To watch Capuchin Father James Stump at work is to see a Christ-centered “ministry of presence” in action as a daily routine.
A chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Palo Alto, Father Stump makes his rounds with one purpose in mind: to invite sick and wounded veterans to encounter the living Christ.
Father Stump is quick in his step and quick with a joke as he goes about his work.
Accompanied by a reporter on one of his recent rounds, he joked to a Marine on the move down the hallway in a wheelchair to “watch the speed limit.” They chatted about the Marine’s spinal reconstruction surgery. But in a moment, without a break in the informality, the priest prayed over the patient and asked that Jesus “show his face to you, have mercy on you.”
Read it all.
CNS–Priest finds calling in bringing Christ's presence to wounded soldiers
To watch Capuchin Father James Stump at work is to see a Christ-centered “ministry of presence” in action as a daily routine.
A chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Palo Alto, Father Stump makes his rounds with one purpose in mind: to invite sick and wounded veterans to encounter the living Christ.
Father Stump is quick in his step and quick with a joke as he goes about his work.
Accompanied by a reporter on one of his recent rounds, he joked to a Marine on the move down the hallway in a wheelchair to “watch the speed limit.” They chatted about the Marine’s spinal reconstruction surgery. But in a moment, without a break in the informality, the priest prayed over the patient and asked that Jesus “show his face to you, have mercy on you.”
Read it all.