Donald McClarey on the POW Servant of God

"Lent is a grand time to confront evil, both that evil which stains our souls, and the evil external to us.  Throughout the history of the Church there have been saints who risked all to bravely confront the popular evils of their time. . . .

"In the midst of a World War, Emil Kapaun was born in peaceful Pilsen, Kansas on August 20, 1916. His parents were Czech immigrants and virtually everyone in the area spoke Czech. From an early age Emil knew that he wanted to be a priest and would play mass with his younger brother.  Graduating from Conception Abbey seminary college in Conception Missouri in 1936,  Emil attended Kendrick Theological Seminary in Saint Louis, and was ordained a priest of the diocese of Wichita in June 1940. Father Kapaun returned to his home parish Saint John Nepomucene in Pilsen as an assistant to Father Sklenar who, together with his Bishop, had paid the cost of his attendance at the seminary. During these years Father Kapaun was also an auxiliary chaplain at Herington Air Base. After the retirement of Father Sklenar in December 1943, Father Kapaun became pastor of his boyhood parish. Receiving permission from his Bishop, Father Kapaun joined the army as a chaplain in July 1944.

"Promoted to Captain, he remained in the C-B-I until May of 1946 and was mustered out of the Army in July 1946. With the approval of his Bishop, Father Kapuan enrolled at Catholic University in Washington on the G.I. Bill, and obtained a Master's degree in education in February 1948. In April his Bishop appointed him pastor in Timken, Kansas in April 1948. Believing that he was called to be a chaplain for the troops, and with the consent of his Bishop, Father Kapaun rejoined the army as a chaplain in September 1948.

"Serving as a chaplain at Fort Bliss, Father Kapaun was ordered to Japan in 1950. Upon the outbreak of the Korean War, he was assigned to a front line combat unit, the 3rd battalion, 8th cavalry regiment, 1rst Cavalry Division.

"With his unit Father Kapaun participated during June-September 1950 in the desperate defense of the Pusan Perimeter and then in the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, which, combined with the Inchon landings in Operation Chromite, the brilliant stroke by General Douglas MacArthur, led to the eviction of the invading North Korean armies from South Korea and the capture of the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on October 19, 1950. During all of this Father Kapaun was a whirlwind of activity: tending the wounded, administering the Last Sacrament to the dying, keeping up the morale of the troops. He said mass as close as he could get to the battle lines from an improvised platform on a jeep. . . ."

In a recent post, Donald R. McClarey reflected on the ministry of Chaplain Kapaun, including being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, his capture by enemy troops, and his ministry to his fellow prisoners-of-war, and his passing in the prison camp.

To access his complete post, please visit:

The American Catholic: Saints of Lent: The POW Servant of God (2 APR 17)