WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), celebrated its 15th Annual Benefit on Saturday evening, Nov. 18, at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. His Excellency, the Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, hosted 335 guests including active-duty and retired senior U.S. Military officers and their spouses who gathered in support of the AMS mission serving those who serve. The event opened with a 5:00 p.m. anticipated Sunday Mass in the Redemptor Hominis (Redeemer of Man) Chapel and concluded with a sit-down dinner in the atrium of the Shrine in Northeast Washington. Generous benefactors raised more than $390,000 in charitable giving, and Archbishop Broglio presented honors from the Holy See to distinguished AMS staff and clergy.
In his homily, Archbishop Broglio reflected on this, the time of year when the faithful focus on the end times and the need to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ:
“It used to be a bit more frequent to see someone downtown in a large city with the sign, ‘The End is Near.’ We might smile or wonder when such a prophecy might be proven true. Perhaps in these days when war intensifies in the Holy Land and Ukraine, we might wonder if humanity is nearing a self-destructive point of no return. However, this penultimate Sunday of the year invites us to think about the last things and to ask serious questions….
“The Gospel warns us of the transience of our earthly existence, and invites us to live it as on a pilgrimage, keeping our gaze fixed on the destination for which God has created us. Moreover, since He made us for Himself, He is our ultimate destination and the meaning of our existence.
“The Word of God this Sunday speaks about preparation, accounting, and responsibility. None of those concepts are foreign to the people served by this global Archdiocese. We expect the Military to be prepared. They train, simulate possible situations, and depend on each other to react in a certain way. No one expects someone on the team to dig a hole and hide his or her talents because the gifts of all are needed.
“The same is true of the body of Christ, which has no spare parts. The gifts and talents of all contribute to the mission of the Church, which is to preach the Gospel. Often in the recent plenary assembly of the Synod, reference was made to our baptismal dignity, but often the second part of that dignity was forgotten. The Second Vatican Council taught so clearly that the laity are empowered to permeate the world with the leaven and fragrance of the Gospel. The idea is not to clericalize the laity but to empower them to go forth and to give witness to the truth of the Gospel….
“We do not need the sign to tell us that the end is near in order to wake up. We recognize that we are on a journey. We walk behind the Lord and follow His path.”
Immediately after the homily Archbishop Broglio presented the Knighthood of Papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great to Col. Chuck Gallina, USMC (Ret.), the AMS liaison to the Knights of Columbus, and to Mark Moitoza, Th.D., D. Min., AMS Vice-Chancellor for Evangelization, for their long years of dedicated service to the Archdiocese. He announced the posthumous presentation of the Pro Ecclesia at Pontifice medal and diploma to the late Mr. David Richardson, who died last month after many years of service as AMS receptionist and sacramental recordkeeper, and the conferral of the title “Chaplain of His Holiness” upon retired U.S. Navy Chaplain, Rev. Monsignor John L. Kaul.
Concelebrating the Mass with Archbishop Broglio were senior AMS clergy including the auxiliary bishops, the Rev Msgr. Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, and others. Transitional deacons and co-sponsored seminarians assisted at the altar.
It’s not too late to donate to the Annual Benefit. Gifts continue to be accepted gratefully at milarch.org/annual-benefit.
Meanwhile, the AMS Office of Advancement announced the 16th Annual Benefit for the AMS will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, beginning with the Celebration of Holy Mass at 5:00 p.m. (EST) at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, 3900 Harewood Road NE, Washington, DC, 20017.