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THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA
FATHER VINCENT R. CAPODANNO Died on The Field of Honor 4 SEPTEMBER 1967 Vietnam’s Quế Sơn Battlefield FALL 2017 |
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Dear Friends of the Archdiocese,
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ime passes quickly. Summer fades into memories and we must move forward. The leaves are beginning to turn and there is a bit more nip in the air as autumn arrives and the change in seasons is perceived. Of course, school resumed some time ago and the activities of a new pastoral year have been in full swing for many weeks. It is a good time to offer you a new issue of Salute.
In addition to the usual features about the pastoral travel of the Auxiliary Bishops and me, you will meet another co-sponsored seminarian, Jonathan Miller, learn about the participation of the AMS at the national convocation about evangelization, and read about some of the new projects to help assure the financial footing of the archdiocese. Since the last issue of Salute two deaths have made an impact on the AMS family. We join Bishop Higgins in his sorrow at the sudden loss of his younger brother Willie. Also Father Martin Smith-Soucier, the President of the National Association of Catholic VA Chaplains has departed for a better life. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. In August the convocations for Chaplains and full-time contract and GS priests began in San Diego. September gathered priests in Washington, DC and San Antonio. The final opportunity is in the Eternal City in October. The VA Chaplains met for a very important conference in Scottsdale in October. It drew large numbers of these dedicated priests who continue to grow in their ministry and commitment to those who have served our country and their families. Also the Church in the United States adds a martyr, Father Stanley Rother, to the lists of those blessed whose witness to the faith cost him his life. I am very grateful to those dioceses and archdioceses that took up the national collection this year. The response has been very generous. It allows the AMS to be pro-active regarding the future of this important ministry of the Church. I hope that you enjoy the following pages and I wish you pleasant autumn days and a blessed Thanksgiving. Sincerely in Christ,
The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio Archbishop
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THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA
VOLUME 11 NUMBER 3 FALL 2017
TA B L E o f C O N T E N T S 4 Marching Behind Our Lord in the Eucharist Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio 10 It’s A Small World Bishop Richard B. Higgins 13 First-ever Military Young Adult Conference Casey Bustamante 14 Fatima & Vilnius Bishop Neal J. Buckon 20 The Eucharist that Binds us Together Bishop F. Richard Spencer 24 From Hospital Corps to Chaplain Candidate Father Aidan Logan, O.C.S.O. 26 The Harvest Continues, Meet Co-Sponsored Seminarian: Joshua G. Miller 28 Annual Mass for Father Vincent Capodanno on 50th Anniversary of Death Taylor Henry 34 Archbishop Broglio Reflects on Virtues in Keynote Speech to National Catholic Prayer Breakfast Taylor Henry 42 Vietnam Wall Memorial Serves as Catharsis for Visiting Vets Taylor Henry 46 Missionary Discipleship Mark T. Moitoza, D.Min. 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.
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THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA
ADDRESS CHANGES AND NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS: Please send title, name, address and phone number to: support@milarch.org call 202.719.3600 or write: Development Office, Archdiocese for the
Military Services, P.O. Box 4469, Washington, D.C., USA 20017-0469
Feedback, letters to the editor: editor@milarch.org | Website: www.milarch.org
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FATHER VINCENT R. CAPODANNO Died on The Field of Honor 4 SEPTEMBER 1967 FALL 2017
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BY ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO
MARCHING BEHIND OUR LORD IN THE EUCHARIST
BACK ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT: MAJ DAVID CASTILLO, MICHELLE NASH, MONSIGNOR FOSTER, CAPT JOSEPH MCINERNEY, LT COL KEITH BUTLER, DIANE BUTLER. FRONT ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT: 2D LT KEVIN HANNASCH, FATHER LUKASZ WILLENBERG, ELIZABETH HANNASCH, CASEY BUSTAMANTE, ARCHBISHOP BROGLIO, ANDREA BUTLER, DAVID BUTLER, MARK MOITOZA; AT THE DINNER FOR THE CONVOCATION FOR CATHOLIC LEADERS.
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triking to me was the Eucharistic procession on 3 July during the Convocation for Catholic Leaders, “The Joy of the Gospel in America” held in Orlando. The small AMS delegation gathered at the assigned location and then walked together in procession, singing and praying behind the Lord Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. It seemed so appropriate that shepherd and representatives of a global flock processed behind the monstrance held by Archbishop Lori.
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Symbolic of all that we try to do is following the Lord who graciously leads us forward. Indeed the Convocation was a time to consider our role as missionary disciples. How do we follow the Lord and lead others to Him? The Convocation was certainly an important moment for the AMS. The conferences and breakout sessions were valuable and well-prepared. However, merely spending time with some representatives of the AMS family of various branches, eating together, and listening to reactions, applications to military life, and concerns were precious to me. I hope that what I learned can be translated into more effective ministry. The Convocation took place between 1 and 4 July. Before that the annual Memorial Mass took place and you can read about that elsewhere in this issue of Salute. Of course, the last four months have been laden with travels and events aimed to keep the eyes of all of us fixed on the Lord. It was an honor to join Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta for the ordination of four transitional deacons, three of whom came from military families. My reason for being there was the ordination of Michael Metz, a co-sponsored seminarian. His large family was very welcoming and made me feel immediately at home.
THE MOST REVEREND JAMES PATRICK POWERS, BISHOP OF SUPERIOR, WIS., LAYING HANDS ON FATHER SAMUEL SCHNEIDER 4 JUNE 2017.
June began with a quick visit to Cleveland for the graduation ceremonies of the Lyceum, a small private school based on an authentic classical education. It is housed on the grounds of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish where I reside when I am in Cleveland. I celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass and spoke at the graduation. The very next day I flew to Minnesota for the priestly ordination of co-sponsored Samuel Schneider. Superior, Wisconsin was unseasonably warm before the ceremony (continued on page 6) FALL 2017
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and chilly afterwards. However, the warmth of the local community chased away the rigors of the weather. Everyone was quite proud of the new priest and I will be anxious to see him in uniform in a few years’ time. As you know, I had been tapped to give the keynote address at the Catholic National Prayer Breakfast here in Washington. The presence of Vice-President Pence gave a different tone to the event. By the way, unlike military prayer meals, I learned that eating is not a part of the event if you are a speaker! Have breakfast before you leave home! Another plane ride took me to Lafayette, Louisiana for the sacerdotal ordination of René Pellessier and his classmates. Bishop Deshotel was an excellent host and the splendid cathedral overflowed with the faithful participating L-R: THE MOST REVEREND TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO, THE MOST REVEREND J. DOUGLAS DESHOTEL AND FATHER RENÉ in this important event for PELLESSIER. PHOTO COURTESY OF JM WALKER PHOTOGRAPHY. the diocese. René will be a welcome addition to the Navy Chaplain Corps, but right now is evangelizing at the university parish in Lafayette. Lafayette was also the home diocese of Father Verbis Lafleur, an extraordinary chaplain of the Army Air Corps who gave his life as a POW pushing others up the ladder of a sinking ship. His heroic deeds were possible because he was focused on responding to the Lord’s call.
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After the General Assembly of the US Bishops’ Conference I went to Chicago where the AMS held its first young adult conference. While the attendance was not quite as large as we had hoped, it was an excellent opportunity for the young adults to reflect on their faith and how it should influence decisions and actions. A few priests made a special effort to accompany the group along with the main speaker, who was amazed that I knew his home town of Manitowoc, Wisconsin! Several different occasions allowed me to mark two score years as a priest. The AMS staff helped me celebrate on the very day here in Washington. One of my brothers, his son, the oldest daughter of another brother and her husband represented the family. The Most Reverend Daniel Thomas, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Cleveland, invited me to preside and preach at the diocesan Jubilee celebrations for the 60th, 50th, 40th, and 25th year classes. It was truly an honor to join all in giving thanks to Almighty God for His immense goodness to me. Finally, I gathered with seminary classmates in Indianapolis for a celebration. There are so many reasons for giving thanks. Sadness marked this period, as well. The Lord of Life called Father Martin Smith-Soucier, President of the National Conference of VA Catholic Chaplains, to Himself. I was able to concelebrate his funeral Mass with the Bishop of Steubenville, the Most Reverend Jeffrey Monforton. Many active VA Chaplains were able to join us in the concelebration and their presence was a source of consolation and a great tribute to the leadership of Father Smith-Soucier. Some parishioners from Mingo Junction, where he was first assigned, participated in the funeral Mass and recalled Father’s homilies. (continued on page 8)
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The choir in the African-American St. Joseph Church in Cincinnati inspired all of us with prayerful spirituals, contemporary music, and some splendid works in Latin, as well. It was a time of intense prayer for a faithful servant of the Church who will be missed by both the patients he served at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center and all the priests who serve the VA across the nation. From the end of an earthly pilgrimage I was transported to the foundation of a new communion of life at the marriage of Margaret Betit, the AMS Associate Director of Evangelization to Dave Andersen in beautiful Crown Point, New York on Independence Day. The lovely yard around the bride’s family home provided a beautiful setting for the reception. In addition to some vacation time, I managed to attend the Napa Institute and heard some excellent speakers touch on living our Catholic faith in these interesting times. The annual Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus met in St. Louis. In his extensive report the Supreme Knight mentioned their participation in the International Military Pilgrimage and the continued support that the Knights offer to the cosponsored seminarian program. I am very grateful for all that the Knights do throughout the archdiocese. I left the convention to join the participants in the Religion-Faith Matters seminar organized by US Southern Command in Guatemala City. This was another of the countries of my responsibility during my years in the Section for Relations with States of the Holy See’s Secretariat of State. Although there was not much opportunity to sightsee, I was pleased to participate in the conferences and to spend some time with Father Daniel Mode, a Navy priest who is celebrating his Silver Jubilee this year. As I write these lines the first convocation for priests in service to military communities has concluded in San Diego and the next will
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soon begin in Washington, DC. These gatherings are most useful for the aggiornamento of the priests and offer all the opportunity to spend time together. On the margins of these gatherings I also have an occasion to meet with the priests and learn how they are doing, the challenges they face, and the joys of their ministry. It is late August and my agenda tells me that I have been out of Washington for 126 days so far this year. However, I was here on 27 August for Faith Day at Nationals Park and threw out the first pitch for a game between the Nationals and the New York Mets. Thanks be to God, I managed to get the ball to the plate, but an observer suggested that “I stick to tennis.” After forty years of priestly ministry, I recognize the challenge of being all things to all people, but in the end, it is important to follow Christ. I end where I began. Together we walk with the Lord Jesus and encourage one another to be authentic missionary disciples. V
SATURDAY, 26 AUGUST, WAS FAITH DAY AT NATIONALS BALLPARK, AND ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY BROGLIO THREW THE OPENING PITCH. THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS WENT ON TO WIN THEIR GAME WITH THE NEW YORK METS 9 TO 4. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON.
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IT’S A
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small world BY BISHOP RICHARD B. HIGGINS
had been at RAF Lakenheath best part of three years and had just been promoted to lieutenant colonel. Back then the Air Force had a “dream sheet” where you had the opportunity of listing your top 3 choices for your next assignment. The Air Force had a group of senior chaplains who managed the career paths of chaplains and my next assignment should be as a wing chaplain at a small to medium size Air Force Base. I was a bit on the naïve side so instead of listing three bases on the “dream sheet” I just wrote “I’ll go wherever you need me, just don’t ‘waste’ me!”
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“Dick, we want you to go to Pope!” It was known as “no hope Pope” and it’s in the middle of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Fort Bragg is the home of the 82nd Airborne Division and a variety of specialist units. Pope AFB had an extensive flight line which included the “Green Ramp” where paratroopers of the 82nd waited to embark on C-130’s and C-141’s. The base was home to three C-130 Tactical Airlift Squadrons, the USAF Combat Controller School, Air Force Special Operations, and an Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation squadron.
BISHOP NED SHLESINGER
As the wing chaplain I was responsible for the total religious program on Pope. While I assigned a wonderful new-to-the Air Force Protestant chaplain from Mississippi to the flight-line ministry, I managed to make quite a few friends among the 130 aircrew. Occasionally they would invite me along for a low level sortie (300 feet and 250 knots) across the Carolinas and Georgia. I can assure you it’s quite the ride on a summer afternoon. Fast forward to the summer of 2012 and the checkout counter at the bookstore of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. I noticed a middle-aged priest picking through the new Sacramentaries and Missals. Approaching the counter, he noticed my pectoral cross and inquired “what diocese do you belong to, bishop?” “Father, I’m just up the road, an auxiliary with the Archdiocese for the Military Services.” “Father Higgins, Ned Shlesinger…you were my priest at Pope AFB. I flew 130’s with the 40th and taught 5th grade CCD for you! Wow!” I had heard Ned had left the Air Force and gone to the seminary but that was it. I had lost touch… “so Ned, what are you doing these days?”… “I’m on my way to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia to become their new Director of Spiritual Formation.” “Well, I’ll be!” I wrote him a note that same day! Fast forward again to the spring meeting of the USCCB in Indianapolis. I arrived late for lunch and was sitting alone when a middle-aged priest approached. He looked vaguely familiar, then I noticed a chain and I realized he was a bishop I had not met before. He sticks out his hand… (continued on page 12) FALL 2017
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”Bishop Higgins, Ned Shlesinger.” “Ned, you’re a bishop!” “Well, actually I’m on my way to Atlanta as an auxiliary bishop to Archbishop Gregory, haven’t been ordained yet. The ceremony is 19 July. I’ll be sure you get an invitation.” “Ned, I’ll be there.” And so it happened! However, the surprises continued. Bishop Shlesinger introduced me to his deacon, the Reverend Mr. William O’Donoghue. “Bishop Higgins, you may remember Bill, he was my aircraft commander at Pope. He’s one of our Atlanta deacons and flies for a major airline.” In each issue of SALUTE we highlight the spiritual journeys of our AMS cosponsored seminarians. Quite a few come from a military background and the discernment process often begins while they wear the nation’s uniform. It may come as a surprise to some but the military is not only a rich source of vocations to the diaconate and priesthood but no less than 18 of our nation’s bishops have worn the uniform. Bishop “Ned” is the latest member of a unique brotherhood. By the way, tell me again about “No hope Pope!” V
Save the Dates
9th Annual Benefit for the AMS
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18 November 2017, Saturday Evening begins with Mass at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Saint John Paul II National Shrine 3900 Harewood Road Northeast | Washington, D.C. 20017
Chrism Mass
12 March 2018, Monday | 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Saint John Paul II National Shrine 3900 Harewood Road Northeast | Washington, D.C. 20017
24th Annual Memorial Mass
20 May 2018, Sunday | 4:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Upper Church 400 Michigan Avenue Northeast | Washington, D.C. 20017 Archbishop Broglio will be the principal celebrant and homilist
FIRST-EVER MILITARY YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE
We are not alone in our desire to be Catholic, not in spite of, but in and through our military service. BY CASSANDRA (CASEY) BUSTAMANTE
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he quotation above was the impact left with one of the participants from the first-ever military young adult conference entitled Serving as a Missionary Disciple. The conference was held 16 – 18 June outside of Chicago, Ill., at the Techny Tower Conference and Retreat Center. This conference was the result of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) Office of Evangelization’s desire to develop Catholic young adult leaders and address the concern pointed to in Evangelii Gaudium: “Sometimes we lose our enthusiasm for mission because we forget that the Gospel responds to our deepest needs, since we were created for what the Gospel offers us: friendship with Jesus and love of our brothers and sisters.” [Pope Francis] Participants included Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Dr. Mark Moitoza, Father (CH MAJ) Paul Weberg, USAR, Father (Ch Capt) Brad Guillory, USAF, 10 young lay men and women, and myself. It reminded me of the small, intimate group of disciples that Jesus kept close to him. Yet, the participants covered the vast demographic of young service members from (continued on page 31) FALL 2017
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atima & Vilnius F 14
BY BISHOP NEAL J. BUCKON
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ivine Providence provides us with occasional unplanned blessings. I received two this year. In June, I went on a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal; and later that month, I concelebrated the Mass of Beatification for the martyr Archbishop Teofilius Matulionis in Vilnius, Lithuania. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio asked me to represent the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS), USA, on the First International Military Pilgrimage to Fatima. I had hoped to journey to Fatima, designated as the “Altar of the World,” in 2017 during the 100th Anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary to three shepherd children. The Lady who came from heaven first appeared to Lucia dos Santos, age 10, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, ages 9 and 7 on 13 May 1917. Now, I was going to travel as an individual and receive the blessings, graces, and indulgences promised to a pilgrim; but I also had the distinct honor of officially representing the AMS; and unofficially I was representing the United States of America. On 31 May 2017, Bishop (Major General) Manuel da Silva Rodrigues Linda of the Diocese of Portugal’s Armed Forces and Security, greeted and welcomed the visiting pilgrim military bishops and priests from other countries at our hotel. He then led us to a local church in Lisbon to celebrate Mass with the Catholic chaplains of Portugal’s Military Services. After Mass, we went to the National Military Academy in Lisbon for a seminar being held to observe the centenary of the First World War. “Peace and the Future of Humanity” was the theme of the seminar. I greatly benefited from the address, “Peace, Selfdefense and International Pacts,” by the Minister of National Defense, Jose Alfredo Azeredo Lopes; and from the presentation, “Globalization, Terrorism and Peace,” delivered by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the Republic of Portugal and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. As the seminar came to a close, I was able to thank the President of Portugal for his profound message as we cordially shook hands. After the seminar, we boarded the bus and drove onward to Fatima. In Fatima, the pilgrim military clergy checked into our rooms, and then joined our host, Bishop Linda for a delectable dinner. Later that evening we gathered with a throng of pilgrims in the Cova da Iria, the site of the apparitions, where we prayed the Rosary and participated in a candlelight Marian procession. On 1 June, the First International Military Pilgrimage and Portugal’s 36th National Military Pilgrimage unfolded in the celebration of the Eucharist; the sacrament of Reconciliation; the praying of the Stations of the Cross; the candlelight Marian (continued on page 16)
L-R: ANDRE THE CHAPLAIN ASSISTANT, BISHOP BUCKON, FATHER VENCKUS AT THE HILL OF CROSSES.
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procession; and a visit to the tombs of the Church’s newest saints, Francisco and Jacinta Martos, in the Basilica. Francisco and Jacinto died from illness as children. Their cousin, Lucia, became a Carmelite nun. Sister Lucia of Fatima died in the convent on 13 February 2005, at the age of 97 and she is buried next to her cousin, Jacinta. Her cause for canonization is underway. On Friday, 2 June, the clergy and the Portuguese soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines assembled at the site of the apparition in the Cova to greet our Lady and pray the Jubilee Prayer of Consecration; and then we processed into the Basilica of the Holy Trinity for Mass celebrated with military honors. Distinguished civilian and military dignitaries were seated in the front rows. The military musicians and choir provided the sacred music. The pilgrimage to Fatima offers the disciple an opportunity to meditate upon the messages of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children who were prayerful, pure, and innocent. We should be mindful of God calling us to holiness and to experience the divine. In each of the six apparitions, Mary instructed the children to pray the Rosary every day, especially for peace in the world and an end to war. Mary, identified herself to the children during the last
THE BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY OF FATIMA OVERLOOKING THE COVA DA IRIA.
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apparition in October, 1917. She said, “I am the Lady of the Rosary.” We should consider praying the rosary every day to fulfill Mary’s request. Mary also showed the children a vision of hell. The children saw the suffering of those detained there. On the centennial of Fatima, Mary is offering us a “wake-up call.” In this age of relativism, we need to consider the consequences when making moral decisions. Mary, our spiritual mother, will help us work out our salvation, and help us work for the salvation of others. I am grateful BISHOP BUCKON AT THE SITE OF THE APPARITION OF SUNDAY, AUGUST 19TH, 1917 for the opportunity to participate in the First International Military Pilgrimage to Fatima. This pilgrimage has helped me to pray the rosary for peace with greater fervor; it increased my personal devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; and it motivated me to work even harder for the salvation of souls. Archbishop Gintaras Grusas, the current Archbishop of Vilnius and the President of the Episcopal Conference of Lithuania, invited me to concelebrate the Mass of Beatification for Archbishop Matulionis. Earlier, I had asked Archbishop Grusas to assist me in finding the origins of my Lithuanian ancestors, and he suggested that I come and search around the date of the Beatification, 25 June 2017. I arrived at Vilnius’ International Airport and was cordially greeted by Father (Lieutenant Colonel) Rimas Venckus, the Chief Chaplain of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. I first met Father Venckus during the pilgrimage to Fatima. He and his chaplain assistant, Andre, extended fraternal greetings and were my guides during my visit. (continued on page 18)
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Father Venckus and Andre showed me the farmland my ancestors lived upon before they immigrated to America in 1898. They also showed me the Catholic Church in Simnas, Lithuania where the baptism of my great uncle, Vincentas Bukonis, was recorded. We then drove to the famous “Hill of Crosses” near Siauliai. The “Hill” is near an air force base used by NATO fighter squadrons to patrol the Baltic Sea. The Hill of Crosses became the symbol of religious freedom when Lithuania was stripped of its sovereignty and forced into the Soviet Union in 1940. Hand-made wooden crosses were crafted and carried from farms and towns all over the country and set upon the hill. Communist Soviet forces would bulldoze the crosses on the hill to remove them, but, by dawn the following morning crosses would begin to reappear and symbolize the Lithuanian resolve for self-determination, national independence, and their desire for religious freedom. NATO Squadrons at the end of their tour of duty in Lithuania continue the tradition of planting their own handmade cross on the hill in a demonstration of solidarity with the Lithuanian people. A USAF Squadron is currently conducting air patrols over Lithuania and the Baltic Sea from the Siauliai Base. On 25 June, I was in Vilnius, Lithuania to concelebrate the Mass of Beatification for the martyr Archbishop Teofilius Matulionis. Lithuania, is known as the Land of the People that would be free. Lithuanians speak their own language and they are predominantly Catholics of the Latin Church. In the last century, they were occupied and governed once by Russia, twice by Germany, and once by the Soviet Union. Archbishop Matulionis was arrested and incarcerated 3 times by the Communists. Most of his second incarceration was an 8-year stint in a work camp in the arctic region of Siberia. Archbishop Matulionis died on 20 August 1962 shortly after a routine check of his apartment by Soviet officials. During the search, he was drugged against his will by injection. His remains were exhumed in 1999 and tests confirmed that he had been poisoned. He is a martyr! Lithuanians are now very pleased to have their freedom as a people, and their sovereignty as a Nation. The Catholic Church in Lithuania is delighted that the suppressed Cathedrals and Churches have been restored and are open to the Catholic faithful. The Mass of Beatification was much more than a proclamation of beatification, it was a national celebration of independence and religious liberty.
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His Eminence, Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B, Prefect of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints, was the principle celebrant and the homilist for the Mass of Beatification. He concluded his homily, “The Martyr Teofilius Matulionis was someone humble, generous, kind, and faithful. He teaches all of us how we should live, pray, suffer, and work for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. There were no walls of division in his soul. His heart was the dwelling place of a charity without limits, or a serenity that was contagious, and of a goodness that was merciful. Let us imitate him!� The Pilgrimage to Fatima and the Mass of Beatification in Vilnius highlight the necessity for all people of good will to be committed to the cause of peace, the end of war, and the future of humanity. I am encouraged by the operational and strategic endeavors to safeguard peace, and protect religious freedom that are currently taking place between the United States and its Allies in Western and Eastern Europe. One lesson learned from Lithuania is BISHOP BUCKON WITH A PHOTO OF that if religious freedoms ARCHBISHOP TEOFILIUS MATULIONIS. are lost, then it may take decades or even centuries for them to be restored. I am elated that the Catholic Church is providing pastoral leadership and comprehensive religious support to the Catholic faithful that serve in the Armed Forces of the United States of America and of our Allies. The good news is that we also have recourse to Divine assistance. Praying the rosary daily will help to set our hearts on the peace that comes only from the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ. It also gives us the opportunity to ask Our Lady of the Rosary to intercede for us. V
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that binds us
THE EUCHARIST
TO GETHER BY BISHOP F. RICHARD SPENCER
Truly the summer of 2017 included very engaging and exciting events for our AMS families who live in Eurasia! Clearly it is the Eucharist that binds us all together as one Family! The picture above of the elevation of the Consecrated Host was taken during the International Military Pilgrimage (IMP) at which the AMS and Knights of Columbus participate to the Grotto shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, dedicated to Mother Mary as Mother to us all. The pilgrimage gathered over 23,000 military pilgrims from 31 countries. The U.S. delegation totaled over 460 pilgrims. Once again, we were able to honor and assist our veterans and our current active-duty and reserve wounded SOULdiers as they seek physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
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MILITARY COLOR GUARDS POSTING THE COLORS IN THE UNDERGROUND BASILICA OF ST. PIUS X IN LOURDES.
Among the many graces received during this military pilgrimage to Lourdes was the opportunity to share Holy Communion for the first time with Kalvin Cubol, son of the Verrick and Cheryl Cubol of the U.S. Air Force (picture on page 22). The joy and look in his eyes spoke a million words of joy as he received Jesus in Holy Communion. Then in August, the National Boy Scout Jamboree brought together over 40,000 Scouts and Leaders, including U.S. military Scouts from Germany, Japan, and Korea! Of the 40,000 Scouts, 8,731 self-identified as Catholics! A great vocational pool of eager future leaders within our Church gathered for daily small group Masses in the field environment as shown in the photo at the bottom of page 23. (continued on page 22)
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“The Disciples devoted themselves with one accord
to prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus”
(Acts 1:14)
The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, was the principal celebrant for the mega-Sunday outdoor Mass in which over 7,000 Boy Scouts participated and more than a dozen priests concelebrated. Archbishop Pierre is an equivalent Eagle Scout from France while both Monsignor John J.M. Foster (back row to the right of Bishop, page 23) and I (center second row standing, page 23) are both Eagle Scouts. As part of the 10-day Jamboree experience, Scouts participated in more than 200 service projects to benefit 45 of West Virginia’s 55 counties. The projects ranged from restoring and preserving historical sites, flood remediation,
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painting art murals, and even installing a butterfly garden. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting also provided Jamboree-goers with ample opportunity to explore their faith and encounter fellow believers. Other exciting activities this past summer focused on multiple Vacation Bible School camps at many of our overseas military bases. The themes for these camps focused on the Eucharist and how and why Mary is the Mother of God and the Mother to all of us (Acts 1:14). V
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From Hospital Corps to Chaplain Candidate BY FATHER AIDAN LOGAN, O.C.S.O. AMS VOCATION DIRECTOR
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n 1 August 2017, Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics Command, Joint Base San Antonio, held a small and unusual commissioning ceremony for one of the Navy’s newest Chaplain Candidates. Ensign Charles Wilton, a Navy hospital corpsman for 13 years, is now a Co-Sponsored Seminarian for the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). He will attend Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland.
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peaking to a reporter for the Department of Defense Website https://www.defense.gov/News/ the newly minted ensign said, “I was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in the summer of 2013 when I first felt the call to become a priest and chaplain, I had to wait at least two years since I had only recently converted to Catholicism. So, once I got back from my deployment, I used the next few years for reflection. I attended retreats, found a spiritual director to guide me, and became more involved with my parish.”
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ver the next two years, while stationed in Japan, he became a key participant in the local Catholic chapel community, coordinating volunteers’ schedules, training altar servers and readers, and serving as the assistant choir director. At his final duty station in San Antonio, Charles perused three simultaneous application processes with the Navy Chaplain Corps, the AMS, and the Diocese of Arlington, all the while working full time on several large-scale projects -- including the curriculum revision for hospital corpsman, the Navy’s largest rating.
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f his call to the priesthood Charles recalls the influence of his fellow Catholics and his years as a Navy Hospital Corpsman.
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eople said: “You should become a priest,” or “Have you thought about the Priesthood?” I’ve had children ask me, “Are you a priest?” I always laugh when I get those questions. I always reply, “Funny you should say that because…” One parishioner who once overheard a child ask me
that remarked that it was a sign. I guess we will see. Our RCIA coordinator told me … that he had already started praying that I might choose that path. I was very moved by what he said. He told me that he had a “feeling” about me, that I would make a good priest. If God does indeed desire that I be a priest then I say, “Amen!”
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fter serving as a hospital corpsman for 13 years, I now have an opportunity to take my service to God, country and the Navy and Marine Corps team to the next level. I am putting down the stethoscope and picking up my cross.
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or more information on the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program (CSSP) and retreats for men discerning a vocation to be a priest-chaplain in all branches of the Armed Forces go to www. milarch.org/vocations.
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pecial thanks to Petty Officer 1st Class Jacquelyn D. Childs, USN, at NMETLC Joint Base San Antonio whose interview and photography contributed to this article. https://www.defense.gov/ News/Article/Article/1269973/ face-of-defense-sailor-describesjourney-from-corpsman-tochaplain/ V
ENSIGN CHARLES WILTON RECEIVES THE TRADITIONAL FIRST SALUTE FROM CHIEF PETTY OFFICER FELIPE RIOS. PHOTO COURTESY 1ST CLASS JACQUELYN CHILDS
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THE HARVEST CONTINUES...
NAME: Joshua G. Miller (ARCH)DIOCESE / RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY: Fairbanks, AK ARMED FORCES BRANCH: U.S. Army RANK: 03 - Captain NAME AND ADDRESS OF UNIVERSITY ATTENDED: United States Military Academy NAME AND ADDRESSES OF HIGH SCHOOL(S) ATTENDED: Waseca High School, Minn. HOBBIES: Motorcycles, Hunting, Fishing, Skiing, Outdoors, Hockey, Camping, Cooking, Craft Beer, and Reading. TEAM SPORTS: Ice Hockey, Soccer, and Ultimate Frisbee
WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? I felt the biggest personal indicator in spring, 2015. WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? My Aunt is a Sister in the Order of Saint Francis. Conversations with her definitely led me to explore further. My parish and some of my friends told me I could make a good priest. “To Save A Thousand Souls” by Father Brett Brannen was enlightening and energized me to contact my vocation director. WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I have four younger sisters and three God-children.
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY? My favorite passage is the story of Samson in the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. It is a beautiful story about a warrior for God who lost his way, was held accountable for breaking his covenant with God, and was eventually able to come back to God in order to sacrifice himself for God by smiting God’s enemies. HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY? I came to know him through consistent disciplined personal prayer and a devotion to the Blessed Mother. It took a while but eventually I was able to grow and learn to be open to listening to what Jesus had to say instead of just praying at Him. I learned how prayer is a personal response to God’s presence. WHAT SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES HELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH? I love praying the Rosary. I have begun the Liturgy of the Hours and am working to make it a permanent routine. I attend Mass 2-3 times a week and participate in reconciliation once a month. WHICH SAINTS OR CHURCH LEADERS INSPIRED YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? My confirmation saint is Pope Saint Gregory. I think the situation when he was leading the Church is similar to today in the sense of reform and social change. I also have been inspired by Saint Augustine and Saint Ignatius and their transformation stories. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING? A Passion For Leadership by Robert M. Gates, What the Dog Saw by Malcom Gladwell, and The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPIRITUAL BOOK? It is a tie between The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo and The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE? My parents, my family, Robert Gates, George Marshall, Jimmy Carter, Stan McChrystal, the Saints, and Pope Francis. HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE? A developing journey to an unknown destination. V FALL 2017
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Annual Mass for Father Vincent Capodanno on 50th Anniversary of Death BY TAYLOR HENRY
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rchbishop Timothy P. Broglio celebrated the annual Mass for the repose of the soul of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, M.M., on Tuesday, 5 September. This year, the occasion was extraordinary, because it marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Navy chaplain’s death in combat while bringing the sacraments to U.S. Marines under ambush in Vietnam’s Quế Sơn Valley—an act of valor for which he posthumously received the Medal of Honor. Six-hundred-fifty faithful crowded into the crypt church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the 6:30 p.m. Mass—so many that 250 temporary seats had to be set up to accommodate the overflow congregation. Across North America, thousands more watched live on EWTN. In his homily, Archbishop Broglio ascribed Father Capodanno’s heroism to his depth of faith in Jesus Christ. “No one could risk his life and ultimately be killed to meet the spiritual needs of the Marines if he or she did not believe in the promise of the Kingdom,” Archbishop Broglio said. “Father Capodanno brought those unique gifts of the sacraments under fire, because his first concern was to dwell in the house of God forever. You
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and I want his life and death known, because we believe his example will invite others to stay awake, prepare for the day of the Lord, and be men and women for others.” Seated among the congregation were Chaplain (RADM) Margaret Grun Kibben, Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Navy, and Chaplain (RADM) and Mrs. Brent Scott, Chaplain of the U.S. Marine Corps. Father (Major General) Paul K. Hurley, Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army, joined Archbishop Broglio at the altar, along with more than 50 other concelebrants, including members of Father Capodanno’s Maryknoll community. Many members of the Capodanno family, a large group of midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy, as well as Marine veterans who served with the priest-hero, filled some of the pews. Former Captain Tom Byrne of Arnold, MD, now 80, remembers the concern Father Capodanno always showed for the enlistees, or “grunts,” earning him the nickname the “Grunt Padre.” In one incident, he said, “we had Marines who came in out of the field, and they were so tired that Father would not let them stay for Mass. He told them they had to get some sleep and sent them off to bed.” Former Corporal Mike Johnson of Shelbyville, IN, now 71, said the Grunt Padre established a reputation for courage and concern for those he served well before his heroic death. Recalling one incident in particular, he said he and fellow Marines “were sweeping a field, and some Marines tripped a land mine, so we knew we were in an area of land mines, and Father Capodanno didn't hesitate. He was the first one to get there. He actually went out in front of everybody to get to them. He didn't have any fear for himself, he just knew he had to get to those Marines.” (continued on page 30)
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Capodanno... continued from page 29 Former Maryknoll seminarian Thomas Michael Adams of San Antonio, Texas, now 85, spent eight years in the seminary with Father Capodanno. When the Grunt Padre was killed in action, Mr. Adams was saddened but not surprised to hear of the circumstances: “Anybody, of all the people I know, of all the priests particularly, Vinny would have been the first one to go out there, not considering himself or his own safety, but to be with his boys and ugh, always be on the front line, and that's the type of dedication he had and service to others.” The Mass was celebrated a week after EWTN broadcast the world premiere of Called and Chosen – Father Vincent R. Capodanno, a film written and directed by award-winning Catholic filmmaker James C. Kelty. Former Corporal Bill Nicholson of York, PA, now 70, who helped carry Father Capodanno’s body from the battlefield, watched the broadcast. "I got a little emotional watching it, but it was very good. All the participants did a good job.” V
A free DVD of the film is sent to donors of at least $20.00 to the Father Capodanno Guild. To donate and order a DVD, go to www.capodannoguild.org/donate. The guild was established by Archbishop Broglio in 2013 to support Father Capodanno’s Cause for canonization. The Cause was initiated in 2006 when the Catholic Church declared the hero chaplain a “Servant of God.” Earlier this year, the special tribunal appointed by the Archbishop to examine the Cause, completed the archdiocesan phase of the process. The official documentation was sent by the diplomatic pouch to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints of the Holy See for the next phase of the process. The Congregation will evaluate the life, death, and writings of the Servant of God to determine if his virtues are heroic. If their findings are positive, he will be know as venerable and more closer to beatification.
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FIRST-EVER MILITARY YOUNG continued from page 13 ADULT CONFERENCE
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across the global archdiocese. Representatives from the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force, enlisted as well as officers were present; with an Airman from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam traveling the furthest distance. It was almost as if the Archdiocese followed in the steps of Jesus calling out to the individual “Matthew’s,” “Peter’s,” and “Mary’s” along the way, except this ‘way’ was not by foot or boat but by digital media and phone calls. Each participant gave Jesus his or her ‘yes’ to discerning how they are called to answer the Great Commission (Mt. 28: 18-20). The conference included a series of keynotes introducing the process of evangelization. There were also opportunities to attend Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and social hours. It challenged the young participants to embody who Christ is as service members and in the military faith community. As one participant described, the conference “helped [them] realize the importance of first building a foundation with Christ as the base of the evangelization pyramid, and to use every day acts as opportunities to spread the gospel through action.” Men and women can embody Christ by first looking at themselves and how they can seek holiness in the ordinary. A military setting is one of those secular settings where lay men and women have no other option than to build relationships person-to-person. Each participant had many opportunities to bring these reflections to prayer and in dialogue with one another. There was a discussion on the questions posed to young people by Pope Francis in preparation for the Synod of Bishops in 2018. This conversation provided a good segue into the “Going Forth” keynote on Sunday morning which defined the lay vocation in the Church. At the conclusion of the conference, the participants were literally sent out on mission, back to their military installations and into their full time work. They departed with a renewed sense of how to witness to the Gospel in the military setting. The Office of Evangelization plans to host a military young adult conference bi-annually to continue developing Catholic young adult leaders from across all branches of service. V
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Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD): Contribution + Tax Benefit
BY MARY LAVIN
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ost gifts to the AMS are received in the form of a check or as a one-time or recurring credit card payment. Other gifts include stock, cash, memorial bricks, endowed scholarships and planned gifts, most often in the form of a bequest. For those who qualify, charitable giving through an IRA is another available option, one with significant tax benefits. If you are 70 ½ years of age or older and have an IRA with required minimum distributions (RMDs), donations can be made from your IRA directly to the AMS. Direct transfers up to $100,000 per year (or a check made out to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA) will qualify. The benefit of a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is that a direct transfer from an IRA is not included in Adjusted Gross Income and satisfies the annual IRA RMD, up to the amount transferred. It allows you to pay less tax while benefitting your charity of choice, in this case, the AMS. This may be an option to consider before the end of the year if you qualify. December 31 is still a few months away, but QCD or not, if you are like me you are already planning donations you will make to your charities of choice before the end of the year. First mentioned in the Spring 2017 issue of Salute, all gifts to the 2017 Endowment Matching Gift Opportunity and received or post-marked by December 31 will be matched up to $1 million with funds received from the 2013 National Collection. Please write “AMS Endowment” on the memo line of your check or use the enclosed envelope. Your gift will be doubled, for twice the impact. Your generosity will support Sacramental Records, Evangelization, the AMS Tribunal, and will also make pastoral visits to military installations and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers by Archbishop Broglio and Bishops Higgins, Spencer, Buckon and Coyle possible.
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Also through December 31, the 2017 Endowment Matching Gift Opportunity will match qualifying gifts of $25,000 or more to establish a named and endowed Co-Sponsored Seminarian Scholarship. The interest earned from all scholarships will help cover the AMS share of annual expenses for the current 42 AMS Co-Sponsored Seminarians from 25 dioceses who are studying in 18 seminaries throughout the United States; an average of $18,000 per seminarian or $702,000. This is the largest number of cosponsored seminarians in recent years which is a blessing for the Church and the military chaplaincy. Please contact me directly at mlavin@milarch. org or (440) 223-6482 if you are interested in establishing an Endowed CoSponsored Seminarian Scholarship before the end of the year. For additional information about Qualified Charitable Contributions, please contact your Certified Public Accountant or tax advisor. Information about other gift opportunities to the AMS may be found at http://www.milarch. org/ways-to-support/. V
9TH Annual Benefit Saturday, 18 November 2017
Saint John Paul II National Shrine For ticket and sponsorship information, please go to www.milarch.org/events
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Archbishop Broglio Reflects
ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO REFLECTS ON FIVE VIRTUES AS A BASIS FOR GOOD CITIZENSHIP IN HIS KEYNOTE SPEECH TO THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC PRAYER BREAKFAST ON JUNE 6, 2017, AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB ROLLER | CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE.
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n a keynote speech to the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on 6 June, Archbishop Broglio urged U.S. Catholics to recommit themselves to the practice of virtue in order to become better disciples and better citizens. Paraphrasing James Cardinal Harvey, born and raised in Milwaukee, Wis., and now Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Archbishop Broglio said, “a good Catholic is a good American, because the practice of virtue also leads to good citizenship and
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there is no dichotomy between faith and life if we cultivate and practice virtue.” Archbishop Broglio added, “[e]ach of us has the potential to rebuild our society and our world if we cultivate authentic virtue.”
His Excellency commended five virtues in particular: prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, and selflessness. “St. Thomas Aquinas ranked prudence as the first cardinal virtue,” he said, “because it is concerned with the intellect… It is the virtue that allows us to judge correctly what is right and what is wrong in any given situation. Because it is so easy to fall into error, prudence requires us to seek the counsel of others, particularly those we know to be sound judges of morality. It calls us to look beyond the immediate, to avoid quick judgment about persons or things when there is time to evaluate.”
on Virtues in Keynote Speech to National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
BY TAYLOR HENRY
Citing Jesuit theologian Father John A. Hardon, Archbishop Broglio noted that “[j]ustice is concerned with the will. It is ‘the constant and permanent determination to give everyone his or her rightful due.’ We say that ‘justice is blind,’ because it should not matter what we think of a particular person. If we owe him a debt, we must repay exactly what we owe.” While the virtue of fortitude is commonly called “courage,” Archbishop Broglio noted, “it is different from what much of what we think of as courage today. Fortitude allows us to overcome fear and to remain steady in our will in the face of obstacles, but it is always reasoned and reasonable; the person exercising fortitude does not seek danger for danger’s sake. Prudence and justice are the virtues through which we decide what needs to be done; fortitude gives us the strength to do it.” Temperance, meanwhile, “is the virtue that attempts to keep us from excess, and, as such, requires the balancing of legitimate goods against our inordinate desire
for them,” Archbishop Broglio said, adding that “temperance is the ‘golden mean’ that helps us determine how far we can act on our desires.” Last but not least, selflessness is what Archbishop Broglio described as “a desire to latch on to an ideal and to serve a purpose greater than oneself and his or her interests.” His Excellency pointed out that “[t]he appeal of a greater good has motivated generations of individuals to give their lives for military service, statesmanship, teaching the under privileged, and service to the poor… It is living the example of Jesus Christ who gave up His life so as to give life for the multitude.” “To speak of the greatness of our Country,” His Excellency concluded, “is to speak of men and women of virtue who gave of themselves for the benefit of all. We build for a new tomorrow when we draw from that wellspring of virtue.” V
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Archdiocesan Vocations Video Honored with Two International Media Awards By Taylor Henry
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vocations video inviting young men to consider giving their lives to God as Catholic priests in the U.S. Military has been honored with two international media awards. The three-minute video, “Discern God’s Call,” was selected among thousands of entries to receive both a 2017 Telly Award and a 2017 Communicator Award of Excellence. The AMS published the video on its website last year. It can be viewed on the Vocations page at www.milarch.org/vocations.
Modeled on a concept originating in a similar video produced by the Conferencia Episcopal Española, or Spanish Bishops’ Conference, the AMS production features a series of “talking heads”—all Catholic priests and activeduty, retired, or prospective U.S. Military chaplains—sharing the pros and cons of priestly service in the armed forces. (continued on page 38)
The Telly Awards, founded in 1979, honor the best in TV and cable, digital and streaming, and non-broadcast productions. Each year, the annual judging receives more than 13,000 entries from ad agencies, production companies, TV stations, cable companies, interactive agencies, and corporations from around the world. The Communicator Awards, founded over two decades ago, honor the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations, and identity work for print, video, and interactive media. The annual contest is judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). This year, winners were chosen among more than 6,000 entries from companies, agencies, and organizations worldwide. FALL 2017
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Vocations Video... “I can’t promise you fame and fortune,” says one, “but I can promise an eternal calling.” Says another: “I can’t promise you’ll always be fearless, but I can promise your love will be stronger than your fear.” Still others hold out the ultimate value of chaplain service: “… you will feed those hungry for eternal life… you will build courage in defense of liberty… you will bring out the best in those who want to be strong… you will immerse hearts and minds in the way, the truth, and the life, and you will be a priest, a witness to Jesus Christ.” Among the AMS-endorsed chaplains and clergymen appearing in
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continued from page 37
“Discern God’s Call” are: Fathers John Barkemeyer, Mark Bristol, Chris Christensen, Christopher Doering, Curtiss Dwyer, Francis Foley, Daniel Goulet, Jim Hinkle, Joseph Hoang, Aidan Logan, O.C.S.O., Hermes Losbanes, Patrick McPartland, Daniel Mode, and Lawrence Smith, S.J. The video was shot and edited by Stephen and Anne Cocklin of Cocklins Digital, which submitted the entry to both contests. Father Aidan Logan, O.C.S.O., the AMS Director of Vocations, is credited as Executive Producer. AMS staffers Elizabeth LaSalle and Taylor Henry are credited as co-producers. V
PEORIA DIOCESE EXHIBIT HONORS MILITARY PRIESTS BY TOM DERMODY
PEORIA, ILLINOIS -- Just a few minutes into his first look at a new
exhibit on military chaplains at the Museums of the Diocese of Peoria, Monsignor John Prendergast was stopped by a familiar name and display.
“This is Frank Cahill’s,” said Monsignor Prendergast, eyeing a World War II-era military Mass kit set up on a makeshift altar in a corner of the exhibit at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria, Illinois.: (photo page 40) “He was a great priest,” he added of Father Francis Cahill, who served as a U.S. Navy chaplain during World War II and later became Monsignor Prendergast’s mentor as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Streator. “It meant so much to him, the years he served during the war. He always remembered it.” (continued on page 40) FALL 2017
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PEORIA DIOCESE EXHIBIT... continued from 39 Now, through the museum’s exhibit “Military Priests of the Diocese of Peoria,” the stories and sacrifices of Father Cahill, Monsignor Prendergast, and about 50 other priest-chaplains — past and present — are being publicly remembered throughout 2017. Opened in late March, the exhibit is already proving to be one of the museum’s most popular, said Sister Lea Stefancova, FSJB, diocesan archivist.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Though featuring large photos of chaplains celebrating Masses with soldiers in the field and a mannequin sporting the dress uniform of the U.S. Army Air Corps, the exhibit’s impact is most keenly felt in the plentiful excerpts of letters culled from the files of the former priest-chaplains or from the pages of the diocesan newspaper.
A FIELD MASS KIT THAT BELONGED TO THE LATE FATHER FRANCIS CAHILL, WHO SERVED AS A U.S. NAVY CHAPLAIN DURING WORLD WAR II, IS DISPLAYED ON A MAKESHIFT ALTAR AS PART OF THE NEW EXHIBIT HONORING MILITARY PRIESTS OF THE DIOCESE OF PEORIA. (THE CATHOLIC POST/TOM DERMODY)
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Father Cahill, for example, reports that for an altar “I’ve used a machinist’s bench, a mess table, a chart case, and then a bar,” recalling that while the bar made for a “good, solid altar,” an officer vowed to find a better location after he knelt on a beer cap. A similar description was penned by Father Paul Kinder, who served as a captain in the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps from 1944 to 1947 and concluded that “the humility of the stable-born Savior and the catholicity of His Church are keenly experienced in this Army life.”
THIS TABERNACLE WAS MADE DURING WORLD WAR II FROM A TORPEDO CASING BY THE CREW OF THE U.S.S. MUNDA FOR USE BY ITS CHAPLAIN, FATHER NORBERT SHOWALTER. (THE CATHOLIC POST/TOM DERMODY)
The exhibit’s subtitle reminds that “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Such ultimate sacrifice is recalled in the story of Franciscan Father Herman Felhoelter, a former assistant at St. Boniface Parish in Peoria who became a U.S. Army chaplain and was killed in 1950 after volunteering to stay behind with the wounded during the Korean conflict. The next day would have been his 37th birthday. Among the museum’s major contributors was Monsignor Prendergast, who spent 22 years serving soldiers and their families as a highly decorated, paratrooping U.S. Army chaplain. Chaplains, Monsignor Prendergast explained, make important contributions to military readiness. “The soldiers have a chance to go to Mass and go to confession . . . so they are confident they are able to go ahead and go to combat,” said Monsignor Prendergast. This story originally appeared in The Catholic Post, the newspaper of the Diocese of Peoria, and is reprinted with permission. V FALL 2017
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Vietnam War Memorial Serves as Catharsis for Visiting Vets BY TAYLOR HENRY
MR. GARY LEE LITTRELL,
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RETIRED U.S. ARMY COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR
The Vietnam War Memorial —the “Wall”— is structurally about as dispassionate as its moniker. But the seemingly indifferent granite monument, bearing the names of nearly 58,000 Americans who died in that conflict, stands in sharp contrast to the intense emotions it evokes from visitors. Day in and day out, veterans come and go, choking back tears as they relive the horrors of “’Nam,” some stretching to trace the names of fallen brothers-and-sistersin-arms with their fingertips.
"So many of those names, I know,” said Mr. Gary Lee Littrell, a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major who visited the Wall along with dozens of other vets on Friday, 28 July. Mr. Littrell received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, for his extraordinary courage during a four-day siege on his battalion in 1970. Standing near the Wall in a steady summer drizzle, he mused, “the names that I know, looking at the name, it's no longer a name on the wall. You know, that name brings back an 18, 19, 20-year-old young face. And so, it's a special place, it a solemn place."
"....it's no longer a name on the wall. You know, that name brings back an 18,19, 20-year-old young face."
Among the more than 250 servicemen who received the Medal of Honor for their heroism in Vietnam, Mr. Littrell is in good (continued on page 44) FALL 2017
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Memorial...
continued from page 43
company. Father Vincent R. Capodanno, M.M., Servant of God, received the Medal posthumously following his death of enemy gunfire while coming to the aid of U.S. Marines under ambush by North Vietnamese regulars. Father Capodanno’s name can be found on the Wall at line 95 on panel 25E. The memory of the Maryknoll missionary and U.S. Navy chaplain survives for the ages as a source of inspiration for warriors young and old. Former Marine Jerry W. Franklin, who traveled all the way from Palm Springs, CA, to visit the Wall, has vivid memories of Vietnam’s Quế Sơn Valley where Father Capodanno died a hero. He was there the same year—1967. “Late '67 was very hectic,” he says, “chaotic, scary. It was a crazy time." Quế Sơn, he recalls, was "[m]uddy. Ugly. Scary. You never knew what the next day is going to bring. There were a lot of ambushes, especially leading up to [the] Tet [Offensive]." Like Father Capodanno, former Marine Kerry Klotz, a Vietnam veteran from Chilton, WI, is Catholic. But unlike Father Capodanno, who died abruptly on the battlefield, Mr. Klotz still bears the wounds of war. Afflicted with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and recovering from prostate cancer, Mr. Klotz came to the wall in a wheelchair. He said his prostrate cancer was caused by exposure to Agent Orange, the defoliant used by U.S. forces to eliminate forest cover for the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. Mr. Klotz sat by the wall for a long time in silence before pulling away in his wheelchair. "It was kind of tearful, and it brought back a lot of memories,” he said. “I’m just overjoyed that I could be here." Another tearful vet, who asked not to be identified, laid a pair of medals at the foot of the Wall, and reached out to touch the name of a fellow Vietnam warrior. Without disclosing details, he said the man saved his life by giving up his own. The medals were a way of showing his gratitude all these years later for an act of courage much like that of Father Capodanno: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:13). V
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The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
Tour of Duty Brick Campaign Share your message of support for service members, veterans, chaplains, military families, and all who have served or continue to serve by reserving a commemorative brick today. Your commemorative brick will join hundreds of others lining the pathways of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center in Washington, D.C.
Tour of Duty Brick up to 2 lines 18 characters per line $250 Donation
Memorial Brick
up to 4 lines 18 characters per line $300 Donation
To order a brick please visit
www.milarch.org/tour-of-duty-brick-campaign You can donate online or print a donation form.
Bricks are installed every spring and fall. Questions? Please contact the Advancement Office, (202) 719-3622 or support@milarch.org.
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Missionary Discipleship BY MARK T. MOITOZA, D.MIN.
====================== ======================= ======================== At the beginning of July, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) hosted the Convocation of Catholic Leaders in Orlando, Florida based on the theme The Joy of the Gospel in America. The gathering was promoted as an unprecedented moment of national unity under the leadership of the bishops and featuring the “best of the best” Catholic leaders in America, encompassing the breadth and depth of the Church and engaging all participants in dialogue and conversation around Pope Francis’ radical call to be and to form missionary disciples. The ultimate goal of the Convocation is to leave a lasting impact on the Church in the United States. Dioceses throughout the United States sent delegations to engage in keynotes, panel discussions, and sharing sessions based upon the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. In that document Pope Francis promoted the radical call to missionary discipleship writing, “Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are “disciples” and “missionaries,” but rather that we are always “missionary disciples.” (EG, no. 120). Archbishop Broglio invited active duty military and spouses to participate as members of the delegation of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Their participation represented and brought forth insights from
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military personnel and families living their faith on the move. They also highlighted the many ways that young Catholics in the United States are serving both ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO PARTICIPATING IN ADORATION God and country. DURING THE CATHOLIC CONVOCATION Delegation members chose one of twenty-two breakout sessions held on three separate occasions throughout the convocation. Lunch and dinner gatherings enabled the diocesan delegations to share what they learned and discern local applications. The delegation members led by Archbishop Broglio included: Michelle Nash, President of the Military Council of Catholic Women, Redstone Arsenal; Major David Castillo and Father Lukasz Willenberg, Fort Bragg; Lt Col Keith Butler, Whiteman AFB, Second Lieutenant and Mrs. Kevin Hannasch, Tinker AFB; and Captain Joseph McInerney, USN, PhD, United States Naval Academy. The following members of the Archbishop’s staff also participated: Monsignor John J.M. Foster, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia; Mr. Mark Moitoza, Vice-Chancellor for Evangelization; and Ms. Cassandra (Casey) Bustamante, Associate Director for Young Adult Ministry (photo Page 46). The delegation will continue to unpack prayerfully the experiences of the convocations. They have already shared ideas for setting goals, encouraging advocacy, and promoting what was learned from the breakout sessions. The call to accompany men and women far from home to grow in faith received a great deal of attention. Often this means making the time to start up a conversation, mentor a young adult, listen authentically without offering immediate solutions, and moving out of one’s comfort zone to accompany and invite. Videos of the keynote sessions are posted on the USCCB website, http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/get-involved/meetings-andevents/convocation-2017/convocation-2017-live-stream.cfm V
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48 NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID SOMD PERMIT #1169
“After forty years of priestly ministry, I recognize the challenge of being all things to all people, but in the end, it is important to follow Christ. Together we walk with the Lord Jesus and encourage one another to be authentic missionary disciples.” – Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio
“Serving Those Who Serve”
P.O. Box 4469 Washington, D.C. 20017-0469
Archdiocese For The Military Services, USA