Adjustments Continue

BY ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO

Challenges provoked by the pandemic continue for all of us. Yet the Archdiocese for the Military Services is ever inventive in finding ways to serve those entrusted to her pastoral care.

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To enter Alaska I had to give evidence of a negative COVID test. The test was negative, but sending the test results taught us that several of the fax machines in the pastoral center did not work! Luckily, the personnel in my primary care physician’s office exemplified persistence.

I did enjoy my time in Alaska. My arrival was in time to celebrate confirmation at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) on Saturday and then the Fourth Sunday of Advent the next day. Fathers José Lachica (Sorsogon, Philippines) and John Reutemann (Washington, D.C.) went out of their way to ensure great hospitality and mounds of snow. Monday of my visit fell on the anniversary of Father Lachica’s ordination to the priesthood and it was good to celebrate Mass with him in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of JBER that afternoon.

The beauty of Alaska even in the wintertime is over-powering. Given that COVID had limited the possibility of any office calls with the leadership, there was time to enjoy that beauty. Of course, the very short days (sunrise around 10:30 a.m. and sunset around 3:15 p.m.) require adjustment. For me it was a novelty, but I kept thinking about those who experience the short days for several months of the year.

On 22 December I flew up to Fairbanks and was greeted by the Vicar General, Father Robert Fath, who also frequently cares for the faithful at two of the military installations in the area. I stayed with the Bishop of Fairbanks, the Most Reverend Chad Zielinski, who had been an Air Force chaplain when he was named to the northernmost see in the States. He is also a superb host and an excellent chef. Moose, salmon, black cod, and more were consumed during the days leading up to Christmas.

An added blessing to the time in Fairbanks was the presence of Josh Miller, an AMS co-sponsored seminarian from the Diocese of Fairbanks. He studies at Mundelein Seminary outside of Chicago, but was in the diocese for Christmas. He accompanied me to all of the liturgical celebrations at Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base and served the Masses.

Neither installation had an active-duty priest present during the time of my visit. Consequently, my visit was also very useful and practical for both of those communities at this special time of the year.

On 24 December the Garrison Chaplain was there to welcome me at the main gate of Fort Wainwright. Midnight Mass there was preceded by a concert of Christmas music which I could hear from the Blessed Sacrament chapel where I heard confessions. The congregation was socially distanced, but fairly large. Newly ordained permanent Deacon Warren Lucero assisted at the Mass. The altar servers were all well-trained.

The drive back to the Bishop’s residence was short, which was helpful, because the next morning would begin early.

A little bit of confusion reigned at the Eielson Air Force Base gate. It was not because anyone had failed to make the arrangements to grant me access to the base. In fact, the Wing Chaplain was at the chapel waiting for me. It seems that with the shift change my authorization landed under other papers. No harm was done and I hope that the airman at the gate did not suffer needlessly!

The welcome to the chapel was warm (despite the ice sculptures by the front door!). In addition to the Wing Chaplain, a young Lutheran chaplain stayed at the sound board throughout the Mass. Of course, there were some confessions and, to my surprise, also a confirmation for a young lady.

It was good to see a number of young families and young airmen at the Mass. While the pandemic has eliminated any sort of fellowship or gathering after the Masses, I did make myself available to greet the faithful. Of course, if we ever meet again, we will have to tell each other who we are— with the masks it would be a challenge to recognize anyone there.

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Bishop Zielinski and I were invited to Father Fath’s parents’ home for Christmas dinner. It was a delightful family gathering reminiscent of a few family Christmas dinners that I have enjoyed since leaving the diplomatic service of the Holy See and assuming responsibility for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

On Holy Family Sunday, I returned to both installations. Prior to the Mass at Fort Wainwright I posed for pictures with the families and blessed the new altar used in the chapel there. Luckily, Josh was able to transport us swiftly to Eielson for Sunday Mass there. We were a bit late, but there were no services after ours.

I had hoped to include the Coast Guard Base in Kodiak on this itinerary. Plans were moving forward, but an outbreak of COVID there obliged them to jettison the plans. It will have to be for another time.

Departure was very late on Sunday evening—just before midnight, but, of course, the arrival in Washington was late in the afternoon on Monday. It had been a very good visit and I am grateful to the chaplain who suggested that I spend Christmas in Alaska.

The month of January only had two trips and both were for retreats. First Cardinal Wuerl offered excellent reflections for us, the Bishops of

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO PRAYING DURING HOLY HOUR AT THE EDWIN CARDINAL O’BRIEN PASTORAL CENTER

Regions IV (DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware) and XIV (the rest of the south-east coast). Then I spent a few days with the Navy priests whose retreat was preached by Bishop Scharfenberger of Albany. Due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic only three active-duty priests were able to attend, but there were several retired chaplains on hand. One of the most touching moments of the second retreat is the annual Mass for the Catholic Navy priests who died in the past year. There were ten this year!

Even the activities around the annual March for Life were quite curtailed this year. I was able to concelebrate the Mass that began the vigil and to hear the excellent homily offered by Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City, KS. After that celebration I led the first of the vigils celebrated across the country (including Alaska and Hawaii). It was a privilege to add my voice in pleading for those who have none.

There were also opportunities to participate virtually in SEEK21 sponsored by FOCUS whose missionaries are so effective at the Military Academies. In that context we held a holy hour that was live-streamed from the main chapel at the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center. It was good to pray for vocations with the participation of so many from many different locations.

Now at this writing, I am trying to see what opportunities there might be to visit some of the communities, but that depends very much on the commanders of the installations and the policies in place. To visit the installations in Alaska, an exception to policy had to be issued at each installation.

There is no doubt that the adjustments will continue, but the Lord will provide. V