Friday, 05 August 2011 10:42

By Christopher M. Riggs

The big wooden crate of documents promoting the cause for beatification and canonization of Father Emil Kapaun has arrived in Rome, but Father John Hotze’s work isn’t over.
Nonetheless, he said he was relieved one phase of the project is complete.

“I had a sense of awe while thinking about what was really going on at the closing Mass. It was truly something, sitting there looking at the people I’ve met, those who were willing to work and promote his cause,” he said.

Fr. Hotze said he was also struck by the church containing people who believe their prayers have been answered through the intercession of Fr. Kapaun. “Even if you don’t believe in miracles, I think you have to admit that there is something there because of the number of people who were at the church.”

He said he was full of a sense of awe that he couldn’t put into words.

Years ago, Fr. Hotze said, when Bishop Michael O. Jackels asked him to lead the project, he said it was good that he didn’t know the extent of the project.

“But, even though it was a lot of work, I think if you asked anyone who helped, they would all feel that we were blessed to be a part of this. When you think of what was done, the historical significance of it, the fact that he was truly a great man who is still impacting many people’s lives – the Bishop said that people are emulating Father Kapaun’s life.”
Father Hotze said after the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints opens the crate, staff will take one of the copies of the documents and bind them. Another copy will be made into a copy for public viewing. In addition, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, the postulator for Fr. Kapaun’s cause, will begin writing a paper about Fr. Kapaun’s life which will be formally presented to the pope by Bishop Jackels, perhaps as early as next year.

A postulator is an official who presents a plea for beatification or canonization.

Once the paper is accepted by the Congregation, it will begin its official investigation into the miracles attributed to Fr. Kapaun.

But the work in the Diocese of Wichita isn’t over, Fr. Hotze said. He and others will begin documenting and investigating the alleged miracles and forming a tribunal of physicians to review the materials to determine if the events being investigated are beyond medical or scientific reasoning.

Fr. Hotze’s work continues, but he doesn’t mind.

“Job security,” he said with a big smile.