Posted on 07/29/2015 4:21:41 AM PDT by rwa265
One month after Father Emil Kapaun, a heroic Korean War chaplain, received the Medal of Honor posthumously during a White House ceremony, he was remembered at a special outdoor Mass celebrated at St. Jude Regional Catholic School in Rockville.
Father Paul Lee - the pastor of the Shrine of St. Jude Parish whose own family had escaped Communist North Korea as refugees - celebrated the Mass on May 9 with a makeshift altar set up on the hood of an olive-colored Jeep, just as Father Kapaun had done when ministering to soldiers on the front line more than six decades earlier.
In his homily, Father Lee noted that he was wearing priestly vestments from that era, and boots, to honor the chaplain called "the shepherd in combat boots."
The Kansas priest, known for braving enemy fire to minister to the wounded and dying, was himself taken prisoner by Chinese and North Korean forces. Father Kapaun became like a parish priest to the men of all faiths who suffered together in that prison camp.
"He had Protestants, Jews and atheists saying the rosary together," Father Lee told his congregation, which included schoolchildren, parents and teachers, sitting in chairs set up in the St. Jude's parking lot. "He was a good shepherd, not just for Catholics, but for all prisoners. In the worst conditions you can imagine, he gave them hope and courage, and showed them the presence of God."
When the chaplain was seriously ill and being led away to die in an isolated death house, some Muslim prisoners stood in respect, and the frail priest lifted his hand to bless his guards, and said, "Father forgive them," repeating the words said by Jesus as he was dying on the cross. As he faced death, the priest spoke to his fellow captives of heaven and of forgiveness, saying, "I'm going to where I always wanted to go, and when I get there, I'll pray for all of you."
Father Lee encouraged the students to be grateful to all veterans for their sacrifice and heroism to protect the freedom of others, and he also encouraged his congregation to support human rights and humanitarian efforts on behalf of the suffering people of North Korea. He visited that country this past fall to promote Seeds of Hope, a humanitarian project aimed at alleviating hunger and starvation there.
The participants at the Mass later prayed that they would have the strength and courage to live like Father Kapaun did, and always put service to God and service to others first.
After the congregation sang "America the Beautiful" for the offertory song, with the American flag fluttering overhead, Father Lee stood before the altar set up on the Jeep's hood, with his back to the congregation as he elevated the Eucharist.
After Communion, eighth grader Stephanie Lushniak said students could emulate the priest's bravery by standing up to bullies who pick on classmates. Like the chaplain, students can be leaders, setting an example for others to follow, and they should be guided by their faith so they can face challenges in life, she said. "With a strong faith, one will always know the right path to choose."
Father Lee said later that he celebrated the Mass honoring Father Kapaun because, "I wanted to acknowledge his sanctity, his sacrifices and his courage. He has so much to teach our children, and all of us. He was able to reach out, not just to Catholics, but to everybody."
Glenn Benjamin, the principal of St. Jude Regional Catholic School, said after the Mass that he hopes the students learn from the heroic chaplain's example that they must be people of God and always stay true to their Catholic faith throughout their lives. "There are still saints today, still people doing great works of God everywhere, in every country, every place, in war zones and suburban communities," he said.
My Dad often talked about a chaplain who celebrated Mass on the hood of a Jeep when they were serving in the South Pacific during World War II.
Full title: Gathering for Mass around altar on Jeep’s hood, St. Jude’s students honor heroic chaplain
My Dad often talked about a chaplain who celebrated Mass on the hood of a Jeep when they were serving in the South Pacific during World War II.
In the military under Obama, can a chaplain even preach the Gospel?
I remember calling around for alter boys (yes boys), when a priest found himself in the all to familiar spot of having two regular Masses, a funeral and a wedding all on the same Saturday. If he had to go driving off to some park some where, he never could have pulled it off.
BTW he also that day had two people in hospice and one at their own home that were not expected to live until Sunday and he managed to show up and anoint them before they departed.
Beautiful story! Thank you! Coach Ray Meyer of the DePaul Blue Demons [Chicago], also a saintly man, would have his team’s traveling priest say Mass in the terminals of airports, as they all waited for their flights on Sundays.
I once went to an outdoor wedding in New York State, up near the Canadian border. About 10 miles from the Dannemora prison actually. It was outdoors, the priest wore those reflective sun glasses that CIA agents wear in the movies and he rode a motorcycle. It was a beautiful wedding but very hot. Make sure any venue you choose has some shade!
The reception was pretty exciting when a number of the wedding party rode their motorcycles into the VFW hall.
I heard on the radio the other day that some funeral homes were being rented out for wedding receptions. That seems like a strange idea.
But what about an outdoor area near a cemetery. Many churches have cemeteries right by the church. Some have small shrines near/in them.
Despite what TV depicts, we do not have Funerals outside, just the internment. I am always amazed at the "catholic" weddings and funerals as interpreted by Hollyweird. My Liturgical Police mode goes into over drive. :)
Perhaps if one arranged for artillery fire instead of music, that might suffice.
Stop
Just stop
Wonderful story...
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is received in a Catholic Church in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament since it is He with Whom both parties are making a Covenant.
Well said!
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