Catholic Army chaplain

RIO RANCHO, NM – The Reverend Mr. Joseph Baltz, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional Deacon on Thursday, June 6, in his home Archdiocese of Santa Fe, NM. He hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the United States Army with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Deacon Baltz’s diaconal ordination was celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Rio Rancho, NM, through the laying of hands and the prayer of consecration invoking the Holy Spirit by Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe. AMS Auxiliary Bishop Joseph L. Coffey, CHC, CAPT (Sel), USN, concelebrated the ordination Mass.