FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY
Catholic PRWire

FRONT ROYAL, VA (August 16, 2009) - Operation Swift veterans who served with US Navy LT Fr. Capodanno and members of the Capodanno family are among those confirmed to attend the 7:00pm September 3rd Mass for Servant of God Fr. Capodanno offered at the Crypt Church of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC with Archbishop Timothy Broglio as main celebrant.

Born in Staten Island New York to Italian immigrants, Fr. Vincent attended Public School 44. In high school, he discerned his vocation to the priesthood and in 1957 was ordained a Catholic priest by Cardinal Spellman, vicar of the US Military Ordinariate. He entered Maryknoll and served as a missionary in Taiwan and Hong Kong from 1958 to 1965. Fr. Capodanno petitioned Maryknoll religious superiors to release him to serve as a US Navy Chaplain. His first duty assignment was to Vietnam, where he arrived during Holy Week of 1966.

US Navy Lieutenant Fr. Capodanno participated in combat operations, including Operation Montgomery, Operation Mobile, Operation Franklin, Operation Fresno, Operation Golden Fleece and Operation Rio Blanco. His seventh was Operation Swift.

Putting the well-being of his Marines above his personal safety, Fr. Capodanno moved among the battlefield wounded and dying to provide medical aid, a word of comfort, and Last Rites. Receiving shrapnel wounds to his face and arm which nearly severed his hand, Fr. Capodanno continued tending to the 3/5 Marines. During Operation Swift, on September 4, 1967, Fr. Capodanno laid down his life, using his body to shield a wounded warrior from nearby enemy fire. Having earned three Purple Hearts, Capodanno was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Memorials sprang up almost immediately after his death, the first being a chapel in Tawain. In 1969, San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard dedicated Capodanno Hall which serves as a Bachelor Officers' Quarters. His brother, Phillip Capodanno, unveiled the plaque which reads:

"Lieutenant Capodanno made the ultimate sacrifice ministering to the wounded and dying during savage fighting in Vietnam. He has become the third chaplain in our country's history to receive the Medal of Honor and the second Navy chaplain to be so honored".

Today, Staten Island's main thoroughfare, numerous chapels, the USS Capodanno FF-1093, sons of Marines, Knights of Columbus Councils and Assemblies, and an Order of the Purple Heart chapter all bear his name. His name remains among the Marines he served, on Panel 25, Line 95 of the Vietnam Wall

In May 2006, the Catholic Church publically recognized Capodanno as Servant of God.

CatholicMil.org, petitioner for the Cause of Fr. Capodanno, is sponsoring an evening Mass and following reception for Fr. Capodanno held at the National Shrine's Crypt Church September 3rd, 7:00pm, the eve of the anniversary of his ultimate sacrifice. All are invited. Military personnel are encouraged to attend in the uniform of the day. Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for Military Services will be the main celebrant.

For more information on Servant of God Fr. Vincent Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR, visit the Official Website for the Cause at www.VincentCapodanno.org.

To attend the Fr. Capodanno Mass and reception at the National Shrine, RSVP to Christine or Judy at 540-551-5262 or by email to VincentCapodannoMass@yahoo.com.

Contact

CatholicMil
http://www.VincentCapodanno.org  VA, 22630 US
Christine Pesta - secretary, 540 551-5262

Keywords

Capodanno, Cause, Servant of God, Mass, National, Shrine, Broglio, CatholicMil, military, USN, Navy

Category

Liturgy