Office of VocationsClick here for Vocation News "Freedom always comes at a high price. It requires a generous heart, ready for sacrifice. . . We cannot excuse ourselves from our own personal responsibility for freedom. There is no such thing as freedom without sacrifice." -Pope John Paul II There are few who comprehend the ideals of sacrifice and selfless service that form the bedrock of priestly ministry better than those in the United States Military, for whom service and sacrifice are a way of life. Nearly ten percent of men ordained priests in the United States every year have prior military service, and another ten percent grew up in military households. The life as a priest chaplain, ministering to the spiritual and sacramental needs of those in the United States Armed Forces is a natural vocation for a man of prior military experience, and one that the Church and the military desperately need answered. The Vocation of a Chaplain
Who Is Eligible?Any young man with a college degree who shows signs of having a vocation to priestly ministry and can meet the academic requirements for seminary training and the qualification for military service is eligible to apply. Though a sizable portion of those who pursue a vocation as a military chaplain come from prior military service or a military background, no experience with the military whatsoever is required. Contact UsIf you feel Christ may be calling you to serve as a priest and a chaplain, or if you have any questions at all regarding the chaplaincy or the priesthood, please contact our Vocations Director for more information.
Vocation News
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Priestly ministry to those serving in the military is a unique and special vocation. The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA is the largest geographical diocese in the country, and, within its bounds, those called to serve as chaplains must be prepared to undertake ministries as diverse as the regions they visit. As a sacramental minister, the chaplain must bring Christ and the healing power of the Church to men and women serving in an endless range of stressful, dangerous and possible deadly circumstances. He must be prepared to transfer from parish ministry to ministry in a war zone at a moment's notice, and act as comforter to soldiers and their families in a way few others will ever experience. 
