Staff writer
Eleven weathered, hot, and hungry individuals arrived on foot early Sunday afternoon at St. John Nepomucene Church in Pilsen to celebrate the life of Father Emil Kapaun.
They completed a 59-mile pilgrimage that had begun Friday morning at the Church of the Magdalen in Wichita.
Their first act upon arriving was to gather in the sanctuary for a prayer on behalf of Father Kapaun.
The pilgrimage was symbolic of the heroic army chaplain’s experience after he and his fellow soldiers were captured by Chinese and North Korean soldiers during the Korean Conflict.
Kapaun, who walked 20 miles a day for 16 days in wintertime, died in a prison camp May 23, 1951, after many days of sacrificial service.
According to Eric Weldon, a priest in the Wichita Diocese, this week’s pilgrimage sought to honor Father Kapaun, promote his cause for sainthood, and “grow in holiness.”
Catholic tradition is steeped in pilgrimages, Weldon said. It is customary for Catholics to walk to a holy place or shrine.
Weldon and three others walked all the way from Wichita to Pilsen, traveling 20 miles the first day, 21 the second, and 16 the third.
The three were Chris Stewart of Wichita, Sgt. Justin Thompson of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, and David Stagle of Colwich.
Others joined them along the way. Among them were J.P. Brunke and his wife and 3-month old baby.
Kale Kroupa, a native of Pilsen, and his wife, Mary, also participated, along with Lance Reichenberger of Andale, Megan Sawyer of Wichita, and Clint Schneider of Hillsboro.
The travelers kept to dirt roads most of the way, finding it easier on their feet.
They spent the night in tents set up at host farms. They stayed Saturday night at the Larry and Lucy Schwarte farm 8½ miles north of Peabody, at 150th and Mustang roads.
The campsite was near the former Spring Branch Church, one of the earliest Catholic churches in Marion County.
The group crossed the dam at Marion Reservoir the next morning, then walked to 270th Road and the final quarter-mile into Pilsen on Remington Road.
A van carrying food and water and driven on successive days by Maria Stewart, Joanne Weldon, and Mary Jirak of Tampa accompanied them.
Denise Bina of Marion and Jeanne Rziha of Tampa provided food. Bina and her son, Aaron, joined the group on their walk the third day.
Weldon was a concelebrant with Bishop Michael Jackels at a 3 p.m. Mass in Pilsen that brought people from across the state.