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October 15, 2021
Catholic Advance
Bishop: follow Fr. Kapaun's example of being a disciple
An honor guard meticulously folds a U.S. flag that was draped over the cin of Fr. Emil Kapaun after Fr. Kapaun was carried up the steps of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. (Advance photo) Continued from page 1. tended the events surrounding the return of Fr. Kapaun's remains and the military's participation was humbling, he said, adding that representatives from Fort Riley, Kansas, Fort Hood, Texas, and advisors from Arlington National About 1,500 Catholic school students were among those who watched the caisson carrying Fr. Emil Kapaun proceed east toward the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. (Advance photo) Bishop Carl A. Kemme and several priests and seminarians of the Diocese of Wichita walk ahead of the cin bearing Fr. Emil Kapaun at the beginning of his funeral Sept. 29 in Hartman Arena in Park City. (Advance photo) Bishop Carl A. Kemme delivers a homily, above, and continues to celebrate the liturgy, below, at the Mass of Christian Burial Sept. 29 for Fr. Emil Kapaun at Hartman Arena in Park City. (Advance photos) Continued on page 3. proud to be the bishop of this di- ocese at this particular time in its history - and to be able to have experienced all this - and proud of the people that I serve and with whom I work and share ministry." That has been an encourage- ment during a difficult time in our society, he said. In the midst of these kinds of dark times in which we live, where people are questioning the faith, where we're struggling with a worldwide pandemic, with all kinds of political, social-cultural issues, things that divide us from each other and from our faith in our church," he said, "this was one event where we could all be unit- ed. I found great strength in that union and in that unity and found great pride in being a part of it." Scott Carter: Visit Fr. Kapaun's tomb Scott Carter, the coordinator of the Father Kapaun Guild, hopes the faithful will spend some quiet time now that Fr. Kapaun is in his tomb at the Cathedral of the Im- maculate Conception. I'm hoping all of these events have reinvigorated people to con- tinue to pray for his cause," he said a week after Fr. Kapaun's funeral. Specifically that he progresses to being named venerable and then, hopefully, beatification." A cause for canonization takes time, he explained, but he hopes finding his remains and the cer- emonies surrounding his return give the cause a boost. "It's re- invigorating because the Lord has given us something fantastic, amazing, to hold on to, to keep us going and to be motivated." Carter said he is blessed to be a part of the process. "We were on the plane in from Hawaii and I just kept thinking: Wow! Finally Fr. Kapaun is with us! He's coming back with us!" He said he was surprised about how quickly news about the dis- covery of Fr. Kapaun's remains spread. Carter added that Fr. John Hotze, the postulator of the cause, said he thought that received more coverage than when Fr. Kapaun was awarded the Medal of Honor. The number of people who at- Cemetery took part. For me, one of the best parts was just thinking about how im- pactful it was to each and every person who was there. Those were some of the moments when I got the tears in my eyes and chills re- alizing how much the Holy Spirit has used Father Kapaun's life to impact other people," Carter said. He is now working on welcom- ing visitors to Fr. Kapaun's tomb at the Cathedral. "We've had a good outpouring of a willingness to help." Bishop Kemme's funeral homily Fr. Emil J. Kapaun conformed his life to Christ, Bishop Carl A. Kemme said at a funeral Wednes- day, Sept. 29, about the Korean War hero. Jesus modeled that love for us on the cross. He gave his life for us, his friends, so that we might not perish but might have eternal life," Bishop Kemme said. "Fa- ther Kapaun imitated that love all throughout his ministry but it reached its fulfillment on May 23, 1951, the day of his personal Cal- vary, in a dark and lonely place, giving all he had for others." A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Fr. Kapaun, a na- tive of Pilsen, Kansas, in Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas. Over 5,000 attended the event that was live-streamed by EWTN and sev- eral other outlets. Servant of God Fr. Kapaun is under consideration by the Vati- can's Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The priest of the Diocese of Wichita, a World War II and Ko- rean War U.S. Army chaplain, was captured with many other soldiers on Nov. 1, 1950. He died at age 35 on May 23, 1951, after being forc- ibly taken to a North Korean pris- oner of war hut to die. Don't worry about me," he told fellow prisoners. "I'm going where I always wanted to go, and when I get there, I'll say a prayer
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