Catholic military chaplain shortage

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

ASHBURN, VA – The Reverend Mr. Raymond E. Goins and the Rev. Mr. Michael C. Sampson were among 12 men ordained transitional deacons in the Diocese of Arlington on Saturday, April 6, before an overflow congregation at Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Ashburn, VA. Both are on track to become Catholic priests and U.S. Military chaplains—Mr. Goins in the Army, Mr. Sampson in the Navy—with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS).

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Twenty-Seven Men Gather for Discernment Retreat on Possible Vocations as U.S. Military Chaplains

MENLO PARK, CA – A Catholic military chaplain serves God and Country, but how to know if you are called to wear both collar and colors? That’s the question for 27 young men gathered here this weekend to explore the “vocation within a vocation.” Those who discern a call may soon enter seminary to become priests and eventually, officers in the U.S. Armed Forces, Serving Those Who Serve, helping ease a shortage of Catholic chaplains on active duty.

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Registration Open for Saint John XXIII Foundation 2024 Patrons Reception

WASHINGTON, DC — Registration is now open for the 2024 Patrons Reception for the Saint John XXIII Foundation.  Proceeds will support the Foundation’s General Endowed Fund. Endowed gifts help underwrite the various ministries of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), including the education and formation of seminarians who will serve as Catholic military chaplains.

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U.S. Army Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Transitional Deacon in Minnesota

WASECA, MN – The Reverend Mr. Joshua G. Miller, (CPT) USAR, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and candidate for the Catholic priesthood and U.S. Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Friday, Sept. 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in his home Diocese of Winona-Rochester, MN. 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. Army providing pastoral care to Catholic soldiers and their families with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS).

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Contracting at Maxwell Air Force Base Imitates Walter Reed NMMC

WASHINGTON, DC – …. On Tuesday, Sept. 5, as the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, was commemorating the anniversary of the death in combat of the Servant of God, Father Vincent Capodanno, word was received that the contracting office at Maxwell AFB would not fill the General Schedule (GS) position until late September or mid-October.

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

ROSWELL, GA – The Reverend Mr. Colin Patrick, (Cpt) USAR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, May 20, in his home Archdiocese of Atlanta, GA. The new deacon is on track to be ordained a priest next year and hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain on active duty 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).

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

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Father David B. Chacko, (1LT), USAR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a priest on Saturday, May 20, in his home Archdiocese of San Antonio. The new priest, an alumnus of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, plans 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). He is scheduled to go on active duty after three years of pastoral service in Texas under a co-sponsorship agreement between the two archdioceses.

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

MENLO PARK, CA – Twenty-one men are gathering here this weekend for a February 16-19 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. The theme is “The Priesthood and Military Chaplaincy: Discerning a Vocation within a Vocation.”

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

RICHMOND, VA – Father Armando Herrera (1LT), USAR, was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, in Richmond, VA, thus reaching a crucial milestone in a formational journey he hopes will lead to full-time service as a U.S. Army chaplain with requisite endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Father Herrera, who already serves in the U.S. Army Reserve, wants to accede to active duty following a three-year period of civilian assignments in his home Diocese of Richmond under a co-sponsorship agreement with the AMS. The civilian service is meant for the Richmond Diocese to reap early fruits of labor from a new priest while giving Father Herrera opportunities to develop practical, ministerial experience before embarking on the vocation within a vocation, serving those who serve as an active-duty Army chaplain. Under the co-sponsorship agreement, Father Herrera will return to Richmond as a diocesan priest upon completion of his military service.

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

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).

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

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. 

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