WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The remains of Father Emil Kapaun will arrive in Wichita on Sept. 25. His remains were identified in Hawaii in April.
His remains will be taken to his home parish in Pilsen for a private observance before the public services in Wichita.
A vigil will be held for Kapaun on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. His funeral will be Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 10:30 a.m. Both are being held at Hartman Arena. The events are free and open to the public. Get tickets through Ticketmaster.
After the Mass at Hartman Arena, there will be an event for those who could not make it to the service. Kapaun’s remains will be carried in a procession from Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Memorial Parkway, to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at Central and Broadway in Wichita. It is expected to start at 1:30 and last until 3 p.m.
The 5,400-pound tomb where Kapaun will be laid to rest arrived at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Monday.
Kapaun died in 1951 after he was taken as a prisoner of war and fell sick.
“To pray for Father Kapaun. To celebrate his life. To inspire all of us at this local Catholic church to the same virtues and the heroic charity that he lived his life,” said Father David Lies of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita.
You can read about Father Kapaun’s history and the path to sainthood at FrKapaun.org.
