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Recruitment–Priests
 Helping
priests discern a call to minister in the military
Within the branches of military service there’s a recruiter
different than any other. He is a priest-recruiter. His job is to
help priests discern whether they have a call to become a chaplain
in one of the branches of the U.S. Military.
The first and foremost thing a Catholic
chaplain in any branch of the service needs is a deep passion for
Catholicism and a strong desire to bring that faith and the sacraments
to the people and families in the military. You must also have a
love for the priesthood and ministry.
In the service, our work is very much a ministry
of presence - 24/7. One of the unique qualities of
being a priest in the military is vastness of the vineyard. There are no boundaries
that delineate where your ministry should begin or end. You can
be as creative as you want and use your gifts and talents every
day.
Support of the dioceses and the archbishop
make it possible
Each Catholic chaplain, whether in military service or the VA, must have the permission of
his Ordinary (or Religious Superior) together with the endorsement of the Military
Archbishop. The work of the Archdiocese for the Military Services would not be possible
without the continued sacrifices that the various archdioceses and dioceses make. Their belief
in the importance of ministering to military personnel and their
families makes the work of chaplains possible.
Answering the call
When a priest discerns a call to the military or VA chaplaincy, there are three (4) processes
involved:
he must obtain the permission of his Ordinary or religious superior to be released from
his parish for a minimum three-year assignment with the service. That written permission must be
sent directly to the Miitary Archbishop.
he must apply to the Military Archbishop for his endorsement, a document that allows
the priest be commissioned as an officer (or in the VA - receive a contract) and Catholic chaplain.
he must apply for a commission - accomplished by the priest-recruiter of the specific Service Branch.
he must apply for the faculties of the Military Archdiocese following commissioning and/or assignment.
The process of becoming a military chaplain varies a bit in each
service, but the following are common to all:
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medical pre-screening process |
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an application package |
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letters of recommendation |
Please refer to the Endorsement
Procedures for complete information on requirements.
The completed application and supporting materials
are presented to a board that determines if a man is a good candidate
for chaplaincy. On average, the process takes about two to six months.
The need for chaplains is great
Ministry in the military is a real ministry of
presence. It is a 24-hour-a-day ministry that calls on your creativity
and your passion for your faith. If this sounds like the ministry
you have been seeking, the life of a chaplain could be for you.
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