Capodanno Guild Cause Update - October 2021

October 2021 - Chairman’s Corner Members – I don’t know about you but my wife, Jean, and I haven’t stopped running these last few months. Recall that in our last newsletter, we discussed the loss of two critical players for our Cause: Archbishop Broglio’s representative to our Guild and our Postulator in Rome. Good news is that both positions have been filled and my instinct is that our new teammates are exceptional. Our new Guild representative is Monsignor Jeffrey Laible who is a chaplain Colonel in the Illinois Air National Guard. Monsignor has deployed several times and understands the challenges that our service men and women face – like Father Vincent.

Our new postulator is Dr. Nicola Gori. What you don’t know is that he is the Postulator pursuing the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial Saint. Dr. Gori has aggressively pursued this Cause and we feel that he will be aggressive for our Cause also. Here is another tidbit: Dr. Gori has also accepted the position of Postulator for Army Captain, Father Emil Kapaun – the other Medal of Honor recipient Chaplain who has an ongoing Cause for Canonization. Speaking of Father Kapaun, Jean and I just got home from his Funeral Mass in Wichita, KS - an amazing celebration of his life. It was live streamed on EWTN, and you can still view it, Mass of Christian Burial, FR. Emil Kapaun - YouTube. Can you envision how powerful and meaningful for our nation IF these two Servants of God were elevated at the same time? The thought of it brings tears to my eyes and I ask for your prayers and continued support that this might be achieved.

God bless, Steve Stanley Father Vincent Memorial Mass: Tuesday, 7 September 2021. What an amazing celebration of Father Vincent’s life and prayer for the repose of his soul. I hope you watched it on EWTN. Archbishop Broglio’s homily was beautiful.

You can view it here: Annual Memorial Mass Father Capodanno Guild. In the homily, there are many ideas that resonate powerfully about Father Vincent and how we might emulate him. One powerful statement was, “There is no question that Vincent Capodanno was at the front during Operation Swift, because his faith and love impelled him to be there.” You might ask, what is this “love” that “impelled” him to be there. Maybe it was his love of the souls of the men he was with.

Nothing, not even a 50-caliber machine gun, was going to stop him from providing the sacraments for those souls. Father Vincent clearly saw, “….Christ in the one who needs me.”

New Testimony: In 2003 and 2004, I deployed to Iraq as a Marine helicopter pilot in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On both occasions, I firmly believe that Father Vincent had a direct influence on the outcome of those deployments. On 25 March 2003, operations came to a halt due to a massive dust storm. During the pause, I asked Father Vincent to intercede for our safety and for the safety of those Marines we were supporting. As the storm relented, we resumed flying and were executing a reconnaissance mission when ingested sand caused us to essentially lose both engines at

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an altitude of approximately 200 feet. The subsequent impact on the desert floor caused significant damage to the aircraft however, everyone survived - the aircraft remained upright, the cabin remained intact, and there was no fire/explosion. I believe that Father Vincent’s intercession enabled our survival. After recovering, I once again found myself deployed to Iraq in 2004. Our Forward Operating Base received occasional rocket and mortar attacks. On 21 October, I was awakened by one of these attacks. I rapidly donned my flak jacket and helmet while seeking cover next to the interior wall of the tent which was lined with a blast barrier. I began fervently praying to Father Vincent for his help and safety. During a pause in my prayers and the incoming rounds, I felt a presence come over me, something more than just intuition, that urged me to shift my position and get closer to the barrier. I heeded this warning. The next round impacted directly inside the tent along the wall directly across from where I was laying. Several pieces peppered my leg with one piece shattering my right shin bone. Had I not moved, the piece entering my shin would have entered directly under my flak jacket tearing into my abdomen.

Ultimately, I believe Father Vincent directly interceded on my behalf and prevented a more dire injury.

Start Thinking About Christmas: Planning for your Christmas Gifts. We are offering two Christmas specials:  Father Capodanno Lithographs - The 9x12 version is available for a minimum donation of $40, but if you would like two, the second is only $30 more for a total donation of $70. These are high quality prints that will be treasured.  Called and Chosen - our award-winning DVD about Father Capodanno is still available for a minimum of $20 each but for your minimum donation of $80 we will send you FIVE DVDs.  To make your donation go to: https://www.capodannoguild.org/ and please specify your request for the 9x12 lithograph, or DVDs, and include the quantity you would like.

Other Father Vincent Memorials:  The Knights of Columbus and the Fishers of Men of St. Jude Parish in Joliet, Illinois held a Rosary and Memorial Mass on 28 August.  A young Guild member from the Staten Island 3 September Memorial Mass:

Spreading the Word:  Presentations are picking up, and we look forward to doing one for your organization too. It is even possible to conduct your presentation virtually using a Zoom meeting. All we need is your help to “open the door” and pass the contact info to donald.b.campbell.jr@gmail.com. He’ll work it.  Our Vice Postulator, Mary Preece, and BOD Chairman, Steve Stanley, were interviewed by Michael O’Neill for EWTN’s Miracle Hunter series.

The show is an hour long but the portion about Father Vincent runs from about 9:30 to 28:30. https://www.ewtn.com/radio/shows/miraclehunter  You may recall that Henry Hernandez was Father Vincent’s Chaplain assistant in Vietnam. He has powerful recollections of Father and how he interacted with his men. Henry did another team interview with Steve Stanley as a Podcast for the Archdiocese. Podcasts - Father Capodanno Guild Final Resting Place – Contract for Study: Recall that we have been working to contract a study about final resting place options for Father’s earthly remains. Good news – we contracted with the same firm that works for the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and, God willing, we will be ready to move forward when appropriate.

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