conquer us. Most of all, do not lose hope that we will get through this together and emerge from it a stronger and holier com- munity of faith on a mission for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you. May God bless you! + The Most Rev. Carl Kemme Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita Public vigil Sept. 28 The funeral vigil for Fr. Kapaun will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Hartman Arena in Wichita. The vigil and the funeral are ticketed events. A few tickets may be available at KapaunComesHome.com. It will be a beautiful and pow- erful ceremony with prayer - and music by the Air Force and West Point Catholic Cadet choirs," Carter said. A rosary will be prayed at the vigil and Fr. John Hotze, epis- copal delegate for Fr. Kapaun's Cause, will preach a homily. Fr. Kapaun's casket will be on the stage during the event. Funeral Sept. 29 The Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Kapaun will be celebrated at Hartman Arena at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 29. Bishop Carroll celebrated a Memorial Mass in 1953 when they found out that Fr. Kapaun had died in a prisoner of war camp," Carter said. The family was there, the mil- itary was there, and it was a great way to honor him and pray for the repose of his soul. But a flag was draped over an empty casket. This time will be different." A lot of people believe that Fr. Kapaun's soul is now in heaven, he said, adding that the diocese is still working with the Vatican for validation regarding his cause for beatification and sainthood. EWTN is scheduled to broad- cast both the vigil and funeral Mass, and both will also be live-streamed on the Diocese of Wichita's YouTube Channel. Caisson to the Cathedral After the funeral Fr. Kapaun's remains will be driven to a site on Central Avenue near Veterans' Memorial Park where his casket will be placed on a horse-drawn military caisson. The procession will slowly move east on Central Avenue about a half-mile to the Cathedral. The faithful are invited to line the procession route to pay their final respects as he is taken the Cathedral where he will be interred." Fr. Kapaun will receive military honors, a 21-gun salute, and Taps,
Fr. Kapaun's tomb is in place
before his remains are carried into the Cathedral by the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas. Fr. Kapaun served with the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea. Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kansas, will also take part in the week's events. There will be opportunities to visit him and pray at the Cathe- dral beginning the day after the funeral," Carter said. Details are being finalized and will be avail- able at FrKapaun.org. He said it is unknown how long Fr. Kapaun will be interred at the Cathedral. If Father is beatified I think we will talk more earnestly about the possibility of a dedicated shrine, but for now the Cathedral will be a place people can visit and pray with Father Kapaun," Carter said. About Fr. Kapaun Fr. Kapaun was known for risking his life on the battlefield during the Korean War to minis- ter to the troops on the frontlines. He was taken a prisoner of war in November of 1950, enduring bru- tal captivity where he continued to serve and bolster the morale of fellow prisoners. Fr. Kapaun died in the prison camp on May 23, 1951. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013 for his heroic actions on the battlefield. Fr. Kapaun was among over 800 unidentified Korean War soldiers returned to U.S. custody in 1954 and buried in the National Ceme- tery of the Pacific in Hawaii. In 1993, Father Emil Kapaun was named a Servant of God, signifying that his cause for saint- hood could begin. A thorough investigation into his life was con- ducted by the Diocese of Wichita and the details presented to the Congregation for Saints in Rome, where his cause awaits review on the path to what we pray will be his eventual beatification and canonization. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is an agency within the United States Depart- ment of Defense whose mission is to recover United States military personnel who are listed as pris- oners of war or missing in action from designated past conflicts from countries around the world. For more information on Fr. Kapaun's story and his cause for canonization visit frkapaun.org. A worker begins placing the wooden finishing touches around the base of Fr. Kapaun's marble tomb. (Advance photos)
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September 17, 2021
Catholic Advance
The Diocese of Wichita will host a 24-hour Rosary Congress Oct. 6-7 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. The hope is that through Mary, the mediatrix of all grac-
Want to be a part of the Rosary Congress?
Those who wish to be an adorer or a rosary leader at the Rosary Congress Oct. 6-7 may sign up by visiting Tinyurl.com/ WichitaRosaryCongress.
Diocese hosting Rosary Congress Oct. 6-7
A mother and daughter pray the rosary together. (Advance ile photo) es, all humanity will return to the love and service of God," said Fr. Gabriel Greer, who is overseeing the event. He is the director of the Office of Worship. Fr. Greer added that he hopes the participants will ask Mary to intercede "so that the Eucharistic heart of Jesus will be at the cen- ter of our lives." The Rosary Congress will be- gin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, with a Mass and will conclude with solemn vespers at 6 p.m. the next day. Everyone in the diocese is invited to sign up for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration, Fr. Greer said. Leaders will be needed to lead a rosary at the beginning of each hour. A minimum of 48 vol- unteers - two for each hour - are needed. Knights of Columbus will provide security throughout the event. The first Rosary Congress took place in Poland from May 1 through May 7, 1979, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czesto- chowa in response to a govern- mental decision to restrict Pope John Paul II's visit to his home country. So...they had seven contin- uous days of Eucharistic Ado- ration with a rosary prayed ev- ery hour," he said. "On the last day of the congress Our Lady triumphed and the government unexpectedly removed all major obstacles to the papel visit." A similar Eucharistic Con- gress was first held in the United States in 1988 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Im- maculate Conception.
Schlapp to speak at Sept. 23 CAB meeting
Political activist Matt Schlapp will speak at the Catholic Assem- bly for Business meeting Thurs- day, Sept. 23, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. The event will begin with Mass at 6:30 a.m. and will be followed by a breakfast in Good Shepherd Hall. Schlapp will speak at 7:30. Visitors are welcome but need to register at cabwichita.com.
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