chaplain shortage Archives - Archdiocese for the Military, USA

Church Joyfully Welcomes U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate as Newly Ordained Transitional Deacon

BOCA RATON, FL – The Reverend Mr. Jacob Christian Gwynn, LTJG, USNR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, April 13, for the Diocese of Venice, FL. 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. Navy, providing pastoral care to Catholics in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and their families with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS).

April 17, 2024 No Comments

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.

March 25, 2024 No Comments

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.

March 14, 2024 No Comments

One Million Dollars Raised in One Year for Catholics Who Serve

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mr. Joseph Starshak, Chair of the Board of Directors, is happy to share the success of the Patrons of the Saint John XXIII Foundation. Created in October 2022 by Resolution of the Board of Directors, Patrons are individuals or couples who contribute/pledge a qualifying gift to the Foundation’s investment portfolio. The preeminent giving society of the Foundation, Patrons, by their gift, make a legacy investment in the future of the Foundation’s mission and ministry of nourishing the faith of Catholics in the Armed Forces and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

February 6, 2024 No Comments

Two Prospective Catholic U.S. Military Chaplains Ordained Transitional Deacons in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC — The Reverend Mr. Joseph Heisey and the Rev. Mr. Christopher Feist were ordained transitional deacons on Saturday, June 10, in a solemn Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in the nation’s capital. Both are on track to become Catholic priests next year and eventually serve as U.S. Military chaplains with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The Rev. Mr. Heisey plans to serve on active duty in the Army, the Rev. Mr. Feist in the Navy.

June 15, 2023 No Comments

Prospective Catholic U.S. Army Chaplain Ordained a Transitional Deacon in Colorado

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Reverend Mr. Patrick G. DiLoreto, (1 Lt) USAR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, May 27, in his home Diocese of Colorado Springs, CO. 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).

May 31, 2023 No Comments

Prospective U.S. Air Force Chaplain Ordained a Catholic Priest in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, OH – Father Stephen J. Hughes, 2d Lt, USAF, a candidate for United States military chaplaincy, was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday, May 20, 2023, in his home Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The new priest plans to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Air Force providing pastoral care to Catholic airmen and their families with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS).

May 24, 2023 No Comments

Archbishop Timothy Broglio Announces Establishment of Saint John XXIII Foundation

The Foundation will establish and manage perpetual, endowed support for the practice of the Catholic faith.

February 8, 2023 No Comments

This Weekend: Support Free Exercise of Catholic Faith in the U.S. Military

WASHINGTON, D.C. – American Catholics nationwide will have an opportunity this weekend to offer charitable support for pastoral care to the faithful in the United States Military, the nation’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers, and those working in a civilian capacity for the U.S. government in other countries. Most U.S. parishes will take up the National Collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) at Sunday Masses the weekend of Nov. 5-6, 2022. (Some dioceses have already taken up the collection and others will do so as late as early in 2023.) AMS faithful will also have an opportunity to participate with a suggested designated offering to be taken the same weekend, or by making an individual donation.

November 3, 2022 No Comments

Twenty-Six Men Explore Possible Vocations as U.S. Military Chaplains in Discernment Retreat

BALTIMORE — Twenty-six men discerning possible vocations as Catholic priests and U.S. Military chaplains came together in Baltimore over the weekend of Sept. 29-Oct. 2 for a discernment retreat aimed at helping them hear God’s call. The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), held the four-day retreat at St. Mary’s Seminary under the direction of the Vocations Office. Among the retreatants were three cadets from the U.S. Military Academy West Point and one from the Army’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , a Marine, six sailors, five midshipmen, two airmen and eight civilians. AMS Vocations Director Father S. Matthew Gray directed the retreat. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, participated and celebrated Holy Mass twice for those gathered.

October 5, 2022 No Comments

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.

July 25, 2022 No Comments

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

RICHMOND, VA – The Reverend Mr. Armando Herrera (1LT), USAR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Richmond, VA. He hopes eventually to serve as a U.S. Army chaplain with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The new deacon is on track to be ordained a priest in December and hopes to go on active duty following a three-year period of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Richmond under a co-sponsorship agreement between the diocese and the AMS.

June 9, 2022 No Comments

chaplain shortage

Church Joyfully Welcomes U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate as Newly Ordained Transitional Deacon

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

Registration Open for Saint John XXIII Foundation 2024 Patrons Reception

One Million Dollars Raised in One Year for Catholics Who Serve

Two Prospective Catholic U.S. Military Chaplains Ordained Transitional Deacons in Washington, DC

Prospective Catholic U.S. Army Chaplain Ordained a Transitional Deacon in Colorado

Prospective U.S. Air Force Chaplain Ordained a Catholic Priest in Cincinnati

Archbishop Timothy Broglio Announces Establishment of Saint John XXIII Foundation

This Weekend: Support Free Exercise of Catholic Faith in the U.S. Military

Twenty-Six Men Explore Possible Vocations as U.S. Military Chaplains in Discernment Retreat

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

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

Additional Resources

Media

Contact Us

Archbishop

Who We Are

Offices

News & Events

Resources

Forms