salute spring 2013

“Padres” Keeping the Spirit Strong!13 priest-chaplains

serving nearly 16, 500 Catholic U.S. military personnel currently

deployed in Afghanistan

SPRING 2013 SPRING 2013

T H ET H E M AGA Z I N EM AGA Z I N E O FO F T H ET H E A RC H D I O C E S EA RC H D I O C E S E F O RF O R T H ET H E M I L I TA RYM I L I TA RY S E RV I C E SS E RV I C E S , U SAU SA

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Winter still holds us in its grasp, but there are a few faint harbingers of the approach of a new season.Springtime always offers evidence of renewed life andhope. The most important annual solemn celebration

of the year, Easter, reminds us of the great love the Father has for us. He sent His Son Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to save us. What amarvelous time to send off another issue of Salute.

Many exciting bits of news have occurred since you last read these pages. TheArchdiocese has launched the Father Vincent Capodanno Guild as the sole

petitioner and promoter of the Cause for the “Grunt Padre’s” canonization. A neweffort has also been made to buttress the important mission of the Military Councilof Catholic Women (MCCW). An archdiocesan curriculum for religious educationfrom pre-kindergarten to the eighth grade has also been launched.

This issue of the AMS quarterly publication will, of course, recount the pastoral visits made by the Bishops and me over the Christmas holidays and offer a brief

look at the up-coming pastoral programs and events in the Archdiocese. One exciting annual event is the International Military Pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine of Lourdes at the end of May. This year a special effort is being made to include more wounded warriors.

On behalf of all of those to whom the Archdiocese for the Military Services ministers, I give special thanks to my brother Bishops who have approved a

national collection every three years to defray the operational costs of the AMS andthose associated with the education of seminarians. This initiative of ArchbishopChaput and the Bishops of the Province of Denver met with overwhelming supportat the General Assembly of the Bishops’ Conference last November.

Enjoy the following pages of Salute. As I wish you an abundance of Easter blessings,I pray that the Risen Lord will fill you and your loved ones with the serenity and

peace that only He can give.Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Timothy P. BroglioArchbishop

Dear Friends of the Archdiocese for the Military Services,

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SPRING 2013

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F T H E A RC H D I O C E S E F O R T H E M I L I TA RY S E RV I C E S , U SA


© 2013 - A PUBLICATION OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA - SERVING CATHOLICS IN THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD,VA MEDICAL CENTERS, AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES OVERSEAS.

table of contents

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO MONSIGNOR FRANK A. PUGLIESE JO ANN REDMOND ERIC NEUNER | RPISTUDIOS

President Editorial Director Editor Design Director

THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA VOLUME 7. NUMBER 1 SPRING 2013

4 Christmas in KoreaArchbishop Timothy P. Broglio

8 The Odyssey Continues Bishop Richard B. Higgins

10 Archdiocesan Curriculum for Religious Education Decree

12 Middle East Visits Bishop Neal Buckon

15 Footwear: “What are You Wearing” Bishop F. Richard Spencer

16 Heroes Among UsFather Kerry Abbott, O.F.M Conv.

18-25 The Harvest Continues... Meet Our Newest Seminarians

30 Welcome to Pilsen Monsignor Frank A. Pugliese

38 Forty-One Years and Counting

42 Remembering Monsignor Jerome SommerNation’s Oldest Military Chaplain

46 AMS Announces Bishop-elect Coyle

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA publishes SALUTE for the nation’s Bishops,

active and retired military chaplains, and financial supporters of the Archdiocese.

SPRING 2013


y p y g fgL-R STANDING (BACK ROW) :

LT Benton L. Garrett, USN - Archdiocese of Washington • CAPT George Okoth, USA – Diocese of Homa Bay, Kenya

MAJ Tyson J. Wood, USA – Archdiocese of Baltimore • CAPT Arkadiusz Ochalek, USA – Archdiocese of Baltimore

MAJ James Peak, USA – Diocese of Spokane • CAPT Matthew Foley, USA – Archdiocese of Chicago MAJ Kenneth Nielson, USA – Diocese of Austin • CAPT Jason E. Hesseling, USA – Diocese of Madison

CAPT Steve McDermott, USA – Archdiocese of Philadelphia

L-R SEATED (FRONT ROW) :

LT COL James Krische, USA – Diocese of Brooklyn • LT COL Michael Travaglione, USA – OFM Conv.COL Austin Coe, USA – Archdiocese of Seoul, Korea • LT COL Jerzy Rzasowski, USA – Archdiocese Wroclaw, Poland

“PADRES” ON OUR COVER


By ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO

Korea beckoned again at Christmastimeand it was another memorable visit to theLand of the Morning Calm. The priestsstationed there, led by Fathers Andrew

Lawrence and Michael Albano, worked diligentlyto establish a full program for my second pastoralvisit there while still allowing me some time to catchmy breath.

L-R MR. JOSEPH PAK, ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO AND MR. ROY MELLON WITH CHASUBLE CRAFTED BY THE DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER.

CHRISTMASIN KOREA

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(continued on page 6)

Of course, getting to Korea from Washington,DC is a long process. I suppose that there issome consolation in the fact that I left Seoul

at 6:10 p.m. on 31 December and arrived at ReaganNational Airport in Washington, DC at 8:55 p.m.the same night! Let me assure you that it was stillseventeen hours later!

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During my pastoral visit I was able tomake a stop at most of the installations

in South Korea. Only the visit to Chinhaehad to be cancelled due to a six-inch snowfall in Daegu. Mind you, six inches of snow is nothing for a Clevelander, but in Cleveland we have snowplows and are prepared for the winter. The Commander ofArea 4 told me that she wondered how shecould communicate to Pacific Command,based in Hawaii her need for a snow plow!

The visits outside of Seoul were all facilitated by Joseph Pak, a candidate for

the Permanent Diaconate and a retiredArmy Officer. He was a constant companionand a faithful interpreter. He was also thechauffeur when Private Kim Hong Jae didnot accompany us.

Certainly the most significant momentsafter my arrival (four hours later than

scheduled due to a missed plane at Dulles) werethe reception of Mr. Pak and Roy Mellon as candidates for ordination to the diaconate and the Fourth Degree Exemplification, both held on 22 Decemberat the Yongsan Chapel complex in Seoul.

The support of the members of theCatholic community for two men who

serve them now, but aspire to serve them asordained deacons left no doubt that the

vocation of Joe and Roy has been confirmedby the community of faith.

Candidacy is a very simple rite which replaced tonsure and the admission to

the clerical state. The men merely reaffirmtheir desire to be ordained and to continuetheir preparations. I accepted their candidacyand blessed their resolve to bring to completion the good work begun by God inthem. I could not help but recall when thethen Bishop James A. Hickey, Rector of theNorth American College welcomed me as acandidate for Major Orders almost forty yearsbefore. Please keep these two candidates inyour prayers as they finish the academic andpastoral preparation for ordination.

That rite was preceded by the Fourth Degree Exemplification of the Bishop

Joseph W. Estabrook Assembly 3348 of theKnights of Columbus. The instruction andcelebration was impressive and the supportof the Councils in Korea was evident. Anumber of Sir Knights received the FourthDegree along with Fathers Albano andCatungal, and me.

Following the Mass for the IV Sunday ofAdvent and Candidacy the Knights of

Columbus and the Catholic Communityhosted a splendid banquet at the Dragon HillLodge. Despite the name, no dragons were


(continued from page 5) CHRISTMAS IN KOREA

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in evidence, but the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i.of the Apostolic Nunciature, Monsignor Julian Kaboré, and his brother, a Jesuit priest currently teaching at Georgetown University, honored us with their presence.Major General Michael R. Regner of theMarine Corps also lent his genial commentsto contribute to the joy of the celebration.

Unfortunately, the Catholic Commu-nity had not forgotten that 22

December marked my 61st birthday. In addition to the traditional cake, theKnights presented me with a beautifulchasuble crafted by the Disciples of the Divine Master. It combines Eucharisticsymbols with details from traditional Korean art. The craftsmanship is exquisite,but the material is fairly light-weight. Itwill be a wonderful remembrance of thatcommunity and an invitation to pray forthem at each use of the chasuble.

Masses and protocol visits marked eachstop on the “tour”, but the most

precious moments were those spent with themembers of each Catholic community.They were happy to engage their ChiefShepherd and share their concerns. The opportunities to speak to them about thearchdiocesan initiatives for the Year ofFaith, the growing number of co-sponsoredseminarians, and my hopes to render thisglobal Church more present and more responsive to the needs of the faithful wereprecious indeed.

At Kunsan the challenges to the heatingsystem made all aware of the plunge in

temperatures. The Wing Commander waskind enough to put the space heater by meduring my office call with him. Its warmthwas a welcome respite from the “freshness”of his office. A fellow alumnus of the JesuitHigh School I attended also joined us forlunch there. I think he delighted in tellingpeople that he was born two or three yearsafter I was ordained a priest!

The above-mentioned snowfall in Daeguforced an altered program in Daegu.

The changes were skillfully organized by Father Matthias Rendon, O.F.M. After aprivate Mass Joe Pak and I settled into the DV (Distinguished Visitor) quarters, butsome of our hosts were eager to entertain us.An Army Captain, his wife, and lovelydaughter took us to dinner and communi-cated their experiences of life in Korea. I completed his Christian initiation by administering confirmation at the Sundayvigil Mass the next day. I blessed their marriage, as well.

Afine luncheon at the Nunciature, avisit to the Archbishop of Seoul,

and dinner with the Korean Military Ordinary also filled my time in Korea. The Archbishop is a very enthusiastic supporterof the Cause for the Canonization of theServant of God Father Emil Kapaun. I returned to Washington with copies of theKorean translation of his life, of which I senta copy to the Diocese of Wichita, the promoter of the Cause.


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These lines would limp if mention werenot made of three other fine priests

who contributed to my visit. Father PeterNguyen Hoang welcomed me to Osan Air Base on Christmas Eve for the VigilMass and Christmas pageant. It was a delight to see the young people interpretthe essential message of this Solemnity, the Birth of Our Savior. He was joined by Father Edgar Villanueva, the Army priestat Camp Humphreys who would welcomeme the next day for another Christmas pageant and the Mass during the day. Finally, Father Jesús Muñoz, a long-time acquaintance from the diocese of Areciboin Puerto Rico, hosted the Mass, visit, andabundant brunch at Camp Casey on theFourth Sunday of Advent.

These visits really allow me to feel thepulse of those entrusted to my pastoral

care. They communicate my interest and desire to know their concerns and needs.

They open my eyes to the reality of faithfulfar from home and anxious for contacts withthe Archdiocese. I give thanks to AlmightyGod for the successful completion of yet another Christmas pastoral visit to those stationed far from home. >

“ ”I give thanks to the

Almighty God for the successful completion

of yet another Christmas pastoral visit to those

stationed far from home.

TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO CELEBRATING MASS AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN DAEGU.


By BISHOP RICHARD B. HIGGINS

The Odyssey Continues

BISHOP RICHARD B. HIGGINS (CENTER FRONT) WITH THE “PADRES” (90) THAT ATTENDED THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VA CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS IN NOVEMBER.

spring 2013 |8

s this issue of SALUTE goes to press I hope tobe concluding a 6,000 mile road trip throughVirginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida,Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi visit-

ing a variety of military and VA facilities conductingpastoral visits and celebrating sacraments in supportof our military and Department of Veterans Affairschaplains and their communities. What has becomean annual event in recent years, this odyssey is atremendous opportunity to experience the diversityand depth of experience of the dedicated priests whoserve in this unique archdiocese.

A


FRONT L-R: VA CHAPLAIN HOWARD NELSON AND BISHOP RICHARD B. HIGGINS WITH OUR LADY OF PEACE POST 1947 CWV HONOR GUARD BACK L-R: ROBERT MCCONNELL, THOMAS MORAN, STEVEN BROUGHTON AND VICTOR STANGO.

In addition to endorsing Catholic prieststo serve as chaplains throughout theUnited States Armed Forces, the

Archdiocese for the Military Services USA endorses Catholic priests to serve as chaplains in the 153 Medical Centers administered by the Department of VeteransAffairs. These VA Medical Centers are located throughout the continental UnitedStates, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and PuertoRico and Catholic patients at these facilitiesare ministered to by a combination of full-time, part-time, contract and fee-basischaplains. As many as 240 priests are endorsed by the archdiocese to provide forthe religious needs of our veterans. As Vicarfor Veterans Affairs I am privileged to support and affirm these unique “padres” intheir mission.

So in November I dashed out toMundelein Seminary (just north ofChicago) to attend the annual training

conference of the National Conference ofVA Catholic Chaplains. Attended by 90 of our VA chaplains this conference was designed to provide insight into the spiritual injuries contributing to homelessness.Contributors to the conference included Dr.Christopher Russo, Father Anthony Ciorra

and Father Martin Smith-Soucier. Amongthe topics presented were “Homelessness andSocial Justice,” “Spiritual Costs and ClinicalInterventions” and “Spiritual Injuries and thePath to Homelessness.” Many of our priestscommented on the timeliness of the topic ashomelessness among veterans has been identified as a focus item by senior leadershipin the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Immediately following the Thanksgivingholiday I headed for central and southTexas to visit our priest-chaplains serving

at the VA Medical Centers in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Kerrville and Temple. Returning briefly to DC to catch upon the accumulated mail I flew to SouthernCalifornia to visit the chaplains at MedicalCenters in La Jolla (San Diego), Long Beach,West Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Nevada. I was fortunate to arrive in Las Vegas in time to participate in the annual volunteer recognition luncheon in the brand-newNorth Las Vegas Medical Center. The centeris served by over 700 dedicated volunteersamong whom are members of Our Lady of Peace Post 1947 of the Catholic War Veterans of America, four of whom providedthe honor guard for the recognition luncheon.

spring 2013 | 9(continued on page 11)


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ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USAOffice of the Archbishop

QUAERITE

R

EGNUM DEI

PO Box 4469 • Washington, D.C. 20017-0469 • tel: 202.719.3600 • fax: 202.269.9445

Timothy P. Broglioby the Grace of God and the Favor of the Apostolic See

Archbishop for the Military Services, USA

DECREE

To the Clergy and Faithful of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA:

It is my pleasure to promulgate Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization, the ArchdiocesanReligion Curriculum Guide, for use in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. The purposeof this guide is to provide a standard instrument for ensuring that the faith is taught in a complete, systematic and consistent way in the Catholic faith communities in the Archdiocese.

I am most grateful to the Archdiocese of Washington, Secretariat for Education, for granting permission to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA to adopt the curriculum guide byadapting it to military language and culture.

The standards and indicators clearly state what participants in every Catholic faith community religious education program should know, understand and do at each grade level (Pre-K through 8).While this tool was written with children in mind, it also has implications for young adults and youthin the Archdiocese. It provides a common language and agreed upon standards for sharing the faith.

The Office of Faith Formation will provide orientation and training to Clergy and lay leadersto achieve full implementation. An assessment will accompany the curriculum to facilitate the ongoing implementation and accountability of the guide.

This guide becomes effective on August 6, 2013, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.The alteration and/or interpretation of this Guide is the sole responsibility of the Archbishop.

It is my hope that this guide will assist all involved in faith formation to achieve Jesus’ chargeto “go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20)

Given this twenty-fifth day of January, the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, two thousandthirteen in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

(Most Reverend) Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D.Archbishop for the Military Services

Deacon Michael YakirChancellor


The Odyssey Continues (continued from page 9)

Begun in September 2006 the $600 million Medical Center opened 14August 2012 and will serve the roughly

220,000 veterans in Southern Nevada. Thecomplex consists of a Community LivingCenter, Mental Health Building, Diagnosticsand Treatment Building, Ambulatory CareBuilding and an Administration and Education Building. At the time of my visitonly two floors of the multi-storey complexwere operational though officials expect theremainder of the facility to be fully operational by June 2013. A chapel andchaplain offices will be located on the 5thfloor adjacent to the Intensive Care Unit andthe administration is actively seeking aqualified Catholic chaplain to meet the spiritual needs of Catholic patients who willseek treatment at the state-of-the-art complex.

Returning from the 1200 mile swingthrough Southern California andSouthern Nevada I was privileged

to concelebrate the 10:30 pm Christmas Eve Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with His ExcellencyArchbishop Carlo Maria Viganó, ApostolicNuncio to the United States. The televisedevent drew a few “Higgins, was that you I sawon TV?” comments from the “faithful.”

2January, and it was time to pack thebags and head south out of Laurel andDC to begin the New Year. Throughout

my travels I enjoy an abundance of time toreflect on the privilege granted me to servethe men and women of our armed forces andthe veterans of this great nation. It was notmy plan as I have told so many over the yearssince I was hoping to retire in Colorado! But the Holy Spirit “messed” with me and,boy, have I ever enjoyed the ride! May theRisen Christ bless you and yours this Easterseason. >

NORTH LAS VEGAS MEDICAL CENTER

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By BISHOP NEAL BUCKON

BISHOP NEAL BUCKON (STANDING CENTER), FATHER LOSBANES, (KNEELING LEFT FRONT) AND NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD IN THE SINAI.

MIDDLE EAST VISITS

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In December, I traveled to the Middle East to visit our Country’s Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Federal employees working in the region. First stop on the itinerary was the capital city of Muscat in the Sultanate ofOman. Mr. Ken Mueller and his wife, Nancy, met me at the airport. Ken, Nancy, and I grew up in Gesu Parish in Cleveland,

Ohio. Ken is currently the general manager for the Dolphin Village inMuscat. He arranged for my visit to the U.S. Embassy in the Sultanateof Oman where Ambassador Greta C. Holtz offered me a warm and gracious welcome.We were also honored to have Colonel Paul H. Ross (U.S. Army), the Defense Attaché, join us during our office call. The Sultanate of Oman is known for its development, safety, and pros-perity. Let us pray that other countries in the region can replicate thissuccess as the struggle for peace and stability in the region continues.


BISHOP NEAL BUCKON AND CREW ABOARD THE USS DECATUR.

Ithen journeyed to the island-country ofBahrain. Father Robert Keener, a Navy chaplain, met me at the airport and tookme to the Naval Support Activity (NAS

Bahrain). The Navy has been operating fromthis base since 1971! I celebrated threeMasses on Christmas Eve. Father Keener andI concelebrated the Christmas Vigil Mass andthe Midnight Mass at the NAS Bahrainchapel. In between the Masses, we venturedto Isa Air Base on the other side of the islandto celebrate Mass and enjoy dinner with ourbrave men and women of various services assigned to the base. The Spirit of Christmaswas obviously upon all those who attendedMass on Christmas Eve. The service men andwomen, family members, and Department of Defense contractors sang the traditionalsongs of Christmas con mucho gusto!

On Christmas Day Father Keener and Ijoined Vice Admiral John W. Miller,

the Commander for the U.S. Navy’s FifthFleet, to visit and celebrate Mass on four shipssailing in the Persian Gulf. The Admiral’s hel-icopter first lifted us aboard the USS Rush-more where we were greeted by Chaplain Ott.He had the Catholic faithful assembled ondeck and within minutes we were singing theopening hymn, “O Come All Ye Faithful.”The microphone allowed my voice to beheard over the wind, the helicopters, and theengine’s. We then flew to the USS Decatur

where Catholic Lay Leader, LT Kristina Melendez, the Decatur’s Chief Engineer(CHENG), prepared for a Mass to be cele-brated in the ship’s training room. Due to ourbusy schedule the Christmas Day Masses hadto be celebrated within 45 minutes. Becauseof the shortage of active duty chaplains, the5th Fleet does not have a Catholic priest assigned to it. So, it was opportune for me tocelebrate in 45 minutes the Mystery of the Incarnation with grateful hearts and enjoyGod’s Christmas blessings of peace, joy, andlove with our Catholic countrymen sailing onthe high seas. Minutes after the conclusion ofMass we were whisked away by the helicopterand were being piped on board the USS PaulHamilton. Ensign Grant Barrett is the ship’sRoman Catholic Lay Leader, and he too hadprepared a room to celebrate Christmas. Theblessings of the day continued to be multipliedand in one hour we departed for our final visitto the USS Green Bay. Chaplain Brant metus on deck and escorted us to the ship’s chapel,which also doubles as the library. The Captain,and many Sailors and Marines gatheredaround the altar. They had just received newsthat their cruise had been extended. Theywere all separated from their families, lovedones, and friends during Christmas and thesacrifice they were making for their Countryhad just become more painful. That ChristmasDay I was re-minded of the necessity of


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Catholic chaplains being present to our braveheroes who selflessly serve our Country athome and abroad. Our Catholic chaplainsprovide the sacraments that enable God’slove and grace to purify and uplift the humansoul. Our priests in uniform share the priva-tions of our service members and help themsustain their Catholic faith during lengthyand numerous deployments. Our “Padres”provide the encouraging “Word” that keepsthe spirit strong in individuals, in families,and in a community.

The following morning, at 0350 hours onSaint Stephen’s Day, I was on an Egypt

Air flight to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Father Hermes (Andy) Losbanes, CH MAJ, USA,met me at the airport. Father is an active–duty chaplain assigned to the MultinationalForce and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai,Egypt. He is responsible to the Commanderfor Religious Support Operations in theMFO; and he is also responsible for providingCatholic specific ministry in the MFO. TheMFO is an international peacekeeping forceoverseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The treaty is theresult of the Camp David Accord of 1978.The MFO assumed its mission in 1982 and hasbeen successfully accomplishing its mission forover 30 years! Father Losbanes arranged for meto visit both the North and the South Campsof the MFO. He and I concelebrated theMasses of the Octave of Christmas for Soldiersof the New Mexico National Guard in theNorth Camp and for Soldiers of the NorthCarolina National Guard in the South Camp.He also arranged for me to speak to the con-tingents of the 12 countries comprising theMFO at Prayer Breakfasts in both camps. TheUnited States Army provides the single largestcontingent in the MFO.

Father Losbanes arranged for the two of usto visit several Control Points (CP) and

Observation Points (OP) currently mannedby members of the North Carolina NationalGuard. Their mission is to observe the boundary between Israel and Egypt and reportmovement that occurs on land, on the sea,and in the air to insure compliance with thepeace treaty. We flew by helicopter over theGulf of Aqaba to one OP on the island ofTehran. This island is uninhabited, except forthe OP, and actually belongs to Saudi Arabia.From this vantage point the Guardsmen canidentify all vessels in the shipping lanes, toinclude the yachts taking scuba divers fromthe resort town of Sharm El Sheik to some ofthe best coral reefs in the world located in theRed Sea. The morale of the Guardsmen fromNorth Carolina and New Mexico was veryhigh. They are working in solidarity with theservicemen and women of other contingentsto maintain a peace that was negotiated in1978. This spirit of solidarity amongst 12 developed and free nations is one shininglight in a region that is currently marked byunrest, revolution, and civil war.

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI,chose “Blessed are the peacemakers” as

the theme for the 46th Day of World Peace onJanuary 1st, 2013. He said in his homily, “Thisbeatitude tells us that peace is both a messianicgift and the fruit of human effort.” We areblessed to have so many good men and womenvolunteer to serve their country overseas. Theyare patriotic and they are spiritual. Our youngAmericans endeavor to make the world a better place. They are on the ground, in the air,and sailing the seas for the cause of peace eachand every day. >

MIDDLE EAST VISITS (continued from page 13)

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By BISHOP F. RICHARD SPENCER

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Since the Christmas edition of SALUTE,I have been talking with deployed service members and Confirmandi

(teenagers) about their footwear. Throughoutboth Europe and Asia, it has been both funand insightful to pause, joke, and talk aboutour shoes. A simple look down draws us intofurther reflection as the Season of Lent nowleads us toward Easter.

My footsteps had me traveling in manyplaces this past holiday season. I met with agroup of Sailors in Japan considering dedicatingtheir lives to God and country as Catholicpriests. Later, I was back in military uniform withour troops in parts of Turkey, Afghanistan andKosovo, where they serve in remote locations

without any Catholic clergy. I was also able toattend wonderful Christmas seasonal socials withour Knights of Columbus (K of C) and MilitaryCouncil of Catholic Women (MCCW). In all of these settings I invited those listeners to lookdown and gaze at their footwear. The Sailorsaboard the USS George Washington were wearing nicely brushed bright black shinyboots. Troops on this remote mountaintop ofTurkey (over 7,230 feet above sea level and withover nine feet of snow) were wearing winter bootswith metal cleats to assist their need for tractionon the ice and compacted snow. In Afghanistanand Kosovo the troops were wearing desert tan boots. The teenagers were mostly wearing

BISHOP F. RICHARD SPENCER WITH THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 4TH DEGREE EXEMPLIFICATION

FOOT WEAR:And What are You Wearing?

In the movie FORREST GUMP, Tom Hanks’ character, Forrest, madea now familiar quote:“Momma always says there’s an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they’re going.Where they’ve been.”



——–––— By FATHER KERRY ABBOTT, OFM CONV. —––––––—

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Around the beginning ofAdvent I wrote to ourwonderful priest-chaplains“in the trenches” about

some exciting developments in theAMS Office of Vocations, and several resources avail-able to them to assist the discernment journeys of the men and women entrusted to their care. As oftenhappens I received numerous emails in response, butone in particular has remained on my mind since then

and is in this season ofLent as we anticipateHoly Week and Easter,particularly poignant. I would like to share the“gist” of that email andextend an invitation toyou to reflect upon itand the long legacy offaith, hope and sacrificeit represents.

RIGHT: FATHER MICHAEL J. TRAVAGLIONE, OFM CONV., USALEFT: FATHER BENTON GARRETT, USN

FATHER KERRY ABBOTT, OFM, CONV.

HEROESAMONG US


The active duty priest-chaplain whowrote to me is but 3 years youngerthan me, and he wrote about his

gratitude to the younger men among us whoare responding to God’s gentle, persistentvoice calling them to serve His people andour nation as priests and Catholic military chaplains, and for the support they receivefrom us. You will be able to read about someof our newest co-sponsored seminarians inthe pages that follow this article.

This priest-chaplain wondered “aloud”about our disposition toward the older priestson active duty, in retired-recall status, instal-lation contractor and “GS” positions, Reserve, National Guard and with the Veterans Administration. With all that Ihave written about the inspiring responses of younger men discerning priestly voca-tions, the AMS Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program and women discerning religious life, he asked if we give due consideration to those who have and still care for our AMSfamily, especially those priest-chaplains whocontinue to serve well beyond the typical ageof retirement? A very good and helpful question, I thought.

As the AMS Director of Vocations Imust admit that my focus has been “strategic”if you will, on assisting those who will hope-fully meet the longer-term sacramental needsof our AMS flock in the future. For example,one of the men that began seminary this pastFall in the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Pro-gram will not be eligible to serve as an active-duty priest chaplain until 2021.

Having been in the military priest-chap-lain “trenches” for years myself and now “retired”, I decided to do some research withour AMS Chancellor, Deacon Mike Yakir, todetermine who our most senior active dutypriest-chaplain in uniform is. In fact, I foundout that like me, he is a Conventual Francis-can Friar (imagine that) and is in the photo-graph on the cover of this issue of Salute.

Father CH (LTCOL) Michael J.Travaglione, OFM Conv. is 74 years old andis seen in this photograph from December2012 during his most recent deployment asan Army priest-chaplain to Afghanistan. Heis joined by his fellow Catholic chaplains intheater, the youngest of whom is Father CH(LT) Benton L. Garrett (USN) who at 36 isabout half the age of Father Michael!

I believe that my good brother priestwho inspired this article, as well as FathersTravaglione and Garrett, and the incrediblelegacy of servant priests (including severalMedal of Honor recipients) that have throughthe history of our country in quiet momentsor ‘midst the din of combat, faithfully cele-brated the sacraments for those entrusted totheir care are real heroes for us to look to, beinspired by, and join!

On page 8 of this issue of Salute, you will find a photograph of some of our Veter-ans Administration priest-chaplains gatheredwith AMS Auxiliary Bishop Richard B. Higgins. Many of these good priests are for-mer military priest-chaplains, and they arecaring still for our wounded warriors. WhileI know for a fact that the younger men whoare stepping forward in increasing numbers tofollow in the footsteps of Father Travaglioneet al. deserve our prayers, gratitude and sup-port for what they will, by the grace of God,be able to provide in the future, I believe weowe an enormous debt of gratitude to notonly our heroes of the past, but those heroesof the present…our serving priest-chaplains,young and “older”!

In the first paragraph of this article I mentioned an invitation. I extend that invitation to you now; when you encounterthat serving priest-chaplain on your ship, installation, or Veterans Administration facility, let that hero know how grateful youare for the fact that he said yes to the Lord,yes to His Church and yes for you and me! >

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Justin M. CharleboisDIOCESE: Albany, New York

RANK / BRANCH OF SERVICE: Air Force Chaplain Candidate

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED:Niskayuna High School, Niskayuna, New York

COLLEGE ATTENDED: State University of NewYork (S.U.N.Y) at Oswego (B.A.), Columbia University (M.A.), Lancaster University (Ph.D.)

HOBBIES: Reading, travel, watching movies, English horseback riding, cross-country skiing and running.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATIONTO THE PRIESTHOOD? I have felt a calling to the priesthood since I was in high schooland it has gradually strengthened over the years.

WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? The most significant influence on my vocation journey hasbeen my strong faith while living in a predominately atheist culture. Prior to moving toJapan, there were many priests in my life who also indirectly influenced my vocation.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I have taught English and communication-related classes in Japan for the past ten years.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY? MATTHEW 7:1-5“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce youwill be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why doyou see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that isin your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speckout of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first takethe log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck outof your brother’s eye.”

These are my favorite verses because they remind me of Jesus Christ’s compassionateand forgiving nature. To me, these passages capture a central tenet of our Catholicfaith and it reminds me to practice the Gospel’s message of tolerance and forgiveness.

The Blessings

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HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY? I have alwaysfelt that Jesus Christ has guided me through significant life decisions and helped meface various challenges. My relationship with Him has deepened through regular Mass attendance, regular reception of the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, and adaily prayer regime. I also feel that Christ speaks to me when I read the saints’ lives.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES THATHELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRISTAND HIS CHURCH? I have always been actively involved in my local parish. I was analtar server, lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and faith formationteacher.

HAVE ANY SAINTS OR CHURCH LEADERS PARTICULARLY INSPIRED YOURDISCERNMENT JOURNEY? The inspirations for my journey have been BlessedPope John Paul II, Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta,and Timothy Cardinal Dolan.

WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND/OR ACADEMIC AND/OR MILITARYBACKGROUND BEFORE APPLYING TO BE A SEMINARIAN APPLICANT?I was a university faculty member in Japan. I have no prior military experience.

WHAT WAS THE NEXT TO LAST BOOK YOU READ, AND WHAT ARE YOUCURRENTLY READING? I recently read “The Grunt Padre” by Father DanielMode and “Seek First the Kingdom” by Cardinal Wuerl. I am currently reading“Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPIRITUAL BOOK? “Priests for the Third

Millennium” by Cardinal Dolan and books by Benedict Groeschel (C.F.R.), JamesMartin (S.J.), and Richard Rohr (O.F.M.).

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE? My mother and sister are my heroes. My mother made incredible sacrifices for her children and has remained a devout Catholic. In addition to her kindness and compassion, my sister has always lived her faith through ‘works’ such as communityservice (James 2:17).

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE? WHAT COMPRISES YOUR DAILY PRAYER? DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH? WHEN, WHERE, HOW? Daily prayerincludes Holy Scripture reflection (lectio divina), praying the rosary, and contemplativeprayer. Daily Mass is unavailable where I live, but I attend and participate in the week-end liturgy. Spiritual reading is another indispensable component of my prayer life.

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Jonathan Blake NortonDIOCESE: Fort Wayne, Indiana

RANK / BRANCH OF SERVICE: None at this time

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED:Bishop Luers H.S., Fort Wayne, Indiana

COLLEGE ATTENDED: Indiana Tech, Fort Wayne,Indiana; Indiana University/Purdue University of FortWayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Immaculate Heart ofMary Seminary Winona, Minnesota

HOBBIES: Cycling, football, and hiking. In highschool I played football and wrestled.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? The first time I thought about a vocation to thepriesthood was shortly after my First Communion and while I was an altar server.

WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? My First Communion was the event that began my discernment. Shortly afterwards I became an altar server at the chapel on the Marine basein Albany, Georgia. Our chaplain, Father James O’Kielty was a strong influence then andeven today. I remember his great example of the priesthood. Several priests in Fort Wayneand the campus ministry in high school continued to encourage my discernment. After highschool, I entered the working world and became lukewarm in my faith. While reading, “Rediscovering Catholicism” by Matthew Kelly my faith was reignited. I began spendingtime everyday in adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It was through this time inprayer that I again heard a calling to enter the Seminary. My time in priestly formation hascontinued to further my discernment.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I receivedHoly Communion from Pope Benedict XVI at the closing Mass of World Youth Dayin Madrid, Spain.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY? Luke 3:21-22

“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptizedand was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended uponhim in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art mybeloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”

It is through the sacrament of Baptism that we are made children of God. I receive comfort and confidence from knowing that I am a beloved son of God.

The Blessings

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HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY? Through reading commentaries on the Eucharist during Eucharistic Adoration.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES THATHELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRISTAND HIS CHURCH? My involvement in campus ministry during high school helped to encourage my faith. After recommitting myself to a life of prayer, I became a Core Leaderfor Life Teen at my parish. I enjoyed sharing Christ with the teens. Also, I listened to programs on Catholic radio which helped me to learn more about God and His Church.This deepened my faith and caused me to fall in love with Christ’s Church.

HAVE ANY SAINTS OR CHURCH LEADERS PARTICULARLY INSPIRED YOURDISCERNMENT JOURNEY? I have always had a strong relationship with our BlessedMother. I have always known her presence in my life. Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict have inspired my discernment. Their holiness created a desire within me toknow and love the Lord as they do. St. John Marie Vianney’s biography was a great influence on me and continues to influence some of my pastoral views. Other saints thathave inspired me are St. Philomena, St. Bernadette, St. Martin of Tours and the Servantof God, Father Vincent Capodanno.

WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND/OR ACADEMIC AND/OR MILITARYBACKGROUND BEFORE APPLYING TO BE A SEMINARIAN APPLICANT?I worked as a manager for 8 years at Mike’s Express Carwash in Fort Wayne. During thistime, I took college courses part-time while taking a semester off every so often.

WHAT WAS THE NEXT TO LAST BOOK YOU READ, AND WHAT ARE YOUCURRENTLY READING? The next to last book I read was “The Life of St. Martin ofTours” and I am currently reading, “Grunt Padre.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPIRITUAL BOOK? “Cure D’Ars” by Trochu.

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE? Mygrandparents are devout Catholics who are always able to befriend anyone, anywherethey go. They have always been generous in their love for me. They are extraordinary people. My family also inspires me. I am grateful for the love and support they have shownme throughout my life.

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE? WHAT COMPRISESYOUR DAILY PRAYER? DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE LITURGICAL LIFE OFTHE CHURCH? WHEN, WHERE, HOW? I have a prayer life common to most seminarians: daily Mass, Holy Hour, Liturgy of the Hours, and spiritual reading. I particularly enjoy my time in prayer in silence before the Blessed Sacrament or a crucifix. I enjoy the spiritual exercises taught by St. Ignatius; the Examen Prayer andDiscernment of Spirits have been supportive of my spiritual life.

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Samuel F. SchneiderDIOCESE: Superior, Wisconsin

RANK / BRANCH OF SERVICE: Navy ChaplainCandidate

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED:Rhinelander High School, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

COLLEGE ATTENDED: U.S. Naval Academy, University of St. Thomas, St. John Vianney Seminary.

HOBBIES: Woodworking, building, sailing andsports. I have played football and wrestled.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? I first thought of the priesthood on a Springbreak (FOCUS) mission trip to Bronx, New York in 2011. Before that I rejected everythought of the priesthood or religious life.

WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? I read “Seven Storey Mountain” by Thomas Merton thesummer of 2010. That allowed me to see the value and beauty of religious life. Then“Jesus in the Eucharist” on a 2011 Spring break mission trip gave me a total desire todo His will and serve God and His church.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I spent twoyears at the U.S. Naval Academy.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY? LUKE 9:23-26And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and takeup his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if hegains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of meand of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his gloryand the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

This is a passage I have continually returned to reflect on while at seminary. It givesme hope to continue pursuing Christ and my cross, while rejecting my old desire togain the world.

The Blessings

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HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY? Jesus has given metwo very intense experiences of His presence in the Eucharist. First, while receiving Himduring daily Mass in 2009 and understanding His true presence. Second, on the mission tripduring adoration, I experienced God’s true existence in my life. Lastly, through a consistentschedule of daily prayer at the seminary I have come to know Jesus better.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES THATHELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRISTAND HIS CHURCH? The event that made me have total trust in the Catholic Church ismy acceptance of the belief in the Marian apparitions. Specifically, reading about all of theclues pointing towards the truth in apparitions and thus making the leap of faith forced bymy logical understanding.

HAVE ANY SAINTS OR CHURCH LEADERS PARTICULARLY INSPIRED YOURDISCERNMENT JOURNEY? Thomas Merton through his autobiography “Seven Storey

Mountain.” St. Damien of Molokai is someone I have prayed to a lot. Reading about Servant of God, Father Vincent Capodanno has given me a greater desire to serve as a military chaplain.

WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND/OR ACADEMIC AND/OR MILITARYBACKGROUND BEFORE APPLYING TO BE A SEMINARIAN APPLICANT? I spenttwo years as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPIRITUAL BOOK? My favorite is the “Imitation of Christ”.

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE? I really admire Servant of God, Father Vincent Capodanno, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St.Damien of Molokai, Servant of God, Father Emil Kapaun and Theodore Roosevelt.HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE? WHAT COMPRISESYOUR DAILY PRAYER? DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE LITURGICAL LIFE OFTHE CHURCH? WHEN, WHERE, HOW? I would say that my prayer life is opening meup to a deeper relationship with Christ. At seminary I always have a holy hour of prayer (normally adoration), daily Mass, morning and evening prayer. When I am away, I keep upthe same schedule to the best of my ability. I normally go to Confession twice a month aswell as spiritual direction.

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“I first thought of the priesthood on a Springbreak (FOCUS) mission trip to Bronx,

New York in 2011.”


Christopher J. Yakkel

DIOCESE: Archdiocese for the Military Services

RANK / BRANCH OF SERVICE: TBD

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED: Lakenheath High School2003-2005, RAF Lakenheath, England; Damien MemorialHigh School 2005-2007, Honolulu, Hawaii

COLLEGE ATTENDED: Miami University, 2007-2011, Oxford, Ohio

HOBBIES: Running, watching and playing sports, hiking,travelling, learning more about the Catholic faith and the lives of the saints, history, putting together videos/slide-shows.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TOTHE PRIESTHOOD? The first time I thought I might have a vocation to the priesthood was thesummer after my freshman year of college.

WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR DISCERNMENTJOURNEY? My family definitely influenced my discernment journey. I have been blessed to grow upin a family devout in their faith and committed to serving others. My parents, sister, and brother haveinspired me in different ways. I have several friends and spiritual mentors whose enthusiastic faith hasencouraged me to seek to grow in my own faith. Several events in my discernment journey stand out:1)World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia in 2008; 2)An AMS discernment retreat I attended; 3)All the activities and groups I was involved in via the Catholic Campus Ministry throughout college.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY? This answer depends on the stageof life I am in. A passage that I have really enjoyed, is PHILIPPIANS 1:12-26. It summarizes a lot of my attitude toward life. In particular verse 21: “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.” Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who livesin me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

I have come to realize my life is a gift from God which is best enjoyed by doing God’s will, whichmeans serving and glorifying Him in all I do. There is a purpose for me being here right now; that isthe mission of evangelization in my day-to-day living. Representing Christ to all I meet and spreadingHis love in whatever I do. “My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way,but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or bydeath.” This passage teaches me to see every day as a gift and to enjoy that gift to the fullest. I can bestdo this by serving God and so each day I find ways to continue to serve Him and grow closer to Him.

HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY? It is a gradual process.I’m not one of those people who had a dramatic life-changing experience that led me to Jesus.Rather, coming to know Jesus personally is a daily thing for me. It all started for me at my Baptism.I’ve had numerous experiences which have deepened my personal relationship with Jesus, but these have happened over many years of my life. Each day I am coming to know Jesus Christ moreintimately through prayer, sacraments, fellowship, and events of life.

The Blessings

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WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES THAT HELPED YOUDEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH? Thereare a lot of spiritual events and activities that have helped me grow in my relationship with Jesus andHis Church, probably more than I can even count, but I will list a few. In high school I went on anEncounter Retreat which helped me to see how blessed I have been growing up. Throughout college,I was very involved in my school’s Catholic campus ministry. I went on numerous retreats, helpedlead several retreats, participated in and led prayer groups, attended bible studies, went on missiontrips and participated in service opportunities. Daily Mass had a huge influence on my life. One eventthat had a tremendous impact on my relationship with the Church was World Youth Day (WYD) in2008. The trip to Sydney transformed my view of the Church. Up until WYD I had always heardabout our universal church, but it was something I never completely understood. When I went toWYD I realized how universal our Church really is and how incredible a role it has in bringing people to Christ. The Eucharist especially blew my mind. After WYD I had a much deeper desire toseek our Lord in the Eucharist. In fact, if I were to choose one activity that shaped my relationshipwith Christ and His Church the most, it would be Eucharistic Adoration. Never has something hadsuch a powerful effect on my life. All of these along with my experience serving with NET Ministrieshave led me into a much deeper relationship with Christ. The common denominator among these isthe fact that all have led me to seek a deeper prayer life.

WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND/OR ACADEMIC AND/OR MILITARY BACK-GROUND BEFORE APPLYING TO BE A SEMINARIAN APPLICANT? I grew up as a militarychild. My dad was in the Air Force and just retired recently. So growing up, I moved to new schoolsabout every two years. Upon graduating high school, I went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Sport Studies. After completing my undergraduate work I started working as a Catholic missionary with NET Ministries before applying to be a seminarian.

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE? My parents arewithout a doubt my greatest heroes. They have sacrificed a lot over the years to support my siblingsand me in all we do and have always been there for us no matter what. I significantly admire thosewho daily put their lives on the line to serve others. I also have a tremendous respect for theirfamilies. Finally, missionaries constantly inspire me in their willingness to spread the Gospel no mat-ter what obstacles they may face.

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE? WHAT COMPRISES YOURDAILY PRAYER? DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH?WHEN, WHERE, HOW? My prayer life continues to grow and mature over time. When I wasyounger, prayer meant an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be followed by bedtime. Now that I understand what these prayers mean, my prayer has become much more personal and consistent. I begin prayer by calling upon the Holy Spirit. Then I usually read a passage from scripture. After reading scripture, I meditate on what the Lord may be trying to tell me in that passage. This is usually followed by coming up with some kind of resolution. I usually close my prayer time withprayers of thanksgiving and petition. I have come to learn more about prayers of saints and devotionsthat I incorporate into my prayer life, for example novenas and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I havebeen growing in my devotion to Mary which has led me to praying the rosary a lot more often. Again,my prayer life is something that keeps growing and changing. I participate in daily Mass every chance I can. I really love Eucharistic Adoration and so I go to Adoration chapels whenever they are available and I am able.


LEFT: 1ST LT. BEN MACKIN & HIS BRIDE EMILY, TAYLOR HENRY’S SON-IN-LAW & DAUGHTER MIDDLE: 1ST LT. THOMAS REDMOND, JO ANN REDMOND’S SON.RIGHT: SERGEANT PATRICK YAKIR, DEACON MICHAEL YAKIR’S SON.

By CHANCELLOR DEACON MICHAEL YAKIR

Serving Those Who Serve

Work has become more personal for three members of the AMSstaff ministering to the Catholic military members and their families. Public Relations Director Taylor Henry,Director of

Administration Jo Ann Redmond, and Chancellor Deacon Mike Yakirall have family members on active-duty, two of whom are deployed toAfghanistan.

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1st Lt. Ben Mackin, Taylor’s new son-in-law, was on his way to Afghanistan with his

Mississippi National Guard unit to serve as aPublic Relations officer when he received a callto return home to his new wife. Ben and Emilywere married last November. Emily has had Pineoblastoma cancer since 2009 and it lookedlike things were turning around. While in tran-sit to Afghanistan Ben received a call thatEmily’s health had taken a turn for the worseand that he should return home immediately.Her tumor was pressing against the cerebellumand brain stem and cancer cells were found in her spinal fluid. After Ben’s return Emily underwent an advanced form of chemotherapy,and a subsequent MRI showed significant improvement in her condition. Ben remains at her side thankful that his command hasgiven him permission to remain with his wife.

1st Lt. Thomas Redmond graduatedfrom the Virginia Military Institute in thespring of 2011. After being commissioned a 2nd Lt in the Army he received training as anArtillery Officer. Lt. Redmond is on his first

deployment and is assigned to a Stryker BrigadeCombat Team (SBCT) in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Patrick Yakir has been in theArmy for five and a half years. His assignmentsinclude Grafenwoehr, Germany, Afghanistanand Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Col-orado. Sgt. Yakir is an MP dog handler and hehas an explosives dog by the name of Karlo.During the recent presidential campaign heand Karlo spent time on both Mitt Romney’sand President Obama’s security team. Pat, with Karlo, recently arrived in Afghanistan for his second deployment. Rumor has it that Lt.Redmond and Sgt. Yakir are assigned to thesame Forward Operating Base (FOB).

As you can see, ministry to military fam-ilies is very personal to the AMS staff. We areyou. We understand the difficulties of militarylife. It is more than a textbook exercise; it isreal life. Many of us have been in the militaryourselves, have been raised in a military fam-ily and/or now have children proudly servingtheir country. Please join us in praying for thesafety and health of all the people we serve. >


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tennis shoes. The adults at the K of C and theMCCW socials wore nice leather shoes. I askedeach group this reflective question: What werethe Disciples wearing on their feet that firstEaster morning as they were running to viewthe alleged empty tomb as told in the Gospel ofJohn, chapter 20:1–9? Why was one discipleable to outrun the other disciple? My answerwas it was due to the footwear that he was wear-ing…and that was the footwear of faith, as if oneagle’s wings.

During these past months travelingthroughout Asia and Europe, I continued to reflect with our flock about the need for

evangelization. This Year of Faith, which ourHoly Father has gifted us, allows us to pause andconsider where our feet have been and whereour feet are going. We need to live our preciousFaith as well as take it out into the market placeswhere we live and work. Vocations are cen-tral to enable the living of our Faith. We must continually reach out to the men and womenin uniform and our Chapel communities en-couraging them to consider dedicating theirtalents and gifts to spread the “Good News ofJesus Christ” today and every day of our lives.May our “footwear of faith” be solid, sturdy andfilled with joy as we live the Easter experience.>

FOOT WEAR: And What are You Wearing?

MCCW ANNUAL EUROPEAN REGIONAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE

Save the Dates19th

Annual Memorial Mass

19 May 2013

Annual Memorial Mass for

Father Capodanno

3 Sept 2013

(continued from page 15)


By FATHER LUIS HERNANDEZ

When One Door Closes...

FATHER LUIS HERNANDEZ CELEBRATING MASS.

Years ago, in a religious education class, I heard thestory of an Italian boy who loved the sound of theviolin. He also loved to sing. But whenever he intoned a song, it came out so badly that all of his friends laughed at him. His name was Antonio.

He possessed the ability to whittle all sorts of things with a pocketknife that he always carried with him. One day An-tonio learned that Nicolo Amati, the best violin maker in allof Italy, lived in his town. Determined to meet him, the boystarted to carve a small violin and finished it with great detail.Then he walked to the house of Amati and handed him thework of his hands. “Sir”–he said–“I love music, but cannot sing.I wish with all my heart I could learn to make violins.” Impressedby the gift, the master took Antonio in as an apprentice andtaught him how to make violins of unsurpassed finesse. Even-tually, Antonio Stradivari became a brand name. To this day,his violins produce the most beautiful music ever heard.

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Obviously God’s grace empowers us todo in an alternative way what wecannot do in a conventional way.

I can attest to this truth. Due to some personal limitations, I could not enlist andserve as an active duty military chaplain.Thankfully, I found a service alternative inthe Priest Contractors. And I invite you toconsider prayerfully if this may also be an alternative for you. If you have average phys-ical fitness and the will to serve the men andwomen in uniform, as well as the civiliansassociated to their mission, this ministry isdefinitely for you. You can make a differenceby performing your priestly ministry at a military base, a hospital or other militaryfacility.

I’ve been a contract priest since September of last year, when I arrived at theNavy Support Facility on Diego Garcia, asmall island in the Indian Ocean. I cannottell you enough about how enriching andfulfilling this experience has been. I cele-brate the sacraments and preach the Wordin the tradition of our two thousand year old Catholic faith, while maintaining cor-dial and collaborative relationships withchaplains of other Christian and religious affiliations. This has helped me appreciatethe depth and the complexity of the religiousexperience. The community I serve is ratherfluid and mobile.

They tell me often how much they appreciate the sense of spiritual stability thatthe sacraments, especially the Eucharist,bring into their lives.

There is a basic five step track to become a contract priest:

1) Obtain the permission from your bishop or religious superior;

2) Request a DUNS number;

3) Register as a contractor with SAM(U.S. federal government’s Systemfor Award Management);

4) Select the military installation youare interested in; and

5) Submit documents for the AMS(Archdiocese for the Military Services) endorsement.

This is not as complex as it seems. TheContract Chaplain Coordinator will assistyou throughout this process.

Serving Christ in our brothers andsisters is a task far more satisfying than making the finest of violins. If you or apriest you know may be interested in thisministry, please contact Father John Kaul [email protected] >

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“He is not here. He has risen just as He said.” —MATTHEW 28:6


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By MONSIGNOR FRANK PUGLIESE

WELCOME TO PILSENThe home of Father Emil Kapaun

BRONZE STATUE DEDICATED TO FATHER EMIL KAPAUN HELPING A FELLOW SOLDIER.

The only access to Pilsen, Kansas, locatedin northern Marion County, is by countyroad. As you drive into Pilsen, there is a

welcome sign that reads, “Welcome to Pilsen, thehome of Father Emil Kapaun.” St. John Nepo-mucene Catholic Church, where Father Kapaunwas baptized and later served as a parish priest, isthe heart of the town. In November, I had theprivilege of representing the Archdiocese for theMilitary Services at the annual memorial Mass for Father Kapaun, Servant of God.


While serving as assistant pastor of St. John Nepomucene Church,Bishop Winkleman assigned Father

Kapaun additional duty as auxiliary chaplain atthe Army air base in Herington, Kansas, about16 miles north of Pilsen. In July, 1944, thebishop allowed him to enter the U.S. Armychaplaincy, where he served until 1946.

Father Kapaun left the Army Chaplaincyand used his GI bill to obtain a Master’s Degreein Education from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. During hiscourse of studies, he requested the bishop’s permission to return to military duty as a chap-lain. The bishop, instead, assigned him as pastor of a largely Bohemian parish in the diocese. After six months as pastor, Father Kapaun again asked for permission to followwhat he believed was God’s call in his life andreturn to the Army as a chaplain. This time,the bishop granted his request.

Father Kapaun’s ministry during the Korean conflict was difficult – cold winters,mosquito-infested summers, the constant dinof battle, the shell-shocked, the refugees, and the wounded and dead. Father Kapaunministered to all of them bringing hope. ForCatholics, he always carried the Blessed Sacra-ment, his confessional stole, and his Mass kit.For those who were not Catholic, he brought adeeply Christian spirit of prayer that enabledthem to express their love for and confidencein Jesus. He received the Bronze Star for hero-ism in action on August 2, 1950 for rescuing a wounded soldier despite heavy enemy fire.

In November, 1950, Father Kapaun was captured by the enemy. He escaped, but was recaptured when he returned to care for the

wounded. For his selfless commitment to thewounded, Father Kapaun was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

In the prison camp at Pyoktong, he con-tinued to minister to the wounded and to bringhope to all. His quiet determination and strongfaith made him an anomaly to his Chinese captors. To the prisoners, he became a hero andhe became the most mentioned memory ofthose who survived.

Father Kapaun died in May, 1951. Armyrecords list his date of death as May 6th frompneumonia. His fellow prisoners insist that he died on May 23rd of malnutrition and starvation.

Regardless of how he died, his exemplarylife of sanctity has much to teach us. He usedthe ordinary skills he had learned on the farm toalleviate the physical pain of his fellow prison-ers. He used all the resources of his faith to bringhope to the prisoners in what was otherwise ahopeless existence. He prayed constantly for hiscaptors and assured them that God was presentto them and would one day forgive them anddeliver them from the evil of Communism. Father Arthur Tonne, in his book, “The Story ofFather Kapaun,” called him, “the counselor, thenurse, the leader, the provider, the defender ofhis fellow prisoners…”

For more information, refer to the website,www.frkapaun.org. The cause for hiscanonization is now in Rome at the Vatican.Meanwhile, the faithful of Wichita, Kansas and the communities from nearby military installations gather at Mass in Pilsen every November to remember Father Emil Kapaun,Servant of God. >

MONSIGNOR FRANK PUGLIESE CELEBRATING THE ANNUAL MEMORIAL MASS AT ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE CHURCH IN PILSEN, KANSAS.

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By MARK T. MOITOZA, D.MIN.

Faith Turned Upside Down

LIFE TEEN MASS, SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN IN VALENCIA, CA

For over ten years Catholic teens have been gathering for a full day of roller coaster rides andsacraments sponsored by Life Teen. Faith and funmixed together for an entire Saturday, this pastNovember, when over 3,000 teenagers gathered

at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA. The park wasalive with enthusiasm not just for rides like Gold Rusher,Revolution, and Scream but also for the opportunity togather for Mass and Eucharistic Adoration in the GoldenBear Theater. The paradox between silence and noise filledthe sunny California day.

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LEFT: “GOLIATH” … TOWERING 255 FEET ABOVE EARTH, CARS RIDING THIS MASSIVE STEEL SUPERSTRUCTURE HIT SPEEDS OF 85 MPH, MAKING IT ONE OF THE FASTEST AND TALLEST ROLLER COASTERS AROUND. RIGHT: BISHOP BUCKON (CENTER) WITH GROUP ATTENDING LIFE TEEN EVENT.

spring 2013 | 33

At a special gathering for military-connected teens and their adult leaders, Bishop Buckon encour-

aged all to take the Year of Faith seriously.The youth shared their interests during aninteractive ice-breaker led by José Amaya,the Director of Faith Formation, Archdio-cese for the Military Services. Each youngperson was encouraged to reflect upon theways that military life on the move helpsthem to both encounter Christ and sharethe joy of Christ with others in so many different ways. Over 100 youth came fromthe following U.S. military installations:California: Twentynine Palms, EdwardsAFB, MCAS Miramar and MCB CampPendleton; Nevada: Nellis AFB andHawaii: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Later in the afternoon Bishop Buckonwas able to convince Deacon CJ Donarskiand Father Kasule, both from Camp Pendleton, to get in line for Batman theRide. This roller coaster had loops andturns that classified it as one of the maxi-mum thrill rides in the park. The clergywalked out of the ride exit smiling and a lit-tle bit wind-blown as they headed over toprepare for the evening Mass.

That evening young people from all

over the West Coast gathered together in amoving experience of prayer. At the con-clusion of the liturgy Bishop Buckon, whowas the main celebrant, asked the seminar-ians and those discerning the possibility ofentering the seminary to stand. For thenext ten minutes the entire park at SixFlags was wondering what the loud stand-ing ovation was all about. Young peoplewere encouraging those discerning God’swill in their life.

Life Teen has been a strong supporterof military-connected youth. A good num-ber of military installations use Life Teen resources to reach middle school and highschool youth. Some Catholic parishes nearmilitary installations invite youth to jointheir Life Teen ministries. On the nationallevel Life Teen offers workshops to encour-age Catholic youth ministry in military settings. Learn more about Life Teen atwww.catholicyouthministry.comand www.lifeteen.com. If you know ayouth group interested in an adventure offaith and fun encourage them to attend Life Teen Inspiration at Six Flags FiestaTexas, August 10, 2013 or Six Flags MagicMountain, November 2, 2013. It may justturn their faith upside down. >


OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH ENTRANCE

The Archdiocese for the Military Services,USA encourages the faithful to participate inthe 55th International Military Pilgrimage to

the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France asa particular way to participate in the Year of Faith.The pilgrimage will offer the opportunity to gatherwith members of the military around the world topray for peace.

By MARK MOITOZA, D. MIN.

YEAR OF FAITHPilgrimage to Lourdes

spring 2013 |34


There are several pilgrim tour packagesto appeal to various interests:

1) Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France: MAY 21-27, 2013

2) Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France and Loyola, Spain: MAY 22-29, 2013

3) Pilgrimage to Lourdes, Paris, and Normandy, France: MAY 22-30, 2013

4) Pilgrimage for Wounded Warriors to Lourdes,France: MAY 21-27, 2013

Details and reservation forms for each pilgrimage may be found on the AMS website, www.milarch.org/lourdespmi

The pilgrimages to Lourdes includes candlelight processions, Mass with ArchbishopBroglio, Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, prayers at the Grotto, and opportunities to bathe in the miraculous waters.

The pilgrimage including Spain offers visits to Loyola, Zaragoza, and Barcelona.

The pilgrimage which includes Paris offers visits to the Normandy Beaches and theAmerican cemetery at Omaha Beach, along with a half-day tour of Paris.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a Note with pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith. It details many possibilities including pilgrimages to Marian shrines,

During this Year, it will be helpful to invite the faithful to turn with particular

devotion to Mary, model of the Church, who “shines forth to the whole

community of the elect as the model of virtues.”[19] Therefore, every initiative

that helps the faithful to recognize the special role of Mary in the mystery of

salvation, love her and follow her as a model of faith and virtue is to be

encouraged. To this end it would be proper to organize pilgrimages, celebrations

and gatherings at the major Marian shrines. (1.3)

Pray for Peace this May at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes with members ofthe military from around the world.

º Footnote, [19] Conc. Ecum. Vat. II, Dogmatic Constitution, Lumen gentium, n. 65.

spring 2013 | 35


THE YEAR OFFAITH Launched

By MARK T. MOITOZA, D.MIN.

In a move toward digital evangelization,the new AMS Catholic Faith Deployedapp was launched in December 2012.

This free app is available on iPhone and iPadin the Apple App store. The app providedthe opportunity for Archbishop Broglio toshare his Christmas greeting and blessingthroughout this global archdiocese when, onDecember 15th, the first live-streamed eventtook place via the new app. Over 3,000 visitors from 61 countries watched the JohnAngotti and Friends Christmas Concert thatincluded a recorded video message fromArchbishop Broglio. More live streamedevents, video retreats, prayers for the mili-tary, documents of the Second VaticanCouncil, and a searchable database of theCatechism of the Catholic Church may befound on the app.

Other developments include the newYear of Faith prayer cards that have been sent to military Catholic faithcommunities, installation subscriptions toCatholicQuiz.com, and training for installations in the Eastern Vicariate of theUnited States to support the Why Catholic?small faith groups. What are you doing to reflect upon and rediscover the faith? >

Visit: www.milarch.org/yearoffaith to find a way to encourage yourown adult faith formation and that of others too.

In early October, opening celebrations for the Year of Faith began inRome and around the world. This time to rediscover the faith continues until November 24, 2013. In the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, much has happened to encourage the faith-

ful. Archbishop Broglio issued a pastoral letter called Seek Peace. TheAMS Office of Evangelization developed webpages with resources for individuals and Catholic faith communities. Those pages include linksto church documents, suggestions for pilgrimages, tools for families, anda special section highlighting religious art.

spring 2013 |36

——— THE AMS APP FOR iPHONE ———


The Archdiocese for the MilitaryServices (AMS) will participate

in the 38th Annual Marine CorpsMarathon (MCM) as a Charity Partner. 25 members of the AMSfamily, including staff, seminarians,and supporters, will run 26.2 milesacross Northern Virginia and Wash-ington, D.C. on Sunday, October 27,2013 to raise money and awarenessfor the archdiocese.

The MCM does not pay winners prize money, earning it a reputation as “The People’sMarathon.” Created in 1976 to “promote community goodwill, showcase the Marine Corps,

serve as a recruiting tool, and give local Marines an opportunity to qualify for the legendaryBoston Marathon,” the MCM has surged in popularity since the first race between 1,175 runners. Last year, 30,000 race entries sold out in less than three hours, making the MCM thefourth largest marathon in the United States and the ninth largest in the world.

There are three ways you can support the AMS runners:

1) Remember them in your prayers. These 25 men and women have volunteered to participate because they want to represent the archdiocese favorably in “The People’sMarathon.” Pray for their safety and success.

2) Volunteer to support AMS runners. There will be five locations along theMCM course that are optimal for spectators to watch and cheer on the AMS runners. Signswill be distributed along the route the day of the race. Course maps as well as advice will be available, for those traveling between locations via Metro or bicycle.

3) Sponsor an AMS runner. The archdiocese hopes to raise $50,000. Each runner is trying to raise at least $1,000. You can help meet these goals by making a donation, either to an individual runner or the archdiocese in general at www.milarch.org/MCM.Every dollar raised will be used to further the AMS mission of providing spiritual and pastoralcare to the 1.8 million Catholics in the armed forces, VA Medical Centers, civilian jobs for the U.S. government beyond our borders, and their families. >

By MATTHEW LOCKWOOD | ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

In conjunction with CAROL NETTINA | DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE AND MARGARET BÉTIT | EVANGELIZATION ASSOCIATE

38th Annual MARINE CORPS MARATHON

MARINE CORPS MARATHON

spring 2013 | 37


FATHER NORM RELAXES IN HIS VA OFFICE, SURROUNDED BY BOOKS AND GIFTS GIVEN TO HIM OVER THE YEARS BY FRIENDS AND VETERANS.

There are fuzzy-headed troll dolls and beanbagteddy bears. There is a tiny, decorated Christmastree in the corner, a devil and a soldier nutcracker,and a Green Bay Packers clock on the wall –

along with about 100 other pictures, posters, coffee mugs,books and knick-knacks.

Photos and Story By GARY J. KUNICHReprinted with Permission of 5000 West.

Forty-One Years and Counting for Father Norm

spring 2013 |38



If it were not for the collection of crucifixes that also dot the office landscape, you might not even knowthis office belongs to a priest. Not

just any priest – the priest – the Chief ofChaplains at the Milwaukee VA MedicalCenter, a place he has worked since 1990.

According to “The Associated PressStylebook” – the Bible of journalists

everywhere – they say we are supposed tocall him the Reverend Norman Oswald.Patients, Veterans and employees knowhim better as simply, “Father Norm.”

And Father Norm just hit a milestonein his career May 19, 2012 when he

celebrated 40 years in the priesthood. It is a career that took him to two differentparishes before he ended up at the Milwaukee VA for a part-time gig that wasanything but, and a stint as the Green BayPackers official priest when they playedtheir games in Milwaukee.

Ahalf hour interview takes the betterpart of an hour because, let’s face it,

when you spend 41 years as a priest, you arebound to have some good stories, and Father Norm does not disappoint.

“This might be the most non-

government office in the government,”

he said with a laugh. “But everything

you see here was a gift, and everything

here tells a story. Some of them are good

stories and some of them are sad stories,

but they serve as a constant reminder

and memory about what is important.”

Being a priest should come naturally. It is something he said he wanted to do

since the 6th grade, even though his fathertried from time to time to talk him out of itand get him to take over the family carpentry business.

“He was afraid I was not doing it for

me, and he died six months before I was

ordained,” Father Norm said. “That is

when I found out he was praying for me

every day for my vocation. And he was

happy when I was ordained as a dea-

con, because then he knew I was doing

it for me, and he knew I was happy.”

His dad had been in the Army AirCorps and then the Air Force and

served in World War II and Korea. It wasonly natural, Father Norm said, to want todo the same and serve as an Air Forcechaplain. But when he graduated fromseminary in 1972, the archbishop refusedto let him go and said he was needed inWisconsin. He was assigned to St. Mark’sin Kenosha from 1972 to 1980.

“It was a great place. Got to meet

a lot of great people,” he said. “My

favorite part was the baptisms. You

get to see the joy of a lot of first-time

parents, and because of that, they

reconnected with the church.”

It was tough to leave, Father Norm said,when he was reassigned to Immaculate

Conception in Bay View – the same placehe was baptized as a baby.

spring 2013 | 39


“I started there as the associate pastor

and then took over, and when we

started, we had 1,000 families on our

rolls at the church, and when I left,

there were 1,700,” he said. “We just did

it with old-fashioned, door-knocking,

and meeting people, inviting them to

church and renewing their faith.”

But by 1990 he needed a break and tooksome much-needed sabbatical time. A

few months later, the bishop called andasked if he wanted a part-time job at theVA. He figured it was finally his chance tocome full circle. If he could not serve in themilitary, he could serve those who served inthe military.

But paperwork got lost, with part of itgoing to one part of the VA, and the

rest of it going somewhere else. He couldnot get hired until one place or the otherfound the paperwork so it could all be puttogether.

“And on July 22 – my father’s birth-

day – is when they found all the

paperwork, and I was hired. I always

felt that was him looking out for me and

making it happen,” he smiled.

Although it was supposedly a part-timeposition of six hours a week, he found

himself here more and more.

“This was a test,” he said. “My

assignment was with the substance

abuse patients, the locked mental health

ward, and spinal cord injury,” he said.

“It was scary at first, and I had to learn

to drop my fears, and learn how to listen.

“It was really the spinal cord

patients who taught me about life.

I always thought, ‘If anyone has a right

to go through life feeling sorry and de-

pressed, it is them.’ But they are any-

thing but that. They embrace life. They

used to wait for me to come up to (the

Forty-One Years and Counting for Father Norm

FATHER NORM REACHING OUT TO VIETNAM VETERANS.


spring 2013 |40


clinic), and they would race me down

the hall. They have such a camaraderie

and support for one another, and are so

quick to help a new patient and pull

him through the sadness. That is a very

admirable trait, and I try to use that

myself as the eternal optimist.”

He is also an eternal Packers fan – hencethe green and gold memorabilia that

dots his office. And during football season,as he has done for so many years, he alwaysends his Mass with a special blessing for theGreen Bay Packers.

Word got back to the team, and hewas asked to serve as their Catholic

priest when they would play a few games ayear at County Stadium, from 1994 to 1998.The job did not pay, but he got to meet a lotof the greats and had some great footballseats. “That was a great time,” he said.

He also took over as the chief of chaplains around 1994. In this

position he still counsels those patients whoneed it most, and says Mass several times aweek. He supervises seven other chaplains,along with his secretary, Donna Babineau,who keeps it all together. “His staff is welltaken care of, and no matter what is goingon, he is never too busy to lend an ear, offera helping hand, give you constructive criticism or get your back, if need be,” shesaid. “He seems to be able to find the positive in any kind of situation.”

There are so many more stories, but Father Norm’s a busy guy. He spent his

morning counseling substance abuse patients, and had another appointmentcoming up. It is one of the favorite parts ofhis job now. “Because there are people whocome here with no hope, who do not thinkthey deserve God, and I tell them that theydo, that they are all children of God, andchildren are not done growing and learning. “Sometimes people come to meand they are angry and they are atheists.They might leave here and still be atheists,but they do not leave angry,” he added.

It is hard to say where Father Norm willbe celebrating his next career milestone.

He’s 66, and already made a deal with themedical center director that he would notretire before him.

“When I graduated seminary I was

going to light the world on fire,” he

chuckled. “And in my own way, I lit my

fires. I am wiser now. So we will see

where I am at when I am 70. I did not

say I am going to retire at 70. I may still

keep going. I like what I do.” With at

least four more years, he is going to need

a bigger office or more wall space. He

laughs that loud, Father Norm laugh.

“No, I can just move everything on the

walls closer together.” >

spring 2013 | 41


MONSIGNORE JEROME O. SOMMER AT AMS HEADQUARTERS

Remembering Monsignor Sommer– the Nation’s Oldest Military Chaplain

By TAYLOR HENRY

spring 2013 |42


Fourteen months before his death of natural causes at the Regina Cleri Home in St. Louis, Missouri, Monsignor

Sommer sat across my desk at the chancery ofthe Archdiocese for the Military Services. He had driven 840 miles from St. Louis toWashington to concelebrate the 6 September2011 Memorial Mass for Father Vincent R.Capodanno, M.M., Servant of God.

Monsignor Sommer looked remarkablywell-preserved for a man his age, his skin as smooth as one 50 years his junior.

Recounting his World War II experiencesas a U.S. Army Chaplain in the Far East, he tapped a memory as sharp as a bayonet.

I sensed a personal connection. Monsi-gnor Sommer was the same age as my father,who also served in the Pacific theater and diedin 1978. I wondered if their paths ever crossed.

Monsignor Sommer was ordained in1940 at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, a classmate of Korean War hero, Father Emil Kapaun, Servant of God.

In 1945, he received orders from St. LouisArchbishop John Glennon to apply for a commission as an Army chaplain. Weeks laterhe was in the Army “for a duration, plus 6 months.” The “duration” lasted from 1945through 1974.

Months after commissioning he foundhimself on a troop ship in the Philippines,scheduled to be part of the invasion force on the Japanese mainland. Although Japan’s surrender pre-empted invasion, Father Som-mer did land on Japanese soil with the Armyof Occupation.

Monsignor Sommer spent more than halfhis 29-year Army career abroad, in the Philip-pines, Japan, Germany, Korea, Turkey, andVietnam, always considering military servicemissionary work. In 1955, an Armed ForcesRadio interviewer asked how he became achaplain, suggesting “so you have chosen theArmy as your career?”

Father Sommer set the record straight:

“The Army is not my career no matter

how many years I spend in it. My career was

already well-established before I entered

the Army. In Catholic circles we call it our

‘vocation.’ My vocation – career if you will –

is to be a priest. It remains so whether I am

on duty in the military or in civilian life.”

Considerable postings overseas allowedMonsignor Sommer to witness numerous his-toric Church events. In Rome, he was pres-ent when Pope Pius XII declared the dogmaof the Assumption (1950), and he attended the episcopal ordination of Fulton J. Sheen(1951). In Korea (1955), he assisted at Mid-night Mass with Cardinal Spellman, thenArchbishop of New York and Military Vicar.

In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI named Monsignor Sommer among the “ApostolicProtonotaries Supernumerary,” the highesttitle for a Monsignors.

During our interview, I asked MonsignorSommer the secret of his longevity. “Myclean living,” he said. “I never smoked, I amonly a moderate drinker, and I have kept active, physically and mentally.” >

On 18 November 2012, the nation lost its oldest Catholic military chaplain. MonsignorJerome O. Sommer was 97 when born intoeverlasting life on Sunday before Thanks-

giving, exactly one week after Veterans Day.

spring 2013 | 43


spring 2013 |44

Retirements &Anniversaries2012 Retirements Branch of Service Name Yrs of Service Diocese/Rel. Order

Air Force Reverend John Srode, CPPS 31 Society of the Precious BloodAir Force Reverend Patrick Beck 22 Diocese of BeaumontArmy Reverend Michael Honor 26 Palo, PhilippinesNavy Reverend Robert P. McClanahan 28 Diocese of PensacolaNavy Reverend Karl Lindblad * 27 Archdiocese of New YorkNavy Reverend Miles J. Barrett 21 Diocese of Sioux CityNavy Reverend Robert L. Keane, SJ 23 Society of Jesus, NE ProvinceNavy Reverend John T. Hannigan * 22 Archdiocese of ChicagoNavy Reverend Alexander J. Borzych 20 Diocese of Grand IslandVA Reverend Sean Connery 26 Diocese of WilmingtonVA Reverend Leo Rimmele 23 Archdiocese of SeattleVA Reverend Clarito Rara 17 Archdiocese of HoustonVA Reverend Raymond R. Lagace, OFM 15 OFM, Canadian ProvinceVA Reverend Paul Henry 14 Archdiocese of BaltimoreVA Reverend Joseph Hickey 14 Archdiocese of New YorkVA Reverend Richard Wolter 11 Archdiocese of St. Paul

and MinneapolisVA Reverend Paul O’Connor 07 Archdiocese of New YorkVA Reverend John Palatucci 07 Archdiocese of New YorkVA Reverend Willis Everett 05 Diocese of AugustaVA Reverend Gerald Wright 04 Diocese of ErieVA Reverend Maryon Jordan, O.S.V. 03

*currently Contract Priest or VA Chaplain

2013 Anniversaries10 YEARSVA Reverend Ross La Framboise 07-Jun-03VA Reverend Tarasisio, AJ Tumuhereze 03-Aug-03Navy Reverend David A. Daigle 01-Apr-03Navy Reverend Tung Thanh Tran 14-Jun-03Air Force Reverend Cyriacus N. Onyejegbu 17-May-03Air Force Reverend Edward F. Ramtowski 24-May-03Air Force Reverend Son Nguyen 07-Jun-03Air Force Reverend Phillip A. Kaim 30-Jun-03Army Reverend John K. Brocato 31-May-03Army Reverend Emmanuel C. Okeiyi 23-Aug-03Army Reverend Lito D. Amande 25-Nov-03Contract Reverend James R. Kurzynski 28-Jun-03

20 YEARSVA Reverend John A. Milewski 15-May-93VA Reverend Bryan Brooks 28-May-93VA Reverend Luis R. Brioso-Texidor 29-May-93VA Reverend Joseph B. Westfall 05-Jun-93VA Reverend Peter J. Iorio 06-Aug-93Navy Reverend Ulysses L. Ubalde 29-May-93Navy Reverend Rean Frederick C. Enriquez 18-Dec-93Air Force Reverend Kevin W. Cody 05-Jun-93


spring 2013 | 45

20 YEARS (CONTINUED)

Air Force Reverend Timothy J. Hirten 09-Oct-93Army Reverend Edgar G. Villanueva 27-Apr-93Army Reverend Krzysztof A. Kopec 23-Oct-93Contract Reverend Mark R. Richards 01-May-93Contract Reverend John V. Hotze 05-Jun-93Contract Reverend Mark Pranaitis, c.m. 18-Jun-93Contract Reverend Hau Quang Pham, CSSR 04-Sep-93

25 YEARSVA Reverend Mark S. Rivituso 16-Jan-88VA Reverend Charles F. Smith, SVD 16-Apr-88VA Reverend Benjamin Chinnappan 26-May-88VA Reverend Michael J. Knipe 27-May-88VA Reverend Richard R. Walz 28-May-88VA Reverend Robert P. Hyde, Jr. 04-Jun-88VA Reverend David J. Newton 04-Jun-88VA Reverend Ivan J. Torres 18-Jun-88VA Reverend Rinaldo Damian 02-Jul-88VA Reverend Terrence J. Dumas 27-Aug-88VA Reverend James M. Stump, OFM Cap 27-Aug-88VA Reverend W. Jeffrey Paulish 08-Sep-88VA Reverend Cosmas P. Archibong 08-Oct-88Air Force Reverend John W. Juszczak 29-May-88Air Force Reverend David V. McGuire 11-Jun-88Air Force Reverend Timothy A. Butler 25-Jun-88Air Force Reverend Antonio R. Rigonan 25-Jun-88Army The Most Reverend F. Richard Spencer 14-May-88Army Reverend Gary Michael Fukes 04-Jun-88Army Reverend John Vianney Ijeoma 16-Jul-88Army Reverend Isaac M. Opara 15-Aug-88Contract Reverend Juan T. Alvarez-Romano 21-May-88Contract Reverend Rudy T. Carrola 21-May-88

40 YEARSVA Reverend Leoncio Sucre Santiago 26-Jan-73VA Reverend Roger R. Boucher 27-Apr-73VA Reverend John J. Bucchino, OFM 19-May-73VA Reverend Daniel J. Scott, MS 26-May-73VA Reverend Robert M. Striegel 14-Jul-73VA Reverend Semanhyia J. Boateng-Mensah 15-Jul-73 Contract Reverend Frederick J. Lutz 02-Apr-73Contract Reverend Jerry T. Mesley 24-Apr-73Contract Reverend John F. Allt 06-May-73Contract Reverend Paul E. Stewart 26-May-73Contract Reverend William A. Riegel, CSB 03-Jun-73Contract Reverend Samuel Rosales 06-Jun-73Contract Reverend Jerome D. Mueller, OFM 09-Jun-73Contract Reverend Peter Francis Mockler 10-Jun-73Contract Reverend Anthony J. Jelinek 19-Jun-73Contract Reverend John B. Martinek 05-Sep-73 (continued on page 47)


spring 2013 |46

On 11 February, 2013, His Holiness, PopeBenedict XVI named Reverend MonsignorRobert J. Coyle, a retired U.S. Navy Chap-lain Commander and Pastor of Corpus

Christi Catholic Church in Mineola, N.Y., as TitularBishop of Zabi and auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocesefor the Military Services (AMS). After his episcopal ordination, Reverend Monsignor Coyle, 48, will serveunder His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P.Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services,as Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Half of the UnitedStates. Archbishop Broglio will ordain Bishop-electCoyle in a solemn Mass at the Basilica of the NationalShrine of the Immaculate Conception on 25 April, theFeast of St. Mark. REVEREND MONSIGNOR ROBERT J. COYLE

The Holy Father has again shown his pastoral concern for the faithful of theArchdiocese for the Military Services,

USA by naming Monsignor Robert Coyle, titular Bishop-elect of Zabi, to serve this globalChurch,” the Archbishop said. “On behalf ofthe other Auxiliary Bishops, clergy, staff, and thefaithful of the Archdiocese I am grateful to ourHoly Father. I also give thanks to MonsignorCoyle who has accepted this new mission andto Bishop Murphy and the faithful of RockvilleCentre who have prepared and now given thisfaithful priest to all of us.”

Bishop-designate Coyle said, “I humbly accept the appointment of our Holy Father,Pope Benedict XVI, to serve the people of Godas an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese for theMilitary Services. I look toward to assistingArchbishop Timothy Broglio in service to thepeople of this vast Archdiocese. Ever grateful forthe many members of the military family who

have shaped my life over the last 25 years, I especially ask for the intercession of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, patroness of the Sea Services. In this Year of Faith, I now set out ona new course in service to Our Lord Jesus andHis Church. May we pray for one another.”

Reverend Monsignor Coyle was born 23September, 1964 in Brooklyn, N.Y. His parents,Robert and Kathryn Coyle, now live in ColdSpring Hills, N.Y. Reverend Monsignor Coylegraduated from St. Edward Confessor Elemen-tary School, Syosset, N.Y., in 1978; St. Mary’sBoys High School, Manhasset, N.Y., in 1982;Fordham University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, in 1986; and ImmaculateConception Seminary, Huntington, N.Y., with aMaster of Divinity in 1991 and a Master of Artsdegree in Theology in 1998. He was ordained a priest on 25 May, 1991 for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y. by Bishop John R. McGann at St. Agnes Cathedral.

“

Reverend Monsignor Robert J. CoyleNamed to be AMS Auxiliary Bishop

Will serve under Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio as Episcopal Vicar for Eastern Half of the United States


2013 Anniversaries (continued)

50 YEARSVA Reverend Lionel E. Bonneville 02-Feb-63VA Reverend Thomas P. Hunstiger 02-Mar 63VA Reverend Monsignor Timothy O’Connell 01-May-63VA Reverend Denis E. Meier 23-May-63VA Reverend Jerome A. Beat 25-May-63VA Reverend Gregory J. Lieser 01-Jun-63VA Reverend William J. Hamilton, SJ 15-Jun-63VA Reverend Douglas J. Hennessy 14-Jul-63Contract Reverend James Kudilil 17-Feb-63Contract Reverend Vincent Cushing, OFM 02-Mar-63Contract Reverend James F. Finley 30-Mar-63Contract Reverend Arnold W. De Porter 18-May-63Contract Reverend Patrick D. McCool, OSB 25-May-63Contract Reverend Francis X. Callahan 25-May-63Contract Reverend Richard Gross 08-Jun-63Contract Reverend Nils Francis Thompson, OFM 13-Jun-63

60 YEARSVA Reverend Joseph W. Grace 26-May-53VA Reverend Maurice R. La Croix 30-May-53VA Reverend Albert E. Ruschman 30-May-53VA The Most Reverend Joseph M. Sartoris 30-May-53Contract Reverend Richard J. Lombard 20-Dec-53

Retirements &Anniversaries

spring 2013 | 47


Reverend Monsignor Coyle was commis-sioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy on 3 June,1988 and served 24.5 years on Active and Reserve Duty before his retirement from theNaval Reserve on 1 January, 2013. As a NavyReserve Chaplain, Reverend Monsignor Coyleserved as Associate Pastor at St. DominicChurch in Oyster Bay, N.Y. from 1991 to 1996and St. Patrick’s Church in Glen Cove, N.Y.from 1996 to 1999.

Reverend Monsignor Coyle served on Active Duty from 1999 to 2009. He was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa,Japan from 1999 to 2000, during which time hewas promoted to Lieutenant Commander anddeployed to Southeast Asia as Landing ForceChaplain. During a three year assignmentaboard the USS Harry S. TRUMAN (CVN75)Aircraft Carrier from 2000 to 2003, he deployed

to the Middle East from 2000 to 2001 and servedin Operation Southern Watch and OperationIraqi Freedom from 2002 to 2003. Assigned to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy inKings Point, N.Y. from 2003 to 2007, Reverend Monsignor Coyle reported first as AssistantCommand Chaplain before assuming duties asCommand Chaplain.

In April of 2005, Reverend MonsignorCoyle was promoted to the rank of Commander,U.S. Navy. From 2007 to 2009, he served on theUSS Dwight D. EISENHOWER (CVN69) Aircraft Carrier and deployed to the Middle Eastin 2009 for Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2008, Bishop-elect was named by PopeBenedict XVI a Chaplain to His Holiness, arecognition that carries the honorary title,“Monsignor.” Reverend Monsignor Coyle is a4th Degree Knight of Columbus. >


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