November 8th Fundraiser to be held at the Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) announced today it will hold its annual benefit reception at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia.

The AMS is the only jurisdiction of the Catholic Church responsible for endorsing and granting faculties to priests and deacons to provide pastoral care for Catholics in the United States armed forces, military academies, VA Medical Centers and overseas U.S. government civilian posts as well as their families. A total of 1.5 million American Catholics worldwide depend on the AMS and its approximately 525 priests for spiritual counseling, access to the sacraments and sacramental record keeping. Yet, the AMS, the nation’s only archdiocese without territorial boundaries, receives no funding from the military or the government and has no parishes to provide a weekly source of funding support for its global mission.

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, said 59% of the AMS’s annual funding comes from the general public, 28% from military chaplains and servicemen and women and their families, and 13% from Catholic foundations and a few dioceses around the country.

Archbishop Broglio said:

“The upcoming benefit is an excellent opportunity for the public to show support for the AMS in its mission to meet the spiritual needs of our men and women in uniform, both at home and abroad, during a time of great transition for the military.

“While many service personnel come home to their families in the wake of ongoing troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan, others remain on the front lines to face a scattered but determined enemy. Those still deployed continue to endure hardship, sacrifice and danger. Those coming home confront a major life adjustment, including, in many cases, how to live in peaceful society with post-traumatic stress.

“The AMS is in urgent need of resources to provide these servicemen and women the pastoral care they need, whatever their status in a constantly developing geopolitical situation and the ongoing war on terror.”

As Shepherd of the AMS, Archbishop Broglio and his four auxiliary bishops spend 65% of their time on pastoral visits to more than 220 military installations in 29 countries and 153 VA Medical Centers in the United States.

Tickets to the November 8th Benefit can be purchased for as little as $250 per individual or $500 per couple.

Those who wish to show greater support can attend the reception as a “Trustee” for $1,000; an “Event Vice-Chair” for $5,000; an”Event Co-Chair” for $10,000; a “National Sponsor” for $25,000; or an “Event Underwriter” for $50,000.

For more information on the annual benefit and to buy tickets, visit www.milarch.org/events .