BALTIMORE, MD – November 1-7 is National Vocation Awareness Week in the U.S. Catholic Church, a weeklong celebration promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education. What better time to hold a retreat for young men discerning the “vocation within a vocation,” not only to priesthood but military chaplaincy?
This past weekend the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) did just that. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., hosted 33 prospective chaplains for his annual Fall Discernment Retreat, directed by AMS Vocations Director Father Paul-Anthony Halladay, CH (MAJ), USA (Ret.).
From dioceses throughout the United States, participants in the Oct. 29-Nov. 1 retreat gathered at Saint Mary’s Seminary to consider answering the call, Serving Those Who Serve, by providing religious and moral support to service members and their families. The retreatants included eight discerning chaplaincy for the Army, eight for the Navy, and five for the Air Force. Twelve are considering any and all branches at this early stage of discernment.
Those who discern a call will explore options for committing at least five years to seminary formation, co-sponsored by the AMS and their home dioceses. Upon priestly ordination, they will invest another three years in civilian pastoral service to their home dioceses, a period meant to give them hands-on experience as spiritual shepherds before they join the military flock as chaplains.
During the three-day retreat, participants prayed together, took part in adoration and holy hours, shared their personal experiences and aspirations in ongoing dialogue, and heard talks from Archbishop Broglio, Father Halladay, and others including the U.S. Military’s chaplain recruiters. They enjoyed fellowship over meals and activities. Archbishop Broglio celebrated Mass all three days.
In a series of talks:
- Father Sean Hagerty, S.J., spoke on the meaning of discernment and how to go about it;
- Father Dominik A. Bakowski, CH (CPT), USA, hosted a forum on “The Life of an Army Chaplain: the Father Emil Kapaun Story”;
- Father Michael DeAscanis spoke on “The Priest as Spiritual Father”;
- Father Patrick J. Riffle, CHC, LCDR, USN, chaplain recruiter for the Navy, gave a presentation on “The Life of a Navy Chaplain: the Story of Father Vincent R. Capodanno”;
- Co-Sponsored Seminarian Andrew J. Cogswell (2LT) USA, led a panel discussion on “The Vocation Journey and Life in a Seminary”;
- Father Zachary Kautzky, Ch., Capt., USAF, U.S. Air Force chaplain recruiter, presented on “The Life of an Air Force Chaplain: the Story of Father Joseph Verbis Lefleur”;
- Father Thomas S. Foley, Ch., Maj., USAF, gave a talk on how priests and chaplains give witness to the faith; and
- Father Halladay spoke on “Co-Sponsorship and Chaplain Candidacy.”
In addition to chaplain recruiters Fathers Bakowski (Army), Riffle (Navy), and Kautzky (Air Force), Father Sherwin Monteron, CH (CPT), USA, a recruiter for the Army, was on hand to counsel the prospective chaplains. The Rev. Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, was among those concelebrating Mass with Archbishop Broglio over the course of the three-day retreat.
The Baltimore gathering is one of two discernment retreats the AMS holds annually in the United States, one on either side of the country. The next will be held April 1-4, 2027, at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, CA. Young men interested in discerning a priestly vocation, and the vocation within a vocation to serve those who serve in the U.S. Military, can find more information at milarch.org/vocations, or may contact the AMS Office of Vocations at vocations@milarch.org or (202) 719-3600.