WHITE POST, VA –This weekend, six men will take a “step closer” to discerning whether God is calling them to be Catholic priests in the United States Military. The six are scheduled to gather for a period of prayer and reflection in the July 5-8 “Step Closer Retreat” at the San Damiano Spiritual Life Center in White Post, Va. Continue reading
LAFAYETTE, LA – Father Benjamin Pitre, a United States Navy chaplain candidate, was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 23, in Lafayette, LA. His ordination was celebrated at a 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist through the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration invoking the Holy Spirit by Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of Lafayette. AMS Auxiliary Bishop Richard B. Higgins concelebrated the ordination Mass. Continue reading
ATLANTA, GA. – Father Michael Metz, a candidate to join the United States Army as a chaplain, was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday, June 16, in Atlanta, GA. Father Metz is on track to serve on active duty with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) once he completes three years of pastoral service in his home Archdiocese of Atlanta. Continue reading
ARLINGTON, VA – The Reverend Mr. Sean Koehr, a candidate for Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, June 2, in Arlington, VA. Deacon Koehr, 28, is in priestly formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA, where he recently earned a Master of Divinity degree. He hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Navy with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) after three years of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Arlington. Continue reading
FORT WAYNE, IN – Father Jay Horning, a United States Army chaplain candidate, was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 2, in Fort Wayne, IN. His ordination was celebrated at an 11:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conceptionthrough the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration invoking the Holy Spirit by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, concelebrated the Mass. Continue reading
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Reverend Mr. Christopher Yakkel, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Friday, May 4, in Columbus, Ohio. He hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Air Force with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS).
The Rev. Mr. Yakkel, 29, is currently in priestly formation at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, where he is on track to earn his Master’s Degree in Divinity next year. His diaconal ordination was celebrated at a 7:00 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral through the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration invoking the Holy Spirit by Bishop Frederick F. Campbell of Columbus. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, concelebrated the Mass. Continue reading
WASHINGTON, DC – The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) is celebrating the diaconal ordination of two prospective new Catholic U.S. Air Force chaplains. Reverend Mr. Vincent (Vinny) Gillmore was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, April 7, in St. Meinrad, IN. Reverend Mr. Carignan (Corey) Rouse was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, April 14, in Lowell, MA. Continue reading
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA— Twenty-nine men from three service branches of the United States Armed Forces will gather here this weekend for a March 15-18 discernment retreat aimed at helping them determine if they are called by the Holy Spirit to be Catholic priests and military chaplains. The Vocations Officeof the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), is conducting the annual retreat at St. Patrick’s Seminary. The prospective chaplain candidates include two from the Army; six from the Navy; thirteen from the Air Force; and eight civilians. Continue reading
YONKERS, NEW YORK—As the Catholic Church celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week Nov. 5-11 in the United States, fourteen men from many service branches of the U.S. Armed Forces will gather here this weekend for a discernment retreat aimed at helping them determine if they are called by the Holy Spirit to be Catholic priests and military chaplains. The Vocations Office of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), is conducting the retreat Nov. 9-12 at St. Joseph’s Seminary. Among the prospective chaplain candidates are more than a half-dozen men already serving in the Military, including three from the Army; five from the Navy; and one from the Air Force. Five of the prospective chaplains are currently civilians. Continue reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A local assembly of the Knights of Columbus (K of C) has donated more than $10,000 to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), to support the formation of future Catholic U.S. Military chaplains. Archbishop Michael J. Curley Assembly #383 of College Park, MD, raised the money in a year-long “pass the helmet” campaign at local parishes. On Saturday, assembly leaders James D. Williams, Jr., and Arthur H. Blenkle presented the check for $10,083.49 to His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, at the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center in Washington. Continue reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Back-to-school season brings promise of relief for a severe Catholic chaplain shortage in the U.S. Military. Among the several hundred prospective priests entering American seminaries for the first time this fall, no fewer than seven plan, after ordination, to go on active duty as chaplains. Additionally, at least another four U.S. Catholic seminarians in various advanced stages of formation have decided this year to pursue military chaplaincy, and have made a commitment to “serve those who serve” as priests in the armed forces. Continue reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Sunday off the east coast of Australia, just hours after a U.S. Marine MV-22 Osprey launched from the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and crashed in the Coral Sea, killing three Marines, Father David J. Hammond, CHC, LT, USN, was in the ship’s Star of the Sea Chapel, offering Mass for the victims, the survivors, and their families. Such is the role of a Catholic U.S. Militarychaplain: to bring timely pastoral care, the presence of Christ in the sacraments, sympathy, and encouragement to those who serve, particularly during times of crisis and tragedy. Continue reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Father John (Frank) O’Grady, CH (LT), USA, a longtime U.S. Army chaplain currently assigned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., has been selected as one of eight finalists for Catholic Extension’s 2017-18 Lumen Christi Award. Now in its 40th year, the Lumen Christi Award annually honors an individual or group working in one of America’s mission dioceses who demonstrates how the power of faith can transform lives and communities. Catholic Extension’s panel of judges chose the finalists among 45 nominees. The finalists will each receive $10,000 to put back into their respective ministries. The ultimate award recipient, to be named in the fall, will receive $25,000 with another $25,000 going to the winner’s diocese. Continue reading
LAFAYETTE, LA. – The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), is celebrating the priestly ordination of a prospective U.S. Navy chaplain this past weekend. Father Rene Pellessier, 27, was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 10, in Lafayette, La. Father Pellessier hopes eventually to serve on active duty in the U.S. Navy with endorsement and faculties from the AMS. Continue reading
WASHINGTON. D.C. – A vocations video inviting young men to consider giving their lives to God as Catholic priests in the U.S. Military has been honored with two international media awards. The three-minute video, “Discern God’s Call,” was selected among thousands of entries to receive both a 2017 Telly Award and a 2017 Communicator Award of Excellence. The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), published the video on its website last year. It can be viewed on the Vocations page at www.milarch.org/vocations. Continue reading
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