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Catholic military chaplain shortage

Archbishop Broglio Responds to U.S. Navy Decision to Cancel Catholic Priest Contracts

WASHINGTON, DC – The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), has received many messages and is well aware of the news items published over the past few days about the decision by the U.S. Navy regarding the pastoral care of Catholics at Naval Base (NB) Coronado, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Monterey, and NB Ventura County—all of which are currently served by civilian Catholic priests willing and able to continue their ministry.  In what’s being described as a “cost-cutting” move, the Navy has announced it will cancel the contracts of civilian Catholic priests who serve these military faith communities. Meanwhile on-base Protestant services, led by active-duty non-Catholic chaplains, will continue as usual.

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September 8, 2020 No Comments

Archbishop Timothy Broglio Celebrates Combined Memorial/Father Capodanno Mass

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, celebrated the combined annual Memorial Mass for all who serve or have served in the U.S. Military, and the Memorial Mass for Vietnam War hero Father Vincent R. Capodanno, M.M., Servant of God. The two Masses, normally celebrated separately at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, were combined and moved to the main chapel of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Centerdue to social distancing guidelines imposed by the City of Washington, D.C., over the COVID-19 pandemic.

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September 7, 2020 No Comments

Former U.S. Air Force Chaplain’s Assistant Ordained Catholic Priest

SEASIDE, CA –Father Tyler R. Harris, 2d Lt, USAFR, a prospective United States Air Force chaplain, was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday, August 22, in Seaside, CA. Father Harris, 40, plans eventually to serve on active duty as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) after an initial three years of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Monterey.

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August 27, 2020 No Comments

Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Priest in Massachusetts on Saturday

FALL RIVER, MA – Father Steven Booth, a prospective U.S. Navy chaplain, was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 13, in Fall River, MA. Bishop Edgar Moreira da Cunha ordained the new priest at Saint Mary’s Cathedralthrough the laying of hands and the prayer of consecration invoking the Holy Spirit. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, concelebrated the 11:00 a.m. ordination Mass.

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June 15, 2020 No Comments

Prospective Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Ordained Transitional Deacon in Fort Worth, Texas

FORTH WORTH, TX — The Rev. Mr. Jason Allan was among a half-dozen candidates for the Catholic priesthood ordained transitional deacons on Thursday, March 19, in a solemn Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth. A seminarian at the Theological College, the national seminary of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, Deacon Allan is on track to become a U.S. Navy chaplain with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The new deacon, 26, hopes to be ordained a priest on May 15, 2021, and go on active duty after three years of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Fort Worth.

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March 25, 2020 No Comments

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

MENLO PARK, CA — Eight men from three service branches of the United States Armed Forces and four civilians will gather here this weekend for a March 12-15 discernment retreat aimed at helping them determine if they are called by the Holy Spirit to be Catholic priests and military chaplains. The Vocations Office of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), is conducting the annual retreat at St. Patrick’s Seminary. The prospective chaplain candidates include two from the Army; one from the Navy; five from the Air Force; and four civilians.

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March 11, 2020 No Comments

For Followers of Christ, “To Rule” Means to Serve, Archbishop Timothy Broglio Tells Record Gathering at Annual Benefit

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), celebrated its 11th Annual Benefit on Saturday, November 23, at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. The celebration broke all records for both the number of registered guests–more than 300–and the amount raised in support of pastoral care for those who serve, over $419,000.

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November 26, 2019 No Comments

Support Free Exercise of Faith in U.S. Military Through Triennial National Collection and AMS Appeal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – American Catholics will have a rare opportunity early next month to offer charitable support for pastoral care to the faithful in the United States Military and the nation’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. A special second collection will be taken up in parishes nationwide for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). This special collection for the AMS is taken only once every three years with the approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Most parishes will take up the Triennial National Collection at Sunday Masses the weekend of Nov. 9-10, or as otherwise determined by an individual diocese or parish. Military Catholics who attend Mass at nondenominational base chapels where no second collections are taken may nevertheless give the same weekend through the AMS Appeal.

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October 21, 2019 No Comments

Catholic U.S. Air Force Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Deacon in Rome

ROME – The Reverend Mr. Timothy G. Mergen, 2d Lt, USAFR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Thursday, Oct. 3, in Rome. He hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the United States Air Force with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). He is tentatively scheduled to be ordained a priest next year in his home Diocese of Madison, WI.

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October 7, 2019 No Comments

Ten Catholic Priests Gather to Discern Possible “Vocation Within a Vocation” as U.S. Military Chaplains

WASHINGTON, DC – Ten Catholic priests from religious communities and U.S. dioceses throughout the United States are gathered in Washington, DC, this week for a five-day retreat aimed at helping them determine if they are called to serve as U.S. Military chaplains. The retreat, called “For God and Country: a Call to Serve Those Who Serve,” is meant to inspire participating priests as they discern this “vocation within a vocation.”

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June 25, 2019 No Comments

Prospective Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Ordained a Priest in Arlington, VA

ARLINGTON, VA – Father Sean Koehr, a U.S. Navy chaplain candidate, was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 8, in Arlington, VA. Father Koehr, 29, completed his priestly formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA, where he earned a Master of Divinity Degree and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology. He hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Navy with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) after three years of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Arlington.

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June 12, 2019 No Comments

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