June 2020 - Chairman’s Corner Members – Think back to our last newsletter. We were hopeful that the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome would soon recommend a declaration of “Heroic Virtue” and bestowal of the title “Venerable Servant of God” to Father Vincent by the Holy Father. Then …. COVID hit and we were locked down in Rome and here. Everything slowed to a standstill. We are certainly disappointed at the delay, but we do not question our direction. We need to keep moving forward. Those of you who have been deployed with our military know that the Sacraments are sometimes unavailable, and during our COVID lockdown our country has experienced similar limited access. How hard it was to be denied celebration of the Resurrection during the Easter Vigil, but recall how sweet it was to receive Our Lord as our churches started to reopen. I wonder; in this denial, haven’t we all felt closer to the Communion of Saints that we profess? At least for me, I feel closer and specifically closer to Father Vincent. God bless, Steve Stanley Memorial Day at the Capodanno Grave Site
Special Interest The stories abound of those who believe Father Vincent has intervened in their lives because of prayer and developing a spiritual friendship with him: • One of the extras on the set of our movie, “Called and Chosen” was motivated to apply for the USMC Officer Training School and has been commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. It seems that Father Vincent changed his life. • A retired Master Chief Petty Officer was visiting a chapel at Cherry Point, NC and after Mass, picked up the single Father Capodanno prayer card that was in the vestibule. He began to pray to Father Vincent for help with his dire family situation, a son battling addiction and a wife who suffers with depression (four suicide attempts in one month). “Father Vincent is my Navy Chaplain today. I feel I have someone in my corner and my days have become more manageable. I am able to handle things better with his help and my loved ones are improving.” • In these two stories there is an unstated message – we are the hands of Father Vincent for the living today. Our new Marine was inspired by the Marines who served with Father in Vietnam and were on the movie set to make sure his story was correctly told. Our Master Chief learned about Father Vincent because someone left a prayer card in the Chapel. Never underestimate the value of your actions. Thanks to all those who have sponsored presentations, passed out holy cards, pictures or passed on DVD’s to others. Archbishop Broglio gave us the mission to “promote the Cause” and we cannot do it without you.
Quick notes: • Our beloved Father Vincent is becoming more well known in many ways. In our last letter, we told you about the newly established Father Vincent Capodanno Academy on Staten Island. Here is another new Catholic school: The Father Vincent Capodanno High School has been established in Vass, NC and their website states that the, “Capodanno story exemplifies the school’s emphasis on character, leadership and service” and that, “The legacy of Father Capodanno is one of bravery and self-sacrifice.” • The newly formed Father Capodanno Society in Pacific Beach, CA, is a group of over 50 members that serves the military community by providing a place for advice, accompaniment, and prayer. “We chose Father Capodanno as our patron as he so clearly lived out his vocation as both Catholic Priest and Navy Officer as the ‘Grunt Padre.’ We hope and pray that he leads us closer to Christ and strengthens our community that we may serve as he did and remember always that ‘God is with us this day.’” • Father Capodanno Lithographs - The larger prints have all been distributed, but the 9x12 version is still available for a donation of $40 via the website https://www.capodannoguild.org. DVDs of the documentary on the life and heroic death of Father Capodanno, "Called and Chosen", continue to be available for a donation of $20. As you make your donations please specify your request for the 9x12 portrait, or number of DVDs. • Remember this year’s Father Capodanno Memorial Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Broglio at noon on 6 September in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Please join us.
Spreading the Word: Recently, an opportunity to produce an audio story about Father Vincent’s life popped up. We were contacted by a national storytelling radio program “Our American Stories” (2.5 million weekly listeners) who are interested in putting together a 40-minute feature about Father Capodanno that feels like “a movie on the radio.” We have contacted EWTN and the producer of “Called and Chosen” and both are supportive of moving forward. We are hopeful that this new story about Father’s life will be released before the 53rd anniversary of Father’s death on the 4th of September such that an entire new audience hears about our Servant of God. Naval Academy Donation:
A recent presentation of our large lithograph was made to the United States Naval Academy. The lithograph will be displayed in the Laboon Ministry Center as part of a new initiative to memorialize heroic Chaplains. It will be the perfect place to display Father Vincent because this is where most of the midshipmen attend Mass. Receiving the lithograph for USNA is newly commissioned Ensign Eric Cal. (You may have guessed that he was part of Navy’s Football team.)
Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/capodannoguild/ Reminder: You can help us save money. If you are getting this newsletter by snail mail and you use email, PLEASE contact Mary Preece (mpreece@milarch.org) and give her your email address. We will add you to our electronic distribution and save the cost of postage. Do you need a presentation? We have presenters ready and willing to bring Father’s story to your parish or parish groups. If you can make the initial contact, we will follow up to finalize details. To get started, contact us via our website: https://www.capodannoguild.org