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.  
 
 
 
 

Considering the chaplaincy? Do you have… A passion for your faith? A deep love of ministry? A calling to support the needs of the military and their families with the sacraments? A desire to try something new in your ministry? A strong sense of creativity in your ministry?

In the service, our work is very much a ministry of presence, a real 24-hour job. One of the unique qualities of being a priest in the military is that this is such a large piece of the vineyard in which to get your hands dirty. 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
Because all Catholic chaplains must be endorsed by a diocese, 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 men and women and their families makes the work of chaplains possible.

Answering the call
When a priest discerns a call to the chaplaincy, he must seek the permission of his bishop or religious superior to be released from his parish for a minimum three-year assignment with the service. The process of becoming a military chaplain varies a bit in each service, but there are some elements the Army, Navy, and Air Force all require:

	medical pre-screening process
	an application package
	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
Though 40% of those in the Navy, 28% in the Air Force, and 25% in the Army are Catholic, currently, there are a little more than 140 priests in the Navy, 90 in the Air Force, and 105 in the Army. The need for more priests to minister to members of the military and their families is great. Most bases have a single priest, some must share their priest with other bases.

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.

Which branch of the service is right for you?