Merry Christmas & A Year of Hope
Dear Friend of Father Kapaun,
As we come to the close of the Christmas Octave, we pray that Father Kapaun helps bring the peace and love of our humble Lord into your heart and the hearts of your loved ones. God is good and is always with us.
This year saw the groundswell of interest and support for Father Kapaun’s cause continue to spread. From a new book published in March, “No Bullet Got Me Yet”, to the documentary “Fighting Spirit” about Combat Chaplains, which featured Father Kapaun’s story heavily, to a new Stations of the Cross devotion, to thousands joining in our novena prayer, to the ten thousand prayer cards we sent across the US and to several other countries around the world, there’s great reason to be excited and encouraged at the work the Holy Spirit is doing through Father Kapaun’s life and intercession.
Not to mention that the Kansas Governor and Legislature unanimously passed a bill approving a statue of Chaplain Kapaun in the State Capitol.
A Year of Hope
The Holy Father has proclaimed the Jubilee Year 2025 as a year of hope, and considering Father Kapaun was a man of hope, the theme is very fitting.
Aside from coming reflections on hope, we will host another Palm Sunday Weekend Retreat at the Spiritual Life Center, April 11-13. The theme is Spiritual Warfare with Father Kapaun.
You may have heard about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimages that took place across the United States and converged on Indianapolis last year for the Eucharistic Congress. This year, the organizers are planning a Thanksgiving Procession, and they plan to pass through Wichita and stop at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to visit Father Kapaun.
Speaking of the Cathedral, Bishop Kemme opened its doors as a designated pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year. This means it is a special place of pilgrimage and prayer, with the associated plenary indulgence attached to it. Come and visit Father Kapaun and pray for hope!
Reviewing Father Kapaun’s Cause
Finally, we ask that you please continue to keep Father Kapaun’s cause for Sainthood in your prayers as the new year rolls over.
The Dicastery for Saints in Rome is in the middle of reviewing Father Kapaun’s cause, and we hope that the Holy Father might name him Venerable in the coming months. This is the next step on the path to sainthood. After this we will work to present an alleged miracle for consideration, which would be needed for beatification. That’s another lengthy process, but a Venerable declaration would certainly buoy our prayers, hopes and efforts!
Mass of Thanksgiving
We are living in exciting times, and we greatly appreciate your support of Father Kapaun’s cause. In thanksgiving, a Mass will be offered at Noon on January 8th for your intentions at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (where Father Kapaun’s remains are interred). May the Lord bestow his grace and peace upon you abundantly this coming year.
Father John Hotze & Scott Carter
Father Kapaun’s Cause