Father Panula, a Catholic priest since 1973, is director of the Catholic Information Center on K Street in downtown Washington. The center, along with more than 60 centers in or near 19 cities in the United States, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, is entrusted to Opus Dei, a lay organization founded by Saint Josemaria Escriva in 1928. Panula, a Harvard College graduate, received his doctorate in theology from the University of Navarre in Pamplona, Spain, where he met St. Josemaria himself. Opus Dei also operates secondary schools the Heights in Potomac and Oakcrest in McLean. Opus Dei and CIC’s mission is …
To get people to heaven. Everyone is called to be a saint. Opus Dei is here to help people use prayer, the sacraments and professional work and relationships to help learn to give the self to others.
Who walks through your doors at the center?
We’ve got a whole spectrum of people from the Cabinet or congressmen, people working in the Hilton down the street, in accounting, young and old. There’s a lot of flex in Washington.
Other than the sacraments, what does CIC offer them?
We have speakers and other events with a wine bar and hors d’oeuvres. We have more things for young professionals because they typically run about 90 to 100 people each event.
Do you get to know strangers who come to CIC?
People come in off the street for confession and will ask for spiritual direction. That’s often the beginning of a relationship.
You say to nonbelievers: Come! Opus Dei was one of the first organizations of the Church to have non-Catholic, even non-Christian cooperators. Our ideals to serve others through professional work are attractive and sometimes people receive a vocation or faith through that.
Who largely influenced your vocation?
St. Josemaria was a good friend.
Wow! What was he like?
Warm and like a father. It’s a great blessing to continue his work.
Natalie Plumb
