WASHINGTON, DC — Today His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), announced creation of the Saint John XXIII Foundation. The Foundation will establish and manage perpetual, endowed support for the practice of the Catholic faith among members of the U.S. Armed Forces, patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and civilians working for the federal government beyond U.S. borders.
In making the announcement, Archbishop Broglio said, “The Saint John XXIII Foundation will work in tandem with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), to ensure a long-term, sustainable source of funding for pastoral care, primarily to Catholics who serve or have served our Nation in uniform. I welcome the addition of this new resource to ensure the provision of pastoral care for Catholics connected to the U.S. Military.”
Archbishop Broglio will serve as President ex officio of the Foundation, and the Foundation’s Board of Directors has elected Mr. Joseph Starshak to serve as the first Chair of the Board. Mr. Starshak, a U.S. Navy veteran who retired from the Navy Reserve at the rank of Captain, is principal of Starshak Winzenburg & Co., a Chicago investment firm in which he primarily leads the firm’s public finance engagements for governments and nonprofit corporations.
Mr. Starshak announced the appointment of Mr. John Schlageter, Esq., as the Foundation’s first Executive Director. Mr. Schlageter specializes in the operation and growth of charitable organizations. He has particular expertise in the administration and development of religious entities. Mr. Schlageter is no stranger to the ministry of the AMS, having served as archdiocesan General Counsel from 2007-2016. About his appointment, Mr. Schlageter said, “I look forward to working alongside the Archdiocese to build a sustainable future for the practice of the Catholic faith by members of the military and veterans.”
Mr. Schlageter said the mission of the Saint John XXIII Foundation is to “establish, receive, invest, and maintain endowed funds to support the practice of the Catholic faith in the U.S. Military, the nation’s VA Medical Centers, and the U.S. Government’s civilian work force outside American borders.” He said the Foundation’s endowments “include, but are not limited to,” a fund to support “co-sponsored seminarian education, and a general endowed fund to underwrite programs that align with the mission of the Foundation, such as evangelization and faith formation initiatives.”
Mr. Schlageter said the Foundation is an independent entity but will work closely with the AMS Office of Advancement, which will continue to gather donations and major gifts to support the day-to-day operation and ministry of the Archdiocese. He said the Foundation will “work closely with archdiocesan leadership to ensure that the Archdiocese’s ministries flourish now and for future generations.”
The first Board of Directors is composed of the following members:
Lieutenant General Christopher F. Burne, USAF (Ret.), Vice Chair:
General Burne is the former Judge Advocate General of the United States Air force. He retired in 2018 with the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.
Mr. Mark E. Chopko, Esq., Secretary:
Mr. Chopko is a partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young in its Washington, D.C. office, where he serves as Chair of the firm’s Nonprofit and Religious Organizations Practice Group. In addition to his practice, he lectures as an adjunct professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center and in Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. Mr. Chopko routinely publishes articles discussing the legal trends related to religious organizations.
Her Excellency Michèle B. Bowe, D.M., Treasurer:
Ambassador Bowe is a Dame of the Order of Malta and serves as the Order’s Ambassador to Palestine. Additionally, she serves as President of the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation.
Lieutenant General John E. Wissler, USMC (Ret.):
General Wissler is the founder and President of JPW Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm serving private sector and government clients. General Wissler founded JPW Solutions in 2017 following over 39 years of distinguished service in the United States Marine Corps where he commanded every level from platoon to Marine Corps Component command.
Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, USA (Ret.):
General MacFarland serves as a US Army War College senior mentor for general officers. He is a senior fellow at the Association of the US Army’s Institute for Land Warfare, and is a non-resident senior fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University.
For more information on the Saint John XXIII Foundation, or to make an endowed legacy gift to support the practice of the Catholic faith for service members and veterans, visit the Foundation website at www.stjohnxxiiifoundation.org.
