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RecruitmentPriests
Helping
priests discern a call to minister in the military
Within the branches of military service theres 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, 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:
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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
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?

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