WASHINGTON, DC — Seminarians preparing to become Catholic priests and U.S. Military chaplains should commit themselves to ongoing formation, even after ordination and accession to active duty. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, delivered that message in a Saturday morning homily to two dozen chaplain candidates assembled in the Nation’s Capital for the annual Labor Day Weekend Gathering for Co-Sponsored Seminarians.
In the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, standing at the cathedra, Archbishop Broglio preached in part: “We grow, and we allow our formation to continue. Let me remind the seminarians not to be disconcerted by the idea of ongoing formation. When I was in the seminary, if someone had even remotely suggested that I would be involved in the pastoral care of the military, I probably would have laughed out loud. Yet, at this point, I am the longest-serving archbishop of an archdiocese that did not exist when I was ordained a priest.” His Excellency added, “We grow, and are formed by the needs and development of the Church that we are ordained to serve, and we are also formed by those we are privileged to serve.”
As Chief Shepherd of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Archbishop Broglio is entrusted with the pastoral care of 1.8 million Catholics worldwide, whether serving in any branch of the U.S. Military, or healing from illness or old battle wounds in one of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers, or toiling for the federal government beyond U.S. borders, or belonging to a family of these populations. The seminarians who gathered in Washington over the Labor Day weekend represent the next generation of priests and chaplains to lead this patriotic flock in service to God and Country.
The 24 participants in the Aug. 29-31 weekend of prayer, fraternity, and dialogue converged on Washington from more than a dozen seminaries around the country and in Rome, participating not only in Holy Mass and prayer but also group sessions, recreational activities, shared meals, and a walking tour of notable sites, including the Museum of the Bible.
For Paul Keenan, ENS, IRR, now in formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Michigan, this was his third time to participate in the annual gathering. “The best part,” he said, “is just the fraternity, getting to meet, getting to know the other guys who are pursuing this special vocation within a vocation. It’s just really wonderful to spend time together, especially in prayer, and seeing some of the religious sites around DC, praying for our men and women in the armed services.”
Francisco Domingo Rodriguez Martin, Sgt, USMC, currently enrolled at St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana, welcomed the opportunity “to strengthen our bonds, our fraternity, and grow in our vocations together, and build the body of the Church, the body of Christ.” William Thomas Waters, (1LT), USA, currently on a pastoral year in Houston, TX, declared, “I’m blessed by God to be here. I’m excited to pray for the Christian renewal of our country.”
Archbishop Broglio and AMS Vocation Director Father Paul-Anthony Halladay, CH (MAJ), USA (Ret.), welcomed the future chaplains to DC on Friday afternoon. They celebrated Mass and Vespers in the main chapel of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center, the AMS home base in Northeast Washington, before heading downtown for dinner.
The seminarians filled a full schedule on Saturday with presentations, breakout sessions, a barbecue lunch provided by the Knights of Columbus, and an afternoon walking rosary. In remarks to the priests-to-be, Archbishop Broglio stressed the importance of their future presence to the faithful and those who serve: “That is certainly one very important aspect of the priesthood,” he said, “is being present and being available, and meeting peoples’ needs where you find them, or where they find you, and that is a very precious part of ministry.”
This year’s Labor Day Weekend Gathering concluded on Sunday with Mass at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, MD, followed by brunch.
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 Father Halladay at vocations@milarch.org or (202) 719-3600.