About Father Kapaun
Father Kapaun, was born in Pilsen, Kansas in
the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas on Holy
Thursday, April 20, 1916. He was
ordained as a Priest for the Diocese on June 9, 1940
and entered the U.S. Army
Chaplain Corps in 1944. Separated from the service in 1946,
he re-entered the
Army in 1948 and was sent to Japan the following year. In July of 1950
Father
Kapaun was ordered to Korea. On November 2 of that same year he was taken as
a
prisoner of war.
In the seven months in prison, Father Kapaun spent
himself in heroic service to his fellow
prisoners without regard for race, color
or creed. To this there is testimony of men of all faiths.
Ignoring his own
ill health, he nursed the sick and wounded until a blood clot in his leg
prevented
his daily rounds. Moved to a so-called hospital, but denied medical
assistance, his death soon
followed on May 23, 1951.
The Diocese of Wichita and the Vatican have begun
the formal process that could lead to Father
Kapaun's canonization. In 1993, it
was announced that Fr. Kapaun would receive the title of
"Servant of God".
Fr. Kapaun Celebrates Holy Mass in the
field
This page was Updated June 20, 2008
