Twenty-Six Men Explore Possible Vocations as U.S. Military Chaplains in Discernment Retreat

October 5, 2022

BALTIMORE — Twenty-six men discerning possible vocations as Catholic priests and U.S. Military chaplains came together in Baltimore over the weekend of Sept. 29-Oct. 2 for a discernment retreat aimed at helping them hear God’s call. The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), held the four-day retreat at St. Mary’s Seminary under the direction of the Vocations Office. Among the retreatants were three cadets from the U.S. Military Academy West Point and one from the Army’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , a Marine, six sailors, five midshipmen, two airmen and eight civilians. AMS Vocations Director Father S. Matthew Gray directed the retreat. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, participated and celebrated Holy Mass twice for those gathered. Continue reading →

Catholic U.S. Army Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Transitional Deacon in San Antonio

September 13, 2022

SAN ANTONIO, TX – The Reverend Mr. David B. Chacko, (1LT), USAR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, Sept. 10, in his home Archdiocese of San Antonio. The new deacon, an alumnus of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, is on track to be ordained a priest next year and hopes eventually to serve as an active-duty Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Army, and provide pastoral care to Catholic soldiers and their families with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Continue reading →

Vocations Director S. Matthew Gray to Lead Eucharistic Revival Novena to Saint John Vianney for Vocations

July 25, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC — As the United States Military energetically seeks more Catholic priests to serve as active-duty chaplains in all branches, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), has chosen a more powerful approach by invoking divine intervention through prayer. Beginning Wednesday, July 27, and continuing through Thursday, Aug. 4, Vocations Director Father S. Matthew Gray will lead the faithful in an online novena. The term “novena” comes from the Latin word for “nine”—“novem.” A novena is series of prayers for special petitions, said for nine consecutive days. While novenas may be offered to any one of a number of saints, this one will implore the intercession of Saint John Vianney (1786-1859), the patron saint of parish priests. The timing coincides with the three-year Eucharistic Revival, an initiative approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) last November to rekindle awareness of the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharistic Revival, which began on June 19, the Feast of Corpus Christi, will culminate in 2024 with a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, IN. Continue reading →

Prospective Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Ordained a Priest in San Diego

June 29, 2022

POWAY, CA – Father Bradley David Easterbrooks, LTJG, USNR, a candidate for United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a priest on Friday, June 24, 2022, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Poway, CA. He hopes eventually to serve as an active-duty chaplain in the U.S. Navy with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Continue reading →

Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Priest in North Carolina

June 22, 2022

HUNTERSVILLE, NC – Father Darren Balkey, ENS, USNR, a candidate for United States military chaplaincy, was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday, June 18, in his home Diocese of Charlotte. The new priest hopes eventually to serve as a U.S. Navy chaplain, providing pastoral care to Catholic Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and their families, with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Continue reading →

Prospective Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Ordained Priest in Michigan

June 15, 2022

EAST LANSING, MI – Father Peter Ludwig, USNR, a candidate for United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday, June 11, 2022, in East Lansing, MI. 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). Continue reading →

Prospective Catholic U.S. Army Chaplain Ordained a Transitional Deacon in Richmond, VA

June 9, 2022

RICHMOND, VA – The Reverend Mr. Armando Herrera (1LT), USAR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Richmond, VA. He hopes eventually to serve as a U.S. Army chaplain with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The new deacon is on track to be ordained a priest in December and hopes to go on active duty following a three-year period of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Richmond under a co-sponsorship agreement between the diocese and the AMS. Continue reading →

Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Priest in Arlington, VA

ARLINGTON, VA – Father Peter J. St. George, LTJG, USNR, a candidate for the United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Arlington, VA. 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). The new priest plans to go on active duty following a three-year period of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Arlington under a co-sponsorship agreement with the AMS. In his first assignment, he will serve as parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Alexandria. Continue reading →

Catholic U.S. Army Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Transitional Deacon in California

June 7, 2022

SANTA CRUZ, CA – The Reverend Mr. Carlos A. Warfield, (1LT), USAR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, May 21, in his home Diocese of Monterey. The new deacon is on track to be ordained a priest next year and hopes eventually to serve as an active-duty Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Army providing pastoral care to Catholic soldiers and their families with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Continue reading →

Prospective Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Ordained a Priest in Lincoln, NE

LINCOLN, NE – Father Liam O’Shea-Creal, a candidate for United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday, May 28, in Lincoln, NE. He plans 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). His intention is to go on active duty following a three-year period of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Lincoln under a co-sponsorship agreement between the Diocese and the AMS. Continue reading →

Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Catholic Priest in Savannah, GA

SAVANNAH, GA – Father William (Will) C. Cook, LTJG, USNR, a former active-duty U.S. Marine and prospective U.S. Military chaplain, was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday, June 4, in Savannah, GA. Eventually, the new priest hopes to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Navy with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Continue reading →

Two Prospective Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplains Ordained Transitional Deacons in Arlington, VA

April 27, 2022

ARLINGTON, VA — The Reverend Mr. Michael T. Nugent and the Rev. Mr. Charles C. Wilton were ordained transitional deacons on Saturday, April 23, in a solemn Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, VA. Both are on track to become Catholic priests and U.S. Navy chaplains with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). They are scheduled for priestly ordination next year. Continue reading →

Catholic U.S. Air Force Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Transitional Deacon in Cincinnati

April 26, 2022

CINCINNATI, OH – The Reverend Mr. Stephen J. Hughes, 2d Lt, USAF, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, April 23, in his home Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The new deacon is on track to be ordained a priest next year and hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Air Force providing pastoral care to Catholic airmen and their families with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Continue reading →

Nineteen Men Gather for Discernment Retreat on Possible Vocations as U.S. Military Chaplains

April 1, 2022

MENLO PARK, CA – Nineteen men are gathered here this weekend for a March 31-April 3 discernment retreat aimed at helping them discern if they are called by the Holy Spirit to be Catholic priests and U.S. Military chaplains. The Vocations Office of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), is holding the retreat at St. Patrick’s Seminary in hopes of relieving a chronic shortage of Catholic priests on active duty. Continue reading →

Prospective U.S. Navy Chaplain Ordained a Priest in Stockbridge, Massachusetts

January 14, 2022

STOCKBRIDGE, MA – Father Matthew Tomeny, MIC, LTJG, USNR, a candidate for active-duty U.S. Military chaplaincy, was ordained a Catholic priest on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021—the Feast of St. John the Evangelist—in Stockbridge, MA. He hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic Navy chaplain with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The new priest plans to go on active duty following a three-year period of pastoral service in his religious community, the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception (the Marians), under a co-sponsorship agreement between the Marians and the AMS.
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