SAN DIEGO, CA – Nearly four dozen active-duty Catholic military chaplains and other priests in service to the United States Military are gathered in San Diego this week for the first of four biennial convocations being held across the nation and in Rome over the next three months under the direction of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA (AMS).
The four-day gathering at the Courtyard by Marriott at Liberty Station, Point Loma, is a period of liturgical celebration, prayer, reflection, and dialogue. The priests will draw on their convocation experience, continuing education, and inspiration to hone their pastoral skills as they embark on another two years of priestly service to the men, women, and families in the U.S. Armed Forces.
As always, the AMS is staging the same four-day convocation at four different times and places across the U.S. and in Rome to make it more affordable and convenient for the nearly 200 priests on active duty worldwide, as well as those serving the Military as civilians, to attend one nearest them. The first convocation is being held Aug. 24-27 in San Diego. Others will take place Sept. 7-10 in Washington, D.C.; Sept. 21-24 in San Antonio; and Nov. 2-5 in Rome. Archbishop Broglio will direct and participate in each convocation, himself briefing the priests on selected issues of Canon Law.
The principal focus of this year’s convocations is “evangelization”—specifically, how to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all for the conversion and salvation of souls. The theme is centered on a presentation by Mr. José Amaya, AMS Director of Faith Formation. In his talk, called “Come, Follow Me,” Mr. Amaya elaborates on the message of Matthew 4:19, wherein Jesus invites Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to leave their fish net at the Sea of Galilee to become “fishers of men.”
The Reverend Monsignor Jeffrey G. Laible, AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, will give a briefing on various happenings throughout the Archdiocese, and Father Daniel L. Mode, CHC, CAPT, USN, biographer of Vietnam War hero Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM, Servant of God, will discuss priestly spiritually in uniform.
Archbishop Broglio said:
“The convocations offer a valuable opportunity not only for important formation and conversation, but also to allow us to spend time and pray together. Being charged with ministry to an archdiocese which spans the globe, I value these rare opportunities to convoke the clergy and talk with them about their lives and ministry. I always return to the Pastoral Center with gratitude to Almighty God for the fine, generous priests He has called to serve those who serve.”
