Tag Archives: Catholic priest shortage

Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Transitional Deacon in North Carolina

June 7, 2021
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HUNTERSVILLE, NC – The Reverend Mr. Darren Balkey, ENS, USNR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, June 5, in his home Diocese of Charlotte. The new deacon hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Navy, providing pastoral care to Catholic Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and their families, with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Continue reading →

Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Priest in Boston

May 25, 2021
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BOSTON – Father David A. Campo, LTJG, USN, a candidate for United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a priest on Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Boston, MA. He plans 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). The new priest plans to go on active duty following a three-year period of pastoral service in his home Archdiocese of Boston in accordance with a co-sponsorship agreement between the two archdioceses. Continue reading →

Two Catholic U.S. Military Chaplain Candidates Ordained Priests in Ohio

May 20, 2021
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CINCINNATI, OH – Two prospective Catholic U.S. Military chaplains were ordained priests on Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Cincinnati, OH. Father Michael Kapolka, 2d Lt, USAFR, and Father Edward Hoffmann, (1LT) IRR, both hope eventually to serve as priests on active duty with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Father Kapolka plans to serve in the Air Force, Father Hoffmann in the Army, both following a three-year period of pastoral service in their home Archdiocese of Cincinnati under the co-sponsorship agreement between the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the AMS. Continue reading →

Father S. Matthew Gray Named Vocations Director of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA

February 11, 2021
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WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), will soon have a new Director of Vocations. He is Father S. Matthew Gray, Ch, Capt, USAF, a priest of the Diocese of Charleston, SC. Father Gray replaces Father Aidan (Arthur H.) Logan, O.C.S.O., who recently began to offer pastoral assistance at Assumption Grotto Church in Detroit, MI, after serving as AMS Vocations Director for seven years. Continue reading →

Archbishop Broglio to Preside at Holy Hour for Vocations During FOCUS SEEK21 Virtual Conference

February 5, 2021
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WASHINGTON, DC — His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA (AMS), will preside at a Holy Hour for Vocations on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. (EST) in the main chapel of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center. The Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be livestreamed on the AMS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/milarchusa. Continue reading →

Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Ordained a Deacon in Boston

October 28, 2020
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BOSTON – The Reverend Mr. David Campo, LTJG, USN, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Boston, MA. He plans 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). The new deacon is on track to be ordained a priest next year and hopes to go on active duty following a three-year period of pastoral service in his home Archdiocese of Boston. Continue reading →

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

September 8, 2020
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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. Continue reading →

Archdiocese Celebrates Diaconal Ordination of Prospective New Air Force Chaplain

April 10, 2020
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NEWBURGH, IN – The Reverend Mr. Garrett Braun, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, April 4, in Newburgh, IN. He hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Air Force with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Continue reading →

For God and Country: a Call to Serve Those Who Serve

March 3, 2020
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States Military is in desperate need of more Catholic priests to serve as active-duty military chaplains. The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), is pressing forward with efforts to fill the need. This summer, the AMS will hold its sixth, all-expenses-paid discernment retreat for priests who are already incardinated in a U.S. diocese or religious order and currently engaged in pastoral service, but who may sense a further call to military chaplaincy. The retreat, called “For God and Country: a Call to Serve Those Who Serve,” will be held June 22-26, 2020, in Washington, DC. Continue reading →

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

October 17, 2019
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YONKERS, NY — Nineteen men will gather here this weekend for a 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 Oct. 17-20 at St. Joseph’s Seminary. Among the prospective chaplain candidates are more than a dozen men already serving in the United States Military, including nine from the Navy, four from the Air Force, one from the Army, and one from the Marines. Four are currently civilians, three of whom are already in seminary and discerning the “vocation within a vocation” to serve in the armed forces. Continue reading →

Prospective New Catholic Air Force Chaplain Ordained a Priest

May 24, 2019
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BOSTON—Father Carignan Rouse, 2d Lt, USAFR, a United States Air Force chaplain candidate, was ordained a priest on Saturday, May 18, in Boston. His ordination was celebrated at a 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross through the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration invoking the Holy Spirit by His Eminence, Sean Cardinal O’Malley. Continue reading →

Military Council of Catholic Women Donates $50,000 to Establish Endowed Co-Sponsored Seminarian Scholarship

May 8, 2019
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the United States Military facing a desperate shortage of Catholic chaplains, the Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW) is stepping up to make a difference. The MCCW has just donated $50,000 to establish an endowed scholarship for seminarians in formation for priesthood and military chaplaincy. The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS), USA, received the check on Thursday, April 25. Continue reading →

Support the Free Exercise of Catholic Faith in the U.S. Military and VA Medical Centers on #GivingTuesday, Nov. 27

November 7, 2018
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Supporters of the free exercise of Catholic faith in the U.S. Military will have an extraordinary opportunity later this month to show their support. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, (AMS), will participate in #iGiveCatholic. Now in its fourth year, #iGiveCatholic is a 24-hour online giving event for the faithful in multiple archdioceses and dioceses worldwide to unite and raise as many charitable dollars as possible in a single day. #iGiveCatholic presents an opportunity for Catholics to donate and support the organizations that shape our souls on #GivingTuesday. Continue reading →