Plans progressing for new chapel at Camp Kapaun
Since the Diocese of Wichita assumed ownership and dedicated Camp Kapaun, the once-quiet campground in Reno County has quickly come alive. During the past two summers, hundreds of young people attending Totus Tuus summer camp have filled the grounds with laughter, prayer, and song – gathering each day for Mass inside the cafeteria building, where a temporary altar is set up between dining room benches turned pews.
For Camp Kapaun Director Anthony Keiser, those moments capture the camp’s purpose. “There’s something powerful about watching a hundred kids quiet themselves for prayer after a morning of games and activity,” he said. “It reminds me that this place is doing exactly what it’s meant to do – helping young people encounter Christ in the ordinary.”
That spirit of encounter has guided every step of Camp Kapaun’s growth. Thanks to the generosity of donors to the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign, new cabins are now under construction, expanding the camp’s capacity and creating more opportunities for young people to experience faith, friendship, and formation in the beauty of God’s creation.
“As these cabins go up, we’re seeing the vision for Camp Kapaun come to life,” Keiser said. “It’s becoming more than a campground – it’s becoming a sacred space where faith can truly take root.”
Beyond these current projects, diocesan leaders are beginning to dream of what could come next: a permanent chapel built at the heart of the campgrounds, serving as both the spiritual and physical center of life at Camp Kapaun.
Bishop Carl Kemme envisions the impact such a space could have. “From day one, our hope for Camp Kapaun has been for it to be a place where both families and young people of our diocese encounter Christ in a personal way,” he said. “A chapel would provide a sacred space for prayer and reflection that deepens that encounter and anchors the life of Camp Kapaun at its spiritual center.”
The proposed concept imagines a light-filled, welcoming chapel that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings: sunlight and nature streaming through windows that make God’s creation visible within the chapel, the quiet of the surrounding woods, and the peace that comes from entering a space devoted entirely to God.
“Having a chapel on the property would remind everyone who comes here that everything we do flows from our faith,” Bishop Kemme reflected. “It would make the camp’s Catholic identity visible and tangible in a beautiful way.”
While the chapel remains part of Camp Kapaun’s long-term vision, it is independent of funds raised through the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign. Its timeline will depend on resources beyond those already committed, ensuring that future development complements the growth already underway.
Looking ahead, as new cabins rise and Camp Kapaun continues to flourish, the dream of a chapel offers a glimpse of what’s possible – a spiritual anchor for generations of families and young Catholics. A place where faith is nurtured, community is strengthened, and countless hearts will leave the camp more alive in Christ.
It is the hope and prayer of Bishop Kemme that there could be financial support beyond the campaign to make the dream of a chapel a reality.
To learn more about how you can help support the future of Camp Kapaun – including plans for a new chapel – please contact Mike Wescott at 316-269-3915, wescottm@catholicdioceseofwichita; or Connor Meier at 316-440-1755, [email protected].
