FALL 2008
T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E A R C H D I O C E S E F O R T H E M I L I T A R Y S E RV I C E S , U S A
First LT. T.J. Hromisin (wounded in Iraq) receives Communion from Pope Benedict XVI at Papal Mass, Washington’s Nationals Stadium fall / 2008 / [ ARTICLE PAGE 15 ]
Dear Friends of the Archdiocese for the Military Services,
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alute comes to you today in a new, simpler format. The change reflects the new, smaller dimensions of the Archdiocesan staff dictated by a shrinking budget. I thank Jo Ann Redmond for generously accepting to include editing Salute among her other, numerous responsibilities. Ordinary Time, which began the day after Pentecost last May, runs until the First Sunday in Advent and includes the summer season. Of course, all time is a gift from God and can hardly be ordinary. It is actually a rather extraordinary time of grace in which we can apply our talents and make manifest the presence of Almighty God in our midst. The Pauline Year, opened solemnly by Pope Benedict last June 28th, is indeed an extraordinary time for all of us. Even in the midst of difficulties and challenges, there are so many ways in which we can demonstrate God’s goodness. During his first visit to our shores, the Holy Father urged us to be coherent in our daily lives and to be a People of Hope. From concern for the less fortunate to the gift of our precious time to our constant prayer for a lasting and just peace, we draw on the Lord’s mercy, which has been showered so abundantly upon us, and we offer hope to others. Our charity, use of resources, respect for others, and even our prayers for those who hate us are clear signs that we have accepted the challenge and drawn on the abundant grace, which Almighty God has lavished upon us. In a time of serious armed conflict, it is important to keep thoughts of peace uppermost in our minds. Availing myself of the opportunity to visit military installations and to speak with chaplains and the men and women in uniform and their families has reaffirmed in my mind that deep longing for peace. It is an elusive gift. It requires each person’s contribution. It implies our willingness to listen, understand, and grow in tolerance. It demands a combination of deep respect, abiding hope and abundant love. On our journey this year, our Holy Father has invited us to celebrate the 2000th anniversary of the birth of St. Paul and he has given us many reasons to take him as a model in our daily living of the faith. “… what most deeply motivated him was being loved by Jesus Christ and the desire to communicate this love to others. Paul was a man capable of loving and all of his actions and suffering can only be explained on the basis of this core sentiment. It is only on this basis that we can understand the concepts on which his proclamation was founded.” (Pope Benedict XVI at the Inauguration of the Pauline Year, 28 June 2008). The Pauline Year is another of those extraordinary moments of grace. Let us look to the accomplishments of the Apostle to the Gentiles and be inspired in our response to the opportunities the Lord offers us each day. Again, thank you for your interest in the activities and ministry of this Archdiocese. Enjoy this issue of Salute.
Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio Archbishop
2 fall / 2008 /
THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA VOLUME 2. NUMBER 2 FALL 2008
Table of Contents
8 Shrine of Lourdes 10 A Day in Iraq
Archbishop Broglio shares his visit with Salute readers.
Father Butler helping our military men and women wrestle with the painful challenges of war.
13 New Vocations Director 14 Medal of Honor, Michael Monsoor 15 Cover Story: First Lt. T.J. Hromisin
The Archdiocese for the Military Services welcomes Father John McLaughlin.
Navy SEAL lays down his life for fellow SEALS.
ON THE WEB
Wounded in Iraq shares thoughts of receiving Communion from Pope Benedict XVI.
Go to www.milarch.org to read more of Archbishop Broglio’s writings: Archbishop Broglio’s Ash Wednesday homily at Walter Reed Archbishop Broglio’s talk on Ash Wednesday homily at Walter Reed Archbishop Broglio’s talk on “Hope and Love Through the Eyes of Pope Benedict XVI” Also: Vistit our website for more on Michael Monsoor.
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.
FALL 2008
T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E A R C H D I O C E S E F O R T H E M I L I T A R Y S E RV I C E S , U S A
ADDRESS CHANGES AND NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS: Please send title, name, address, and phone number to: support@milarch.org or call: 202-719-3600 or write: Development Office, Archdiocese for
the Military Services, P.O. Box 4469, Washington, D.C. 20017-0469 Feedback, letters to the editor, & advertising inquiries: editor@milarch.org Website: www.milarch.org ON THE COVER: ©Photo: Photographic Service /"L'Osservatore Romano"/www.photo.va ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO President
MSGR. JAMES R. DIXON Editorial Director
JO ANN REDMOND Editor
First LT. T.J. Hromisin (wounded in Iraq) receives Communion from Pope Benedict XVI at Papal Mass, Washington’s Nationals Stadium [ ARTICLE PAGE 15 ]
ERIC NEUNER | RPISTUDIOS Design Director
© 2008 - 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.
Bishop on the Move B
ishop Richard Higgins departed Washington 5 March for the European Confirmation tour; a trip that included pastoral visits to 22 installations, took 87 days, covered 11,000 kilometers and stretched from RAF Menwith Hill in Yorkshire, England to NAS Sigonella, Sicily and from the Azores to Incirlik Air Base, Adana, Turkey.
The bishop’s odyssey began with a brief stop for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and hosts in Dublin, Ireland where he celebrated the 40th the community of Aviano for Confirmation in anniversary of his priesthood ordination with his parish church, Sant’ Andrea Apostolo. members of his family, high school classmates From Aviano the bishop traveled to Vicenza and friends from his native Longford. Flying (Father Jim Sheil), Naples (Father Kevin Deeley to Paris, the bishop collected a rental car in and Father Mike Parisi) and NAS Sigonella, which he “lived” for the next several months. Sicily (Father Ken Rodes). A pastoral visit to Naval Air Station Spending Palm Sunday with the priestless community of Brunssum in the Netherlands, (NAS) Rota required a three hour flight from the former Hahn Air Base, Bishop Higgins traveled to Heidel“We have some Germany to Jerez, Spain on one berg where he spent Holy Week absolutely of Europe’s many budget airlines! dashing back and forth between Heidelberg (Holy Thursday and wonderful priests The price was right, but pack lightly! and people in Father Jim Joslyn was a most Easter Vigil), Ramstein Air Base Europe who gracious host despite the movers (Easter Sunday), Mannheim (Good deal with arriving the following week. Father Friday) and Landstuhl Army Medical extraordinary Joslyn has since settled in JackCenter (Confirmation) celebrating challenges day sonville, Florida. Again, a visit to the liturgies of the season and visitafter day...” Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, required ing the Catholic communities. A a long day in the air from Frankfurt highlight of the week was the Chrism Mass concelebrated at Heidelberg’s to Adana, via Istanbul. Father Mike Tenorio, Patrick Henry Village chapel with fifteen Army an Air Force chaplain and Capuchin monk, on and Air Force priests from bases as far away as his 2nd assignment, made sure the bishop had the opportunity to visit Saint Paul’s home in Garmisch. Bishop Higgins returned briefly to Tarsus during his brief stay in Turkey. Traveling to the Azores consumed an Washington for Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to the United States. Returning to Europe entire day. Departing from Munich, Bishop and resuming the Confirmation circuit he Higgins stopped off briefly in Lisbon before drove from Frankfurt to Aviano Air Base, Italy catching the connecting flight to the islands where Father Phil Kaim (Diocese of Rockford), where Father Tom Angelo, USAF is the pastor. is on his first Air Force assignment. Unique to The Azores is one of the Air Force’s best-kept Aviano is the outstanding relationship with the secrets. Lajes Field has a superb school system, community of Bodaio where Father Adel Sadr base housing overlooks the Atlantic and a is the pastor. Father Sadr is the Arabic interpreter contract 747 replenishes the commissary every
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AUXILIARY BISHOP RICHARD B. HIGGINS
BISHOP HIGGINS WITH CONFIRMATION CLASS STUTTGART, GERMANY.
Wednesday. Don’t tell anyone! Back on mainland Europe, Bishop Higgins spent a delightful few days on retreat in Gamisch with Monsignor Don Rutherford, Deputy Chief of Army Chaplains and the 17 Army padres assigned or contracted in Europe. Father James Marchionda O.P. and John Angotti, both accomplished musicians and composers provided a refreshing interlude in an otherwise punishing travel schedule. It was “On the Road Again” for the bishop following the few days in Garmisch. Visiting the communities of Bamberg, Hohenfels and Brunssum, Bishop Higgins stopped off at the American College Seminary in Louvain, Belgium (he is member of the Board of Governors) enroute to the United Kingdom and Confirmations at RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth/RAF Alconbury and RAF Menwith Hill. Menwith Hill was the final stop on the tour and while returning to France to drop off the car and fly back to DC the bishop was “forced” to take a few days break in the South of England by industrial action in the French ports! Bishop Higgins (who as an Air Force chaplain was stationed in Europe 1980-82 and 1995-97) commented about the changes he observed throughout Europe since his last visit
there three years ago. “We have some absolutely wonderful priests and people in Europe who deal with extraordinary challenges day after day. We complain about $4.00 a gallon gasoline. The Europeans have been paying $9.00 a gallon for years! The weak dollar challenges our military communities. There is little discretionary money at the end of the month and our younger military members are particularly hard hit. Add in the operations tempo and deployments and the strain on our military members and their families is immense. The Department of Defense Dependent Schools system [DoDDS] just announced the closure of an additional nine schools on top of the nine they closed last year! For a variety of reasons, spouses of military members have great difficulty finding work overseas and in some cases the spouse refuses to accompany the military member when he/she is notified of a pending assignment to Europe. Quite frequently when the military member deploys the family simply picks up and returns home to the U.S. Realignment of bases and missions has resulted in the closure of many smaller installations and the consolidation of others. The impact on the surrounding communities is significant. Continued on page 18 fall /2008 /
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Bishop on the Move S
tarting in Singapore this past February and for the following four months I’ve been traveling throughout Asia and the Western United States visiting every installation in the Military and many ships in the Navy and meeting many of our dedicated active duty and their families. They are all quite impressive. Wherever I’ve had Confirmation it’s been my practice to meet with the Confirmandi for at least an hour to an hour and a half discussing how they view Church and their call to become a more integral part of it. These discussions, especially with those who are in high school, are quite enlightening and enriching. I wish that I could play some tapes of them so that you too could feel inspired and enriched by the quality of the young people who are embracing the Church fully through this Sacrament. I would like to share with you some of their insights and expressions of faith written in their letters to me. The following are just from the “top of the pile” of my last visit so you don’t think I’ve picked only the best onesthey are all quality letters. 1) “I’ve been Catholic since I was Baptized at the age of eight and am happy that I am still a Catholic because God is the best part of my life. I pray whenever I go to sleep. I also pray when I need to talk to Him or have any problems. I went to a 30-hour retreat with my Chapel and learned about hunger and poorness throughout the world. I know now what it means to find Christ in others. I really want to help people in whatever way I can because I know now that God wants me to do this as Church.” 2) “When we attended the hunger retreat, it was one of the most depressing moments of my life. To hear about the countless children who sleep on the streets and about the innocent veterans that have done nothing but serve their country, makes
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BISHOP ESTABROOK
me think about how selfish our world is. After fasting for 30 hours, I felt like passing out. I don’t know how a malnourished child can survive without a home or food. After spending the night in cardboard boxes, I didn’t sleep a wink just thinking about them. Ever since, I have never been so thankful for my bed and the warmth of my house. Now I know what I have to do. Now I know what God wants me to do and why I am part of the Church. I know what Jesus meant when he called us to serve those who are less fortunate.” 3) “I would like to be Confirmed because I think that receiving the Holy Spirit in this Sacrament will definitely bring me closer to God. I will be an adult in the Church and I will hopefully be allowed to become more a part of what the Church does for others. For example, next year there will be no CCD for me, but I don’t want to stop going, so I have requested to be an assistant teacher. I am hoping that I will be able to pass on everything I know and have learned in helping teach the younger kids. I also think I will learn more by teaching as well. I believe that the more I learn
AUXILIARY BISHOP JOSEPH W. ESTABROOK
about my faith the closer I can become to God. it was an incredible and indescribable moment in my life. The phenomenon altogether made me That’s what I want more than anything.” realize how chaotic and dreadful my life had become 4) “My relationship with God is unclear; when I strayed away from my faith. Since then, I’m not sure where I do stand right now at this point I’ve been working on building my relationship with in time. But there is one thing I do know, and that God through the Church. Following this important is that I will find God and what my relationship internal confrontation, I attending my first Hunger with him is all about very soon through the Church. Retreat with my class. This experience has changed I do want to take a more active role in the Church my life and the way I see the world around me and and to get closer to God so that I can feel like how I fit into it. I now recognize just how blessed I’m connecting with Him. I know that after I get I really am to have the support of the people who Confirmed the Holy Spirit will guide me. I’m going love me and help me with the obstacles I go through to move soon but on occasions I will come back in life. Since then,I pray more often, take time to be here to this Base and visit this Chapel where I first alone so I can just talk with God. A lot of the time felt God in my life. Bishop Estabrook, I would like He is the only person I really can talk to. I know you to Confirm me. Nothing in the world could He listens and little by little, and if I’m paying make me happier!” attention- see how He answers my prayers.” 5) “I want to be Confirmed because I feel 7) “I have been Catholic since I was an that there is still a gap between me and God and that Confirmation will help shorten that gap. I want infant. I am happy that my parents decided to have to help my community in any way that I can so that me Baptized because God is an important part of when I die, I can say truthfully that my life was not my life. I pray before meals and before going to meaningless. I feel God can help me make the right sleep. I ask God to watch over all my family and friends and to help my Grandfather who is sick decisions if only I let him.” and has already had three surgeries. I attended a 6) “Being so young and not having much 30-hour Retreat and learned about poverty and knowledge of my religion, I didn’t truly grasp what hunger around the world. I’ve discovered how being a Catholic meant until taking these classes. blessed I am to have God in my life.” At first I was very confused and complacent. It was a big step for me to process everything I was being These letters show how inspiring our taught and reason it out. For a while I doubted young people are and how blessed we are as a God. I couldn’t understand nor believe what I was Church to have them as part of Christ’s body. learning. To me, the facts just didn’t add up. But These young people show me that no matter then I realized where I was mistaken. At some how many problems we have as a Church, as a point, things in general for me started to go down- society, as a world, God keeps sending us the hill. I was very depressed one day and a song came very best He has because there’s nothing we on in my itunes. It’s a beautiful song called “Dear can ever do to make Him stop believing in us. God” by the Jonas Brothers. I started crying once If only we kept our Faith in Him as much as He I began to listen to the lyrics. I felt God’s presence; keeps His Faith in us. fall /2008 /
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BY ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO
Shrine of Lourdes
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t the end of May thousands of people associated with the military in various countries left their installations or homes and congregated in an obscure French village nestled in the Pyrenees to pray for peace. Of course, gradually over the last one hundred fifty years, Lourdes has become less obscure and grown to be a special place of pilgrimage.
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any have called the Shrine of Lourdes the “heart” of the Church. The “head” is Rome where the two princes of the Apostles shed their blood in a lasting testimony of their faith in the Savior of the universe, Jesus Christ. Lourdes is one of those special places where Our Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary revealed in a concrete way the gentle maternal aspect of Almighty God’s loving care for His sons and daughters.
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or the last fifty years military personnel and veterans have been making a pilgrimage to the Shrine at Lourdes. It began as an attempt to reconcile German and French soldiers after the horrors of World War II. A mother always seems to have the key to facilitating reconciliation between her children. The Blessed Virgin certainly achieved that goal and we pray that she continues to inspire thoughts of peace and coexistence among her sons and daughters everywhere.
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he pilgrimage events were impressive. The Eucharistic and Rosary processions brought multitudes to the open spaces in front of the old Basilica. The impressive Baptism and Confirmation liturgy held in the vast under-ground Basilica inspired all who resisted to the end. Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, touched each heart with his brief,
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but thought provoking message, delivered in four languages during the rainy final Mass out-of-doors on the fields just across the Gave River from the grotto where Our Lady appeared to Saint Bernadette.
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he approximately 400 pilgrims from the United States, led by Brigadier General Russell Frutiger, gathered for Mass on Thursday and Friday. A number of chaplains concelebrated with me on both days. Everyone was so considerate and friendly. Deacon David Cardona and the ubiquitous and most efficient Marlys Dewor facilitated every event.
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hose are the details of the time at the shrine, but they do not really capture what happens at Lourdes. They say nothing of the lines of invalids and others who wait – with expressions of hope on their faces – for their opportunity to bathe in the healing waters of the spring. They are children, young men and women, and the old. They are victims of infirmity, wounds from wars, defects, and psychological problems. They come with the desire to be healed. They long for a sign of divine favor. They pray as they wait their turn to be dipped in pools filled with the water which the Blessed Virgin Mary commanded young Bernadette to drink.
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ome certainly receive that special grace which they sought. All are comforted by the experience and the warmth of Our Mother’s embrace. All are served by an army of volunteers who help them during their pilgrimage. Most return home renewed by the time spent at this shrine. It is a profound moment of prayer, celebration, and participation. Seldom does one visit Lourdes without being touched by time at the heart of the Church.
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he pilgrimage has another byproduct. When the first pilgrims came from Germany in 1958, they were very conscious that they had invaded France at the beginning of World War II and were consequently frightened about how they would be received.
The initial hesitant steps and the trepidation about entering the town of Lourdes gave way to the fraternal camaraderie of those united by a common faith. The tradition continues. The military personnel who gather interact with each other. They exchange insignia from their uniforms. Bonds are formed. A new understanding of common dreams, shared service and a lived faith advance the journey to mutual understanding. We pray that these pilgrimages might make reality the words of the prophet: “They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, no longer will they learn how to make war.” (Is. 2:4b,c)
THE HOLY HOUR H
oly Hour is a moment of encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament within the Church. It is a moment of grace and thanksgiving. On August 3rd, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio and members of the faithful came together in front of the Blessed Sacrament at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C. to remember all our service men and women, deceased, wounded in action, and deployed, to the altar of thanksgiving and the fountain of life. We gathered in front of the Blessed Sacrament to give thanks. The word Eucharist itself means “thanksgiving” which describes the main definition and source of our Faith. We gave thanks for all the blessings we have in Christ Jesus, who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). A priest once said, “How can a person have life outside Christ, because there is no life outside of life, that is, Christ Himself.”
BY MAMMAS HABTEGIORGIS
We gathered in front of the Blessed Sacrament to bring our petitions and prayers as Christ asks us, “Those who are burdened come to me.” Christ waits for us in the Eucharist to receive us and our needs. Consider this analogy. An important well-known person wants to come to your house and dine with you. Can you imagine the pressure and the preparation to welcome this person? If we get this excited for a celebrity, how much more excited we should be to know that Christ waits for us in the Blessed Sacrament! He wants us to come to Him as we are. In summary, we came together on August 3rd to give thanks for the lives and service of our military men and women and for their sacrifice to protect us from harm. They willingly gave their lives for the cause of good and peace. We bring all of them to the altar of grace and love so that the light of Christ may shine on them. MAMMAS HABTEGIORGIS, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Boston
fall /2008 /
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A DAY IN IRAQ: One Chaplain’s Experience
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BY FATHER TIM BUTLER
t was about 9 o’clock in the morning when I heard the call over my Land Mobile Radio. I was just finishing my second cup of coffee and morning prayers.
After the two enemy wounded were “Attention on the NET, attention on the NET, this is the Command Post. EMEDS all checked for hidden weapons or explosives, they were taken from the triage area into the recall, I repeat, EMEDS all recall.” EMEDS is our Expeditionary Medical Emergency Room. One was in very serious Squadron. This call told us that casualties were condition. He was losing blood rapidly. We coming in. I grabbed my sacred oils and hat don’t have much of a blood supply here, and headed off for the “dust off” helicopter especially this man’s rarer B-negative type. pad. The wounded normally come to us by So, we rely on our own people to give blood air. After a brisk five-minute walk across our when it is needed. The call went out: “Attention living compound, I arrived at the triage area and approached one of “Freedom is on the NET, attention on the NET, blood donor recall for all persons sweet inour flight doctors. deed, but it with type B-negative blood.” “What’s the situation?” I asked. is Everyone on base heard it. A few “We’re hearing that there are five purchased minutes later there was a line of casualties. Some of them may be with more insurgents.” than blood soldiers and airmen ready to give Information about the number and toil and blood…to knowingly save the life of casualties and the seriousness of the personal of a terrorist. sacrifices I entered the Emergency Room their injuries is often sketchy. that can with one of the Medical Group Sometimes radio transmissions are never be administrators as the medical staff blocked to prevent attacks during known or stabilized one patient and prepared transport. Other times, more than one person reports the same incident and the other for surgery. When the number of casualties is large, I often assist the medical information gets confused. The fog of war. About 20 minutes later, we spotted two technicians as they put in IVs, take x-rays or Army Blackhawk helicopters in the distance. collect personal data from dog tags or ID cards. When they landed, our medical staff and This time, with the smaller number and the litter-bearers met them. They collected two language barrier, I attended to the staff and the wounded men and rushed them to the triage Iraqi translator. The medical commander’s area. Our doctors and medical technicians orders were clear: we are to provide the best sprung into action. They cut off clothing, medical care possible to anyone brought in started IVs, and made an initial assessment alive, whether an American or an enemy of their wounds. I noticed that both were combatant. Sometimes that’s not an easy order enemy combatants. The three other casualties to obey, especially on days like this when it were American soldiers who had just been required our people to save the very ones who killed the three American soldiers whose killed in action.
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bodies were being taken to the morgue. In a back hallway, I noticed three soldiers sitting quietly on plastic chairs. Two of them held weapons. The other had his uniform top off and was staring at a pile of forms. I introduced myself, sat down, and started talking with one of them. Armed with an M-16, his job was to guard the enemy combatants. The unarmed soldier stood up and walked around the corner. The guard with the M-16 pointed to him, “Chaplain, that soldier was in the firefight. The three guys who got killed were his friends.” The young man returned a few minutes later and sat down. I turned to him and said, “I understand you were out there this morning. How are you doing?” “Alright,” he said. Saying nothing more, he looked down at the pile of papers in the seat next to him and picked them up. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what he was feeling. I persisted, “What do you have there.” “A bunch of damn papers they gave me to fill out,” he replied. “Can you believe it? They actually want me to fill out all these forms to justify detaining these guys who just killed three of my friends.” During the next hour this young man told me of their operation to find a cell of terrorists in a small mountain village north of our base. He told me how his three friends entered a house where they suspected terrorists were hiding. A sudden volley of fire killed all three of them. A firefight ensued and lasted until someone threw a hand grenade into the building. The shooting stopped, and it became quiet for a few minutes. Then he and the remaining soldiers carefully entered the house. They found four dead and two alive. Thus began their attempts to save the lives of the two who were still moving. “I wanted to fill them with lead,” he said. “But we can’t do that. It was so hard. They had
EMEDS AT “DUST OFF” HELICOPTER PAD.
just killed my friends.” As a chaplain, part of my responsibility is to help our military members wrestle with the painful moral conflicts and challenges that they encounter during war. However, some of my friends view the military chaplaincy as being irredeemably tainted, and would abolish it. “You’re now part of the military industrial complex,” they have told me, perhaps reflecting the institutional distrust of the postVietnam generation. Others have accused me of betraying the Gospel’s call to pacifism: “You’re no better than a soldier yourself by supporting the war effort.” I can’t help but wonder what they would say to this soldier. We Americans enjoy freedom because of men and women like him. Freedom is sweet indeed, but it is purchased with more than blood and toil and the personal sacrifices that can never be known or repaid. Freedom is secured also with the heartache and grieving of our service personnel who answer the demands of justice and peace in unspeakably difficult settings. Just ask the young soldier who was required to assist in saving the lives of the men who killed his three friends. For me, the world in which we live is a complex and sometimes dangerous place. While charged with God’s presence, it is also broken and filled with evils. That’s why I support principled restraints on our actions during wartime. It’s also why I cannot support a political or military pacifism that would leave innocent people vulnerable to the malice and destruction of those who will stop at no outrage or evil to achieve their twisted goals. Continued on page 18 fall /2008 /
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BY MARK MOITOZA
MEMORIAL DAY MASS “We continue to rely on the sacrifice of many to build a better, more harmonious world.” - Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio PHOTO: © BILL KIRST
14TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY MASS, BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 18 MAY 2008.
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n a beautiful Sunday afternoon the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., was filled with people who had come to celebrate the 14th Annual Memorial Day Mass with Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio as the main celebrant and homilist. The Mass began with a procession of active duty, reserve, and guard chaplains, area clergy, priests on staff at the Archdiocese for the Military Services along with Bishop Paul S. Loverde of the Diocese of Arlington, and Bishop Francis X. Roque, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
After the procession the Basilica was filled with silence as the honor guard processed down the main aisle. The flag of the United States of America was followed by the flags of each branch of service. Streamers swayed silently from these flags. Each streamer represented one of the major campaigns that each branch of service was involved with from the Revolutionary War to the present day. This silent procession served as a stark reminder of the price of freedom purchased with the lives of so many who selflessly served in the military to promote peace. As the congregation sang our national anthem a sense of gratitude and awe began to fill the sacred space of the basilica. In his homily Archbishop Broglio recalled that as a nation, “We continue to rely on the sacrifice of many to build a better, more harmonious world.” In explaining the gift of freedom that we treasure the Archbishop referenced the recent visit of the Holy Father to the United States. While addressing the
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United Nations, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the recognition of the unity of the human family noting that the innate dignity of every human person finds a renewed emphasis in the principle of the responsibility to protect. In explaining this principle the Holy Father emphasizes that it invokes the idea of the person as image of the Creator, the desire for the absolute, and the essence of freedom. Archbishop Broglio continued his thought provoking homily stating, “We treasure our freedom and we acknowledge with gratitude all those whose patriotism has inspired service in all of the branches.” In recognition of the commitment of military families and the strain that they experience Archbishop Broglio said, “We reverence the service of men and women in uniform and their families.” Finally, Archbishop Broglio noted that during this Memorial Day Mass “…we gather to give thanks, to invoke lasting peace, the authentic commitment in the lives of those who so nobly served this nation.”
PHOTO: © MARY SCHWALM
Father McLaughlin Vocation Director I
have recently begun my new position as a vocation director for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. I never thought that this position would bring instant recognition to me. Every day I hear people repeating what I say with a littlejocularity. I never realized I had an accent until I came here. It is quite obvious that I am from Boston.
FATHER JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, AP
I am a delayed vocation, having graduated from Boston College in 1980; I worked in sales and real estate for the next 10 years. I guess the natural progression would have been for me to become a priest. I also coached wrestling at Woburn High school during those 10 years. Wrestling ultimately helped me come to the priesthood. Unfortunately, I am a broken down former wrestler, who used to diet and still has it in his mind that he can lose 10 pounds in a single workout. Well, that is a story for another time. I have been ordained and working in the Boston Archdiocese for 13 years. I have been Parochial Vicar in the city, St. Clement’s in Somerville, and in the country, St. Mary’s in Foxboro (home of the New England Patriots). I was most recently the Pastor at St. Monica’s in Methuen, Massachusetts. I love being a priest. I have been asked to come down to Washington, D.C. and to help those in the military service who are interested in a possible
vocation. My role is to help them discern and to direct them. I feel privileged to work with these young service men and women, I pray that through the Holy Spirit I can help and guide them. I know that our Military has been struggling to find priests to assist them at this critical time in our history. I think that we sometimes forget that we are a nation at war and that these service men and women are making great sacrifices for us and our nation. We have an obligation to help in any way that we can. I pray that in some way this new office of vocations can help make a difference. The Archbishop O’Brien Vocation Initiative is another way that will be helpful in fostering vocations. This program has been set up to fund the vocation office, discernment retreats and our co-sponsored seminarians. I look forward to the challenge. I also look forward to meeting those interested in assisting me. Lastly, I thank my brother priests in the armed forces who have been working diligently to foster vocations.
MEMORIAL DAY MASS 2008
diocese for the Military Services, USA was pleased to welcome all of the high ranking representatives of the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government that participated along with many military leaders who joined in prayer for all those who sacrificed so much for the pursuit of peace.
continued from pg 10
Of special note were the hope-filled prayers of those gathered for men to generously respond to the call of priesthood to serve as Chaplains in the Armed Forces. The Arch-
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BY CH (CPT) FATHER PAUL-ANTHONY HALLADAY*
Michael Monsoor
Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. — John 15:13
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he way one leaves this world can be just as important as the way one lived while in it. Petty Officer and Navy SEAL, Michael Monsoor was certainly an example of this assertion. A member of SEAL Team 3, stationed in Ramadi, Iraq, I came to know this man because of our common mission and our common faith.
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EAL team 3 arrived at Camp Corrigedor in April of 2006; my unit had been there for about 5 months when Monsoor presented himself at the Chapel. He had heard the Chaplain was a Catholic priest and he had come to meet me. I was becoming used to seeing new faces in camp; some of these would frequent the Catholic Mass: an Italian photo journalist, two French contract workers, a mental health specialist from the Rhode Island NG, Air Force and Marine personnel and now a Navy SEAL. We spoke, introduced ourselves, and the ensuing conversation was regular fare. He told me a little about his family, where he was from, how long he had been in the Navy, and then he asked if I would hear his confession.
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ar does that to us, pesters us about our mortality, insisting we set wrongs right and say we’re sorry in a meaningful way. It forces an examination of life and insists on questions: Where am I going? What am I doing? How well have I done up until now? In our conversation, Michael struck me as a man who knew what he was about and exactly what he was called to do, but, while he knew it to be important, he did not glory in the task of war. He had a keen sense of the responsibility he
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bore, made evident in his sober manner. Upon reflection I would later comment to myself that, in his demeanor, he reminded me of what the apostle Nathaniel must have been like; a man in whom there was no guile.
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s the weeks became months, and the summer sun seared all of us, the SEALS would appear and disappear with regularity. When Michael showed back up at Corrigedor, he was always a little thinner, more tanned, but always with the same engaging smile. We would speak after Mass, say hello in the chow hall, and greet each other as our paths crossed in camp.
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s September came to a close and the heat was beginning to hint at breaking, on the feast of the Arch Angels, I received the news. A SEAL was down! I ran to the aide station I had blessed and dedicated to St Raphael; surrounded by docs and medics, there lay Michael. The Sacraments of the Church having been offered as the thump of the evac helicopter grew louder; my last memory of Michael Monsoor was the helicopter lifting off from our combat out post. My commander remarked, “That’s his Angel Flight”; I whispered, “It certainly is.” Continued on page 19
BY MONSIGNOR JAMES R. DIXON
FIRST LT. T.J. HROMISIN
FIRST LT. T.J. HROMISIN (WOUNDED IN IRAQ) RECEIVES COMMUNION FROM POPE BENEDICT XVI AT PAPAL MASS, WASHINGTON’S NATIONALS STADIUM ©Photo: Photographic Service /"L'Osservatore Romano"/www.photo.va
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.S. Army First Lt. T.J. Hromisin is a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish in Pittston, Pennsylvania.
Lt. Hromisin is a graduate of Seton Catholic High School in Pittston, PA and is a member of the Class of 2005 of the University of Scranton, a Jesuit institution located in Scranton, PA. Lt. Hromisin served as an altar server, sacristan, lector, assistant master of ceremonies, and master of ceremonies at St. John the Evangelist Parish. While serving as a platoon leader with Fort Lewis’ 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Lt. Hromisin was shot in the head while conducting an information seeking mission on 29 May 2007 in Iraq. After emerging from his Stryker (military Fire Support Vehicle), Lt. Hromisin turned his head to give orders on the walkie talkie attached to his lapel and was struck by a sniper from a building one block away. The sniper hit him in virtually the only place on his head that was exposed, which was right above his eyes. Minutes later, he was evacuated to a military trauma hospital in Balad. Suffering from a severe brain injury, the hospital staff at Balad worked desperately to save his life. Once stable, he was transferred to Landstuhl Germany in an effort to save the sight in his right eye. His left eye had been destroyed by the initial impact. Unfortunately the surgery was unsuccessful and Lt. Hromisin was sent stateside on 1 June. Salute asked the Hromisin family for mother and her wounded son.” The long day left a statement on their Washington visit: him exhausted physically and emotionally, but it was an unforgettable experience for all of us. We were fortunate enough to speak to TJ by phone just a few minutes ago (17 July 2008). We asked When we returned to Pittston, PA after the him for his reactions to the whole day in Washing- Papal Mass,TJ was asked to speak to the First ton. He said it was an honor for him to represent Communion class at a local Catholic school to other wounded soldiers in receiving (Communion) tell them about his experience. He told them,“Take from the Pope.He felt a combination of excitement, the excitement you're feeling about your First nervousness, and deep respect as he waited to Communion and multiply it 100 times.” receive. Since TJ was not able to see the Pope, Mary Ellen (TJ’s Mother) had to supply the visual TJ is currently at a VA hospital in Connecticut effect. She looked into the Holy Father's eyes as which has a special program for blind veterans. He TJ was receiving and said “I saw the kindest eyes, is making slow, steady progress. He will probably be eyes filled with compassion for the pain of a there until October. fall /2008 /
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BY FATHER JAMES BURNETT
Spirituality Does Have A Positive Impact On Healing and Rehabilitation eeting the healthcare needs of military service members returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan has been a top priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since September 11, 2001. Over the past few years, the Department’s focus on this group of veterans has only grown.
M FATHER JAMES BURNETT
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A has developed a comprehensive “seamless transition program” to assist service members who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) transition from the battlefield to their lives at home. The VA is truly committed to addressing as many needs for this special population of veterans as possible.
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t Hines VA Hospital in Chicago, IL thousands of OEF/OIF veterans have come to our facility or through our clinics to be treated for health-related conditions. Not surprisingly, these veterans have showed up with a wide variety of adjustment issues, fears, anxieties, family problems, etc. In addition to offering our patients an array of counseling and mental health treatment options, it quickly became apparent to us in the Chaplain Service that these patients had special spiritual needs as well. We decided to take an aggressive approach to finding out what these needs were and how we could best address them.
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ur first step was to create a spiritual needs assessment tool so that we could better understand the needs and desires of these veterans in relation to spirituality. A Hines Chaplain used this new tool to personally interview 50 veterans and/or their surrogates. The assessment tool gathered qualitative and quantitative information describing the importance of spirituality to the veteran’s overall sense of well being during rehabilitation and re-integration into their local community. Respondents were questioned about their predeployment, deployment, and post-deployment spiritual awareness and how it related to their current life events.
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he results of the spiritual needs assessment were very eye-opening. More than 70% of those surveyed reported that they are experiencing fear about the present and the future. Many of the veterans interviewed said things like, “My family is drifting apart because of what I’ve been through. This has taken a toll
“The assessment tool gathered qualitative and quantitative information describing the importance of spirituality to the veteran’s overall sense of well being during rehabilitation and re-integration into their local community” psychologically, emotionally and spiritually,” or “I am concerned that I am lost.”
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he Chaplain Survey results validated our firmly held belief that spirituality is a crucial component of the returning veteran’s ultimate recovery and integration into their community post-deployment. While the majority verbalized an intense struggle with grief over multiple losses, over half of those interviewed rated the importance of spirituality in their overall sense of well being, as seven or higher on a scale of zero (0) to ten (10).
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ecognizing the importance of the information received from the 50 interviewed veterans, Hines VA Hospital has hired a full-time Chaplain to handle the spiritual needs of the OEF/OIF veterans. We are the first VA in the country to dedicate our spiritual resources to this group in such a focused way.
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ven more importantly, the needs assessment convinced us that we needed to take a proactive, innovative approach to reaching out to these veterans on a spiritual level. In order for home town clergy to assist these veterans, we feel that we need to provide them with some education and information about the specific needs of OEF/OIF service members. We decided it was time to get our VA experts together with local home town clergy in the community to talk about what we can do to help these veterans.
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e have invited experienced professionals in the areas of spirituality, poly-trauma recovery and rehabilitation, to the Chicago area for a two day conference entitled; Embracing Spirituality in the Face of Trauma: a Soldier’s Journey from Harms Way to Home. The focus of the conference will be to empower and assist the home town clergy who are working with these returning service members. We will provide them with background on this special group of service members and offer them some suggestions on how to reach out to OEF/OIF service members. The conference will also be geared toward all chaplains and other health care professionals who serve the needs of the wounded warriors and their families. It is imperative that all those providing pastoral care understand the special needs of these veterans and are on the same page when it comes to reaching out to them.
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he staff of the Hines Chaplain Service is very motivated to assist as many OEF/OIF service members as possible and are excited about this upcoming conference, which will be held October 22-23 2008. Anyone who is interested in participating in this first of its kind conference is welcome. For more information, call the
Hines VA Chaplain Service; 708-202-2531 or email at:
james.burnett@va.gov
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BISHOP ON THE MOVE - AUXILIARY BISHOP RICHARD B. HIGGINS | Conitnued from page 5 Tight military budgets have meant the loss of appropriated dollars in our chapel communities and additional strain on chapel offerings. Our folks are not used to this.” It’s not all negative, however. The bishop continued “the Department of Defense has invested heavily in quality of life programs at many installations. 850 new housing units and a massive Post Exchange/Commissary complex at Grafenwoehr are indicative of the efforts being made to improve the communities and retain our troops and their families. Across the European theater child development centers and fitness facilities are either new or recently renovated. NAS Sigonella and Naples benefit from new housing and Community Centers, and Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany has embarked on a construction program that will greatly enhance living conditions and contribute significantly to
morale. Ramstein Air Base is putting the finishing touches to a massive hotel/shopping complex. Service members assigned to Europe, their families and those engaged in the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan can take advantage of the “Edelweiss”, a magnificent Armed Forces Recreation Center adjacent to the Zugspitz in Garmisch. Quality of Life is not the sole issue in these improvements. A secure environment in which to live, work and play is a major concern.” Throughout his visits enthusiastic Catholic communities, hundreds of excited and talented teenagers, dedicated parents and catechists and exceptional chaplains and support staff, greeted Bishop Higgins. As a final remark the bishop commented “the Confirmation circuit is the highlight of the year for me. I never tire of it, it’s a tremendous blessing.”
A DAY IN IRAQ: One Chaplain’s Experience | Continued from page 11 In our broken ambiguous world, military strength is necessary to assure that decent people can have a safe, just and humane space in which to live, work, and raise their children. Robust, academic and political discussions often focus on the way things “should be,” and rightly so. In Iraq, face to face with terrorists and insurgents, our military personnel are confronted with things the way they are. Human freedom allows people to inflict their malicious will on others. Sometimes force must be used to stop or limit their evil actions. “War is an ugly thing,” wrote John Stuart Mill, “but not the ugliest of things: the decaying and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse.” The enemy we face in Iraq today has no moral framework in which they operate. They think
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EMEDS TEAM AT KIRKUK
nothing of indiscriminate killing by way of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide bombers. Out here we see the results every day. It’s very ugly. For a good part of that day, I sat with this soldier, listening to his anger and pain. Perhaps it helped when his commanding officer reminded him: “what makes us different from this enemy is the fact that we will not kill an unarmed, wounded enemy combatant.” Perhaps it helped when his buddies told him that “we need to keep them alive to get important information from them.” But however comforting and helpful those comments may have been to this young soldier, they did not address the shock of that firefight or the emotional trauma of losing his friends. That was to be my responsibility.
Michael Monsoor | Continued from page 14
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man named in honor of St. Michael, died in an aide station blessed and dedicated to St. Raphael on the feast of the Arch Angels. As word spreads of this man’s selfless sacrifice in throwing himself upon the grenade that threatened the lives of his comrades, I can’t help but
think that, Gabriel, the messenger of God, is also involved. Michael Monsoor left this life by selflessly laying down his own to save others. In April of 2008, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, and leaves us a legacy; an example of true and profound selflessness.
To read more about Michael Monsoor, visit our web site: www.milarch.org * Father Paul-Anthony Halladay is a Chaplain with the 1-506th Infantry Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, KY, when deployed in Iraq. Currently serving as the 58th Transportation Battalion Chaplain & the Senior Catholic Priest at Fr. Leonard Wood, MO.
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