Moved by Airplanes but Inspired by the Gospel

MOVED BY AIRPLANES but Inspired by theGospel

BY ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO

At this writing, I have only traveled 140 days this year but still have three more trips before 2022 peaks its head over the horizon. As you all know, wrestling with pandemic restrictions has complicated the travel schedule, but it has still been possible to visit communities and, most importantly, to hold four of the five convocations scheduled for this year.

Restrictions on the movement of VA chaplains forced the AMS to cancel the gathering planned for VA priests in Hartford toward the end of October.

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO GATHERED WITH AMS PRIEST-CHAPLAINS AFTER MASS AT THE ROME CONVOCATION.

The convocations were well-attended and very successful, as I mentioned in my last article. The presentations about evangelization coupled with some canonical principles about membership in the Archdiocese, a special address on best practices for chaplains as priests and officers, and the opportunity for concelebration, fellowship, and meetings among the different service branches filled out the three and a half-day gatherings.

It was very good to be with the priests and to hear about their experiences during the pandemic and now as the re-opening begins to take shape.

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The final convocation was in Rome, where some forty-two priests gathered at the Casa Bonus Pastor. We had an splendid celebration of the Eucharist with Cardinal O’Brien at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica and then went to the Papal Audience where Pope Francis posed for a picture with the priests. As he drew close to me, he told me to have the priests remove their masks. “They look like bandits,” he joked.

During that time, the North American College also invited us to make a presentation on the chaplaincy for the benefit of the First Year Class. The gathering was short but useful, and there were some good questions raised by the seminarians. The three chaplain corps were represented either by priest recruiters or by a chaplain attending the convocation.

The Roman sojourn also offered an opportunity to meet briefly with the postulator of Father Capodanno’s Cause, Dr. Nicola Gori, who provided an update. He is dynamic, and I have to run to keep up with his efforts to spur the case forward.

Of course, the co-sponsored deacons, seminarians, and some of their friends helped animate the liturgies with song, ministry, and the readings. Their presence was a great help and a great reminder of my own past experience in the Eternal City, where visitors used to be a constant. I hope that they did not miss too many classes.

The AMS has applied some of the lessons learned from the pandemic and sponsored a virtual convocation for catechists and other interested Catholics and an hour of recollection for Advent. These are useful opportunities to gather, grow together in our faith, and also pray as a community. We certainly could never gather physically with the entire archdiocese, but these gatherings allow us the opportunity to be together virtually. The timing is such that two moments are offered—one more useful for overseas installations and another for those in CONUS.

Other visits included one to Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary. There were a few retired military among the seminarians. The Rector, Father Brian Kiely, who was in the seminary with me, had invited me to

PRIESTS GATHER WITH ARCHBISHOP BROGLIO IN FRONT OF THE CASA BONUS PASTOR RETREAT CENTER TO WALK TO THE VATICAN FOR MASS AT SAINT PETER’S BASILICA.

celebrate Candidacy for some of the seminarians. The rite is very simple but a significant moment in the preparation of these future priests. The faculty includes Father Steve Linehan, who was my host on my first visit to Rota in 2009, and Monsignor William Fay, former General Secretary of the USCCB and a deacon when I began the seminary at the North American College more than four decades ago. The seminary has an excellent program that might be quite useful for some military members preparing for the priesthood at a less than young age!

A great gift during the visit to Boston was the opportunity to pay a call on the Reverend Monsignor John McDonough, who had been the Chief of Chaplains of the Air Force. This fine gentleman and priest was having a very

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good day, and we chatted about chaplaincy, challenges, and so forth. It was such a blessing to pay him a visit and experience his gentle kindness. Just recently, he ended his earthly pilgrimage, and God willing, I will concelebrate his funeral Mass.

October also provided an opportunity to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Rosary with the contemplative Dominican Sisters in Linden, Virginia. It was an honor to be with them, and they have promised to continue to pray for the needs of the archdiocese. Such spiritual support, also offered by our Carmelite Sisters in Flemington, New Jersey, is an abundant source of grace for the global ministry of the AMS. I am deeply grateful.

Despite the virtual nature of the Army Ten-Miler, we still gathered for an anticipated Sunday Mass on 9 October followed by the traditional pasta

THE MORNING MASS PROCESSION INTO SAINT PETER’S BASILICA DURING THE ROME CONVOCATION PRIOR TO THE AUDIENCE WITH THE HOLY FATHER. L-R: BISHOP BILL MUHM, BISHOP RICHARD HIGGINS, ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO AND EDWIN CARDINAL O’BRIEN (FORMER ARCHBISHOP FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES).

meal. The presence of families with energetic youngsters in the chapel and dining room is a source of great joy!

This year the Canon Law Society of America was able to hold its annual convention in person in San Diego. It was my third visit to the city in two months! As evening drew on, it was the first time that I ever remember experiencing a chill in the air!

There were some very interesting presentations and the opportunity to visit with several friends from around the country.

However, my time there was shorter due to a conference for bishops on evangelization held in Portland, Oregon. That gathering, held in the very comfortable retreat house on the grounds of Mount Angel Abbey, was definitely worth the time and the distance. The presentations were excellent, and the fraternity of a small group of bishops was most enjoyable. I returned to Washington, D.C., encouraged and renewed for the mission of preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

My return allowed me to participate in a gathering with the Order of Malta and to return to Annapolis for the annual celebration of the Navy’s birthday. I would return there the next week to welcome Cardinal Dolan, who gave an impressive talk on the Eucharist to the midshipmen and others.

My neighbors at the Dominican House of Studies invited me to teach a class on the canons of the Code of Canon Law that deal with the pontifical representatives around the world. It was good to talk to them about a ministry that occupied a quarter decade of my life! I left the classroom in time to catch a plane to Cincinnati, where the fall discernment retreat was to begin.

The Athenaeum of Ohio welcomed us warmly. Eleven young men participated in the retreat and were filled with questions about the priesthood and the chaplaincy. The sojourn at the seminary also allowed me to meet two recently co-sponsored seminarians. One of them is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, which has produced an abundance of priestly and religious vocations!

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Before the beginning of the General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I returned to the practice of celebrating Mass at Fort Meade on that Sunday. The community offered a warm welcome and sent me to the hotel in Baltimore with an abundance of food.

The meeting, our first one in person since 2019, went well. It began with a morning of prayer, and most of us agreed that it was the best way to begin. The sessions ended in time for the annual Catholic Distance University Gala, where Bishop Robert Barron received the Founder’s Award and delivered an excellent message which offered food for thought about situations today. He held everyone’s interest.

The AMS Mass and benefit was held two days later, and we were all happy to be together at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Washington, D.C. It

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO GREETING GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE 13TH ANNUAL BENEFIT HELD AT THE SAINT JOHN PAUL II SHRINE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

was good to see friends and supporters. In general, people were happy to be together.

Thanksgiving provided a respite, and I was very pleased to spend the holiday in Cleveland with my sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and a number of friends. The weather was mild for Northeastern Ohio.

Now I am looking forward to visiting Norfolk and Little Creek in Virginia and then a Christmas pastoral visit to Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. It will be good to spend some time with the Catholic communities there. Of course, none of those places is unknown to me, but the priests and many of the people will be different from those present on my last visit. V Christmas 2021 | 11