Salute - Spring 2023

Dear Friends of the Archdiocese,

These lines are being composed on a plane speeding toward Dulles Airport at the end of several visits. You know how wonderful it is to spend time with the AMS faithful and also to make other related visits. However, there are many miles involved! At least this ight is due to arrive an hour early!

2023 began with gusto and it would appear that a very busy year is ahead for this global archdiocese and her people. You will read this issue just a er Easter Time when we are blessed to celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death. Each day we try to make that victory more our own.

Unlike other parts of the Nation, winter has been benign in Washington, D.C. this year. Snow has been barely visible—which I am sure made life easier for the residents, but must have confounded the weather reporters who are usually so extreme in their descriptions.

Spring is in the air and always brings thoughts of Easter. e renewal of nature should also be a reminder of our continual need for authentic renewal. We want the presence of Christ to be ever more dominant in our hearts and in the world in which we live. Evangelization is the constant mission for a Catholic.

My travel schedule and that of the Auxiliary Bishops are busy. e Presidency of the USCCB has added a few more obligations to my agenda, but, thus far, I am managing.

is issue of Salute will update you on many activities undertaken by the AMS, speak a bit about Christmas visits, and introduce you to another cosponsored seminarian.

I hope that you will enjoy these pages. anking you for your continued support, I wish abundant blessings at Easter and always.

Sincerely in the Risen Lord,

e Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio Archbishop

TABLE of CONTENTS

Christmas 2022

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio

THE CHOSEN: Experiencing the Face of God

Bishop F. Richard Spencer

e Circuit Driver Bishop

Bishop Neal J. Buckon

Another Day, Another Miracle

Bishop Bill Muhm

Unsung Heroes

Bishop Joseph Co ey

e Harvest Continues

Meet Co-Sponsored Seminarian Joseph Heisey

Archbishop Broglio Leads U.S. Military Catholics on the March for Life

Taylor Henry

Preparing for the Year of Parish Revival

Mark Moitoza, TH.D.

e Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, publishes SALUTE for the nation’s Bishops, active and retired military chaplains, and nancial supporters of the Archdiocese.

ADDRESS CHANGES AND NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS: Please send title, name, address and phone number to: support@milarch.org call 202.719.3600 orwrite: Advancement O ce, 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

COVER: ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO BLESSING A UKRAINIAN SOLDIER.

“Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.” – Psalm 139:13-14

28 April 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our Lord chose to o er salvation to the world by becoming en eshed in the womb of His mother, our Blessed Mother. Mary’s witness of carrying God incarnate communicates that human life is a gi to be praised, shared, and celebrated joyfully (see Lk 1:39).

In the genius of the divine detail, preserved through the writing of Saint Luke, God reminds us that even the preborn know Him. John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s womb at the arrival of our Lord. Blessed, indeed, was the fruit of Mary’s womb (Lk 1:41-42).

Jesus’ incarnation rea rms that human life truly is created in God’s image and likeness (Gen 1:26). Each human person is a treasure, uniquely formed and known by God (see Ps 139:14-16). Each life deserves to be protected and loved, at every stage, from conception to natural death.

God assumed the fullness of our humanity in order to o er us salvation. Authentic proclamation of the Gospel, therefore, demands the protection of all human life, for in this way, we profess that the very life of Jesus Christ, our Savior, which began in the womb, and ended on the cross, encompasses our lives as well. To deny the life of a baby in utero is to deny the Incarnation, and thus, the very source of our hope for salvation.

I write today deeply saddened that last week, in a 51-48 vote, the Senate let stand the Administration’s new Department of Veterans A airs’ rule that provides for abortion at Department of Veterans A airs medical centers in certain circumstances. In parallel, the Administration is also implementing a

Department of Defense policy which mandates federal funding for abortion travel and compels military commanders to authorize such undertakings.

e policy and rule, now in e ect, are morally repugnant and incongruent with the Gospel which the faithful are commissioned to share throughout the world (Mt 28:19). Moreover, the new DOD policy and VA rule fail to incorporate basic conscience protections, thus creating First Amendment pitfalls for military commanders and VA employees.

With this letter, I implore the faithful of this Archdiocese to continue to advocate for human life and to refuse any participation in the evil of abortion. As Pope Francis instructs, our defense of the innocent unborn must be “clear, rm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person, regardless of his or her stage of development.”1 He has referred to the crime of abortion as hiring a hitman.

We must also be mindful of our Christian duty to exercise radical solidarity with mothers and families experiencing a challenging pregnancy. As Pope Francis further points out, the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged are “equally sacred.” We must see the face of Jesus in all people and accompany anyone considering abortion by making personal tithes to support those in need, and through advocacy for policies and programs directed toward building up the family and showing particular care for vulnerable people, such as immigrants and low-income families.

Finally, I also encourage wide participation in, and support for, compassionate, post-abortive healing ministries, such as Project Rachel, so that those who have experienced abortion may receive healing and spiritual renewal through Christ’s in nite mercy.

With renewed prayers for the protection of human life and in thanksgiving for your e orts to promote a culture of life throughout the world, I remain

Sincerely in Christ,

( e Most Reverend) Timothy P. Broglio, JCD Archbishop for the Military Services, USA

1 Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exultate, no 101.

BY ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO

WARSAW, THE RESIDENCE OF BISHOP WIESLAW LACHOWICZ, POLISH MILITARY ORDINARY. L-R: FATHER PAWEL PIONTEK, POLISH CHAPLAIN COORDINATING SUPPORT TO U.S. FORCES; BISHOP WIESLAW LACHOWICZ, POLISH MILITARY ORDINARY; ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO; ARCHBISHOP SALVATORE PENNACCHIO, NUNCIO TO POLAND, AND FATHER JERZY RZASOWKSI.

My last contribution to Salute had me in the Houston airport on the way to Poland. When I nally arrived in Warsaw on 17 December, Father Jerzy Rzasowski escorted me to the residence of the Polish Military Bishop, the Most Reverend Wieslaw Lachowicz. Gathered there with him was the Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, the Most Reverend Salvatore Pennacchio (who was recently transferred back to Rome to be the President of the Ponti cal Ecclesiastical Academy, which trains priests for diplomatic service to the Holy See). Several priests also joined us for a festive meal.

I confess that I was pleased to see some snow on the ground. Having spent several Christmas holidays in the Middle East, the sight of snow was refreshing and more seasonal to my mind. It changes the atmosphere and reminded me of the Christmas celebrations at home in Cleveland.

As you can imagine, the lunch was abundant, the conversation in Italian and English was jovial, and the mood was festive. Late that a ernoon we made our way to the home of Archbishop Józef Guzdek, who had been the Military Ordinary prior to Bishop Lachowicz and now is the Archbishop of Białystok.

Finally, I was able to freshen up and to celebrate Mass for the third Saturday of Advent and the rst day of the Novena leading up to Christmas. e religious who keep house for the archbishop had prepared lovely Christmas decorations and a simple evening meal. As you can imagine, I was quite ready to sleep.

Father Rzasowski and I began a good drive the next day a er breakfast and reached the Army post at Pabrade in Lithuania. ere we celebrated Sunday Mass and spent a bit of time with the soldiers. Curiously, one of them contacted his ancée in the States, because she is a FOCUS missionary and was planning to be at SEEK in St. Louis where I was also scheduled to spend some time.

at night we made our way to Vilnius where we were to stay at the Nunciature. Archbishop Petar Rajic, who had been a colleague in the Secretariat of State, and I have met a few times in foreign capitals. He had been the Apostolic Nuncio in Kuwait and we met twice there.

He was a kind host and we were able to see some of the sights around the capital of Lithuania and also to engage with the Archbishop of Vilnius, the Most Reverend Gintaras Grusas, who was raised in the USA. He is also the Apostolic Administrator of the Lithuanian military diocese and the President of CCEE, the Council of Episcopal Conferences in Europe.

e next stop on this pastoral visit was fascinating and the highlights were many. Riga, Latvia is a charming old city. A young lieutenant, recently graduated from West Point, served as our driver and escort. ere was an opportunity to visit and to celebrate Mass at a NATO military installation Adazi. Catholic priests from Latvia, Slovakia, and Poland joined us for the occasion. A brief tour revealed a well-established presence. e Archbishop of Riga also joined us and then invited us for dinner the next night.

continued on page 8

He is quite a scholar and I am enjoying his doctoral thesis, which has been published as a book. Restoring the faith in a nation a er years of communist domination is not easy. ere are also some mild tensions with the dominant Lutheran Church, as well.

A er a courtesy call to the U.S. Ambassador, H.E. John L. Carvile, we were able to visit a hospital where several Ukrainian soldiers were recovering from battle wounds. A few had lost legs and were hoping to obtain prostheses. While soldiers by de nition are young, one of these did not even look old enough to shave. It was good to chat with them. Some spoke English, but there was an interpreter for the others.

ey were all convinced of their cause and eager to return to the ght. I was only more convinced about the senselessness of this war provoked by Russia. e plight of these wounded soldiers certainly intensi ed my prayers for peace with justice in Ukraine. Can we never learn? We had Mass a erwards at the Air Base in Llievarde.

A er the Riga visits we drove back to Poland and stopped at the U.S. Bemowo Piskie training area for Mass and an opportunity to greet some of the soldiers.

On Christmas Eve we made our way to Poznan, a city that I had visited very brie y once before. e friendly pastor of the Polish Garrison parish welcomed us warmly and provided hospitality.

ere was an opportunity to visit Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, who is also the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference. He surprised me with his English. I had expected to use what has become the lingua franca of the international Catholic Church, Italian. We had a good conversation about many topics.

Back at the parish, it was time for the traditional Polish Christmas Eve banquet. It was delicious and abundant. Luckily, we began early enough so that there was time to rest before the Midnight Mass.

at celebration was in the Polish Church. I celebrated in Latin, but the readings, songs, and everything else were in Polish with the exception of a stunning rendition of O Holy Night by the daughter of the U.S. Garrison Chaplain. Of course, there was a little reception a er the Mass. Christmas night was short.

A er a private Christmas Mass at dawn, I made my way with Father Rzasowski to Camp Kosciuszko where we had the third Christmas Mass and a

continued on page 10

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO VISITING A HOSPITAL WHERE SEVERAL UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS WERE RECOVERING FROM BATTLE WOUNDS.

festive Christmas dinner with the U.S. troops. I met some of the commanders and enjoyed several traditional dishes. We were moving down the home stretch of the rst part of my Christmas pastoral visit. A Jewish Rabbi, whom I met at Fort Riley in Kansas, was also present and animated our gathering with some notions about Hanukkah.

e nal stop in Poland was the U.S. installation near Rzeszow, where Father Adolphus Muoghalu of the Archdiocese of New York met us. A very healthy community gathered for Mass and some conversation. e Protestant chaplain of the unit was very welcoming and anxious to facilitate this gathering on St. Stephen’s Day (26 December).

e next day began a very interesting and important adventure. Father Rzasowki and I were ready for an early departure on my part, but our Ukrainian transportation waited an hour for fear of being too early! We met at the hotel at 8 a.m. for the drive to Lviv, Ukraine.

Crossing the border was without di culty, but there was a very long line of vehicles waiting to leave Ukraine, and destruction wrought by the Russian invaders was soon evident.

e drive to Lviv was not long and we arrived in time for me to be installed in the guest accommodations at the student residence of the Catholic University of Ukraine. e rst hours were lled with lunch, a tour of the campus, and ducking in the protected areas under the campus during an air raid. Everyone was very calm, but I wondered how the next days would be and also re ected with great sympathy on the innocent who have been obliged to su er this experience every day for the last year.

We paid a courtesy visit to the local Greek Catholic Archbishop of the city and his auxiliary in the historic residence. I had been there once before on my rst visit to Lviv in about 1996. Our visit was short, but there was a moment to pray in the Cathedral and exchange impressions about the current reality.

at evening the Rector of the Catholic University hosted a celebration in my honor at his residence. It was an opportunity to meet some of the local leadership. It was also a belated celebration of my birthday, complete with a number of lovely gi s and books about Ukraine. I did not realize how many gi s would be given to me in a very short time.

I slept well that night, but with an ear attentive to a possible siren announcing a night raid by the aggressors. anks be to God, nothing came.

e next morning began with a private Mass in the basement of the residence building. e surroundings were all from the Eastern Church, but I had a small missal and Latin Church vestments.

We went quickly to the Garrison Church of the Greek Catholics where there was a brief meeting with one of the Generals of the Ukrainian army and the presentation of a painting of the church. I ended up carrying the painting back to the States with my other carry-on luggage. e airlines were benevolent. Breakfast in a local restaurant followed and I mention it only because they had no power. Cooking the meal was quite an e ort, but they managed to assure that we were well-fed. e Ukrainian hospitality was overwhelming throughout my visit.

I met with the Catholic chaplains of the Ukrainian forces and then participated in the funeral of three soldiers killed during the war. at was tragic.

e oldest soldier was 56 and the other two were younger. e grief of the family members, comrades at arms, and the general population was evident.

e opportunity was a orded to me to o er condolences on behalf of U.S. Catholics, and someone translated my brief remarks into Ukrainian. e poignancy of the unnecessary tragedy was striking.

e grief on the faces of the immediate families is forever etched on my heart.

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO SIGNING THE GUEST BOOK AT THE RESIDENCE OF ARCHBISHOP STANISLAW

GADECKI, PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE.

continued on page 12

CONTINUED

AFTER THE MASS IN PABRADE, LITHUANIA JAS.

L-R: FATHER JERZY RZASOWSKI, CH YAPIAS, BATTALION CHAPLAIN, ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO, WITH TWO SOLDIERS.

Our little group went on to the cemetery where we visited the graves of the victims of this war. en we stayed for the military honors and nal prayers. It was interesting that all of the military funerals for the area around Lviv are held at the Greek Catholic garrison church—regardless of the faith of the deceased. Of course, the Greek Catholic funeral prayer service would be identical to the liturgy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

We rushed back for a brief meeting with the mayor of Lviv who spoke to me about the su ering of the nation and put a rubber bracelet around my le arm. It is in Ukrainian colors (gold and blue) and has the word “unbroken” stamped on it. I have worn it since then as a reminder to pray for these besieged people and to pray for a just peace.

e pastor at the parish presented me with a shell from a bomb that had not exploded and introduced me to his community. e refugee children sang a song and warmed the hearts of all with their smiles. e Catholic Church has really responded to the immediate needs of the victims of war.

e next stop was to the Benedictine monastery where we prayed Vespers. Luckily, they pray in Latin and so I was able to participate actively.

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ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO (L-REAR), CH (COL) SPROUSE (L-CENTER), DEPUTY V CORPS CHAPLAIN AND HIS FAMILY, AND FATHER JERZY RZASOWSKI (R-FRONT) AFTER THE MIDNIGHT MASS IN THE POLISH GARRISON CHURCH.

CONTINUED

FROM

In the evening I was able to spend time with the Latin Archbishop of Lviv, the Most Reverend Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, who had been a secretary both to St. John Paul II and the late Pope Benedict XVI. We have been friends for a long time and spoke about both ponti s. At that date, 28 December, the late Pope Benedict was still alive, even though we knew it was only a matter of time.

e next morning I joined the seminarians at the Ukrainian Catholic Seminary for a beautiful Mass. Luckily, they provided a book in English, but the chant and the Byzantine Liturgy were heavenly. At the end of Mass I addressed the seminary community in Italian and the Vice Rector translated my remarks into Ukrainian. I tried to be brief because I knew that only breakfast and my words stood between the students and the beginning of Christmas vacation (at that time they still celebrated Christmas on 7 January).

e 36 hours in Kyiv were quite full. His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Major Archbishop of Kyiv welcomed me warmly to his house and, a er changing into a house cassock I visited his cathedral and signed the missal. e custom in Ukraine is to have a visitor sign the altar missal. en I met with several chaplains to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. eir chief is a line o cer and not a chaplain. ey peppered me with questions about the chaplaincy to the U.S. Armed Forces.

A er years of Communist rule, their experience with military chaplaincy is somewhat limited. I do hope that I was able to o er them useful guidance.

e next day was jam-packed with activities, beginning with Mass at the Apostolic Nunciature. I had been present at its dedication in 1996. e Nuncio spoke to us at length during breakfast. His comments about the war and the dire situation in the country were extremely interesting.

From the Nunciature we went to the o ce of the Prime Minister and saw a bit of the downtown on the way. All public buildings are protected with sandbags and monuments have protection around them, as well.

e Prime Minister spoke about the needs of the country in the coming months. He addressed practical needs such as generators, the medical expertise of the U.S. with prostheses and their installation, and other similar concepts.

continued on page 16

AFTER THE MASS IN RZESZOW-JASIONKA. ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO (CENTER BACK) AND CONCELEBRANT FATHER ADOLPHUS MUOGHALU (R).

However, the thrust of his conversation was about the need for healing, psychologists, and psychiatrists to guide the people from the grim experience of war to a more peaceful existence. He impressed all of us with his command of English.

e next stop was the Latin Cathedral of Kyiv and a delightful visit with Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi and his young Auxiliary, Bishop Oleksandr Yazlovetskiy. ey made certain that I noticed the crack in the arch that had been erected decades ago as a sign of friendship between Ukraine and Russia. at relationship, however, is destroyed more than being merely “cracked”.

e nal stop was to the o ces of the Greek Catholic Charities or Caritas. eir work, directed by a young woman who used to work for the USCCB, is rst rate. ey have responded to so many needs across the country and have spent the charitable donations from around the world very well. It was fascinating to listen to her narration.

MASS IN RZESZOW, JASIONKA

Before the curfew arrived, we all piled into a small car and went to the train station where I took a spot in a sleeping car back to Lviv. is return was deemed the best use of time because traveling to Warsaw by car from Kyiv would have taken us too close to Belarus from which country most of the bombers depart. New Year’s Eve dawned as I arrived in Lviv, celebrated Mass, and had breakfast before departing for Warsaw by van. It would be a long ride punctuated by the driver’s smoke breaks and a stop for lunch.

I ew back to Washington via Frankfurt from Warsaw on New Year’s Day. I could not believe that I walked to the airport to check my bags without an overcoat. It was that mild in Warsaw on January 1st. ere would be much more to tell you, but I have already surpassed my allotted space. Pray for the liberation of Ukraine! V

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO, WITH TROOPS, AFTER MASS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CHAPEL IN ADAZU BAZE, LATVIA.

THE CHOSEN: Experiencing the Face of God

BY BISHOP F. RICHARD SPENCER

May you enjoy a very Happy and Blessed Easter experience! Rejoice, for the Lord is risen, and we experience the face of His presence through each one of us and through the diverse ministries that we exercise as His disciples within this global Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA!

Yes, you have been called to manifest your creation in the image and likeness of God. For example, this past October three new Military Section members of the Middle Atlantic Lieutenancy

of e Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), were chosen to join this service-oriented Catholic Order of Knighthood under the patronage of the Holy See. Congratulations to Sir Mark Baaden, Sir George Farris, and Sir Robert Feliz! Likewise, ve from our Military Section were chosen to advance in leadership roles: promoted to Knight Commander, Sir Daniel ompson. Promoted to Knight Commander with Star, Sir James Gregory Jolissaint, and Sir Guy Sands-Pingot. Promoted to Dame Commander with Star, Dame

Deborah Ann Jolissaint, and Dame

Anita Marie Raines. (New members and promoted members pictured on page 18). To learn more about EOHSJ, contact the Military Section Leader, Colonel Anita Raines amraines17@ gmail.com

Also recently chosen for special recognition were two of our USAF student priests, Father Aaron Ferris from Hill AFB and Father Tim Mergen. Father Mergen was selected to receive the highly-coveted Commandant’s Award for the best student paper

composed during the course of their studies. He re ected on the life of Saint Martin of Tours and how it applied to today’s military chaplaincy. In the picture below, le to right, are Father Reutemann, the Course Manager for the Basic O cer Course of the USAF Chaplain School, Father Mergen, Bishop F. Richard Spencer, Father Aaron Ferris, and Father Paul Amaliri, who is completing his one-year residency coursework, Air Command and Sta College (ACSC).

continued on page 20

Another recent “chosen” story happened at Fort Gordon Army Hospital this past February where the full-time hospital contract priest, Father Tommy Raphael, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, USAR, for the Army Chaplaincy. e faith community for the hospital

chapel gathered for the daily hospital Mass (pictured below) and then celebrated with a festive luncheon in the hallways of the hospital, thus allowing many folks to stop by and congratulate Father Raphael on his commissioning as an Army O cer.

“Yes, you have been called to manifest your creation in the image and likeness of God.”

Later that same evening while at Fort Gordon I celebrated the sacrament of con rmation for six young adults who were prepared to complete their initiation in the Catholic Church. In this chapel con rmation clergy picture, along with the Con rmandi,

are (le to right) Father Okoth, senior priest for Fort Gordon, Father Raphael, the hospital contract chaplain, Bishop Spencer, and Father Simon Obeng, contract chapel priest. V

L-R BACK ROW: FATHER OKOTH, SENIOR PRIEST FOR FORT GORDON, FATHER RAPHAEL, THE HOSPITAL CONTRACT CHAPLAIN, BISHOP F. RICHARD SPENCER, AND FATHER SIMON OBENG, CONTRACT CHAPEL PRIEST.

THE CIRCUIT DRIVER BISHOP

BY BISHOP NEAL J. BUCKON

The title of this article is a modi cation of an American Christian song, “ e Circuit Rider Preacher.” Although I can ride a horse, the preferred means of transportation is a rental car. Albeit preaching is a fundamental task while driving on a circuit and visiting Department of Defense installations; I also teach the faith, exchange important information with the Catholic community’s leadership team, and celebrate the sacraments (especially con rmation) with the Catholic faithful. Circuit driving is a labor of love for those who love. e Catholics in our military chapel communities love God, love their Country, and they love the esprit de corps of their chapel’s community of faith. I am blessed to be on this journey of Serving ose Who Serve.

In February, I conducted a Tri-State circuit driving trip through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. e 18-day jaunt through the deep south took me to seven military bases: NAS JRB New Orleans, Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Keesler AFB, Columbus AFB, Little Rock AFB, Barksdale AFB, and Fort Polk. Every year there is a new experience on the circuit. Since my visit last year, a new ministry began at the Stennis Space Center (SSC) in Mississippi! Father Paddy Mockler, the contract priest at NCBC Gulfport, began to celebrate one daily Mass every week during the lunch hour at the NASA SSC research and rocket engine test center with the

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L-R: DEACON DOUGLAS MCNAIR; BISHOP BUCKON; CHAPLAIN, LT. MONYA STUBBS, USN; FATHER PADDY MOCKLER; CHAPLAIN, LT. WILESLIE WINT.

THE CIRCUIT DRIVER BISHOP

assistance of Deacon Douglas McNair. e Deacon is employed at the SSC and he is ordained to serve in the Diocese of Biloxi. Deputy command chaplain, LTJG Wileslie Wint served as my escort o cer for the day and oversaw my processing onto the NASA property and drove me to the room that was prepared for the celebration of Mass.

Before the next circuit drive, I conducted annual pastoral visits to the Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA, and the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, AZ. I also represented the AMS at Bishop David O’Connell’s funeral

KC-135 STRATOTANKER SIMULATOR L-R: LT COL JON CAMILLETI, MAJ GRANT STARKWEATHER, BISHOP NEAL J. BUCKON, AND A1C JOSHUA REYES.

at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA. Each destination is just hours away from my home base at Sacred Heart Church on Coronado Island, CA. Every mission is important.

e itinerary next called for a 10-day peregrination on the Great Plains in Oklahoma and North Texas to visit Fort Sill, Altus AFB, Tinker AFB, and Sheppard AFB. I always enjoy returning to Fort Sill, OK, where I served as the Garrison Chaplain from 2006-2008, and seeing all the great Americans that I still call “friends.” e Sunday 8 am Mass at Fort Sill can count as many as 350 recruits in Basic Training among the participants. Our soldiers are never far from home when they can attend Mass. ere were two new experiences on this circuit.

e rst surfaced during my visit to Altus AFB, OK. Father Dennis DeGuzman, USAF, Wing Chaplain, arranged for me to visit the 97th Training Squadron and spend 30 minutes in a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker ight simulator. e pilots trained for this airframe will perform aerial refueling missions all over the world! e second extraordinary learning opportunity was arranged by

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THE CIRCUIT DRIVER BISHOP

Father Basil Eruo, Chaplain, at Sheppard AFB, who arranged a meeting with the instructors and the students at the 364th Training Squadron’s Petroleum Oil and Lubricant (POL) schoolhouse. e aircra and vehicles of the USAF will not move unless the POL Airmen are doing their job. America’s greatest resource is the talented o spring of our American families. Our Nation and our Church will only be as strong as our families!

A er the circuit drive on the Great Plains, I met with friends at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico where we gathered to participate in the annual Bataan Memorial Death March. e event drew 5,500 participants this year. On Friday evening we met Father Chris Adunchezor, the contract priest at WSMR, and prayed the Stations of the Cross in the historic Sierra Chapel. On Saturday, the Most Reverend Peter Baldacchino, Bishop of Las Cruces, participated at the anticipated Mass in the Main Post Chapel. A erwards, we joined Brigadier General Eric Little, Commander of WSMR, and other participants in a pasta dinner. On Sunday, our team completed the 14-mile honorary march. Every mile marker was like a station on the Way of the Cross, as we remembered the service, sacri ce, and valor of our service members in every con ict and war. e following day I completed the circuit and returned home to Coronado and rested.

For over one hundred years Catholic service members of the United States Armed Forces have guaranteed our freedoms, rst and foremost of which is the free exercise of religion. V

L-R: COL MENO, MAJ MOUNT, BISHOP BUCKON, CMS VERRIER, KNEELING: CDR HALKO

Another Day, Another Miracle

BY BISHOP BILL MUHM

In January (before the tragic earthquakes), I visited Catholic service members and U. S. State Department employees, and their family members, serving in Turkey. Father John Machiorlatti, in his rst active-duty assignment as an Air Force chaplain at Incirlik Air Base, met me in Ankara and concelebrated Saturday anticipated Mass there. Early the next morning, he and I traveled from Ankara to Incirlik Air Base, arriving at 9:30 am. Sunday Mass at Incirlik Chapel was scheduled for 11:00am. I could not enter the base because of unresolved security protocols. It was no one’s fault; everyone was trying their best to get me in as soon as possible. Eventually at 10:55 am I asked Father Machiorlatti to go the chapel and celebrate Sunday Mass for the Catholic community while I waited at the gate. I had planned to con rm Senior Airman Giuliana Garcia, USAF, at Mass but of course was unable to. However, when Mass ended, Father Machiorlatti and all Catholics who attended Mass that day came to me at the main gate Pass & I.D. waiting room. I opened my bag and pulled out my Sacred Chrism oil

stock and con rmation ritual, and I, in my traveling clothes, con rmed Giuliana, with the Catholic community seated comfortably in attendance in the Pass & I.D. waiting room! It was an unusual, beautiful, and unforgettable celebration of the Sacrament of Con rmation (outside of Mass).

e graces of the sacrament were not only for Giuliana; they over owed to everyone present: her sponsor Sandra Neuman, Father Machiorlatti and the Catholic community, the 39th Air Base Wing Chaplain and his deputy, the security forces at the gate, several “innocent bystanders”, and me. e Holy Spirit uni ed and evangelized everyone present. e Spirit also opened the gate of the base to me: when the con rmation ended, I was cordially invited to enter the base! I joined the Catholic community for a wonderful home-cooked lunch in the chapel annex. is is just one of many miracles that take place regularly in the AMS vineyard. ank you for your prayers and support for all of us at AMS. V

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OPPOSITE: BISHOP MUHM CONFIRMS SENIOR AIRMAN GIULIANA GARCIA, USAF, AT THE MAIN GATE OF INCIRLIK AIR BASE, SUNDAY 22 JANUARY 2023. SANDRA NEUMAN STANDS BEHIND GIULIANA AS HER SPONSOR.

BELOW: AT MAIN GATE OF INCIRLIK AIR BASE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: SANDRA NEUMAN, BISHOP MUHM, SENIOR AIRMAN GIULIANA GARCIA, USAF, AND FATHER JOHN MACHIORLATTI, USAF.

Unsung Heroes

BY BISHOP JOSEPH COFFEY

One of the great joys of being the Vicar for Veterans A airs for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, is making pastoral visits to the Catholic priest-chaplains who work in our 150-plus Veterans A airs Medical Centers (VAMC) in the United States. Each one of these priestchaplains, along with the military chaplains are endorsed by the Archbishop for the Military Services, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio. In the last 3 years, I have been to many of these VAMCs. On Saturday, 25 February 2023, I made a pastoral visit to the VAMC in Philadelphia, PA. It is across the street from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in the University City section of Philadelphia. is VAMC has a very interesting history. Built in 1950 it was renamed the Michael J Crescenz VAMC in honor of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz who was killed in action during the Vietnam War. Michael was born in Philadelphia on 14 January 1949, and went to grade school at St. Athanasius Parish in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia. A er graduating from Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1966, he worked for two years and then enlisted in the Army in February 1968, and shipped out to Vietnam in September 1968. His older brother Charles served as a Marine in Vietnam for 13 months. On 20 November 1968, Corporal Michael Crescenz was killed in battle. For his heroism that day, he received the Medal of Honor (MOH). Michael is the only veteran from Philadelphia to receive a MOH. His family accepted our Nation’s highest military honor from President Nixon at a White House ceremony on 7 April 1970.

During my pastoral visit to this VAMC, I concelebrated Mass with the priestchaplain on duty that day, Father Ukachukwu Onyeabor. ere are two other priest chaplains assigned to this VAMC Father Philip Denig and Father Michael Lipareli but they were o duty on the day of my visit. Many of our VA priestchaplains come from other countries. ey bring a wide variety of experiences and all do a great job with our veterans, their families, and the sta . Father Onyeabpor was born in Nigeria. He served in what was known back then as the Biafra Army. A er many years of parish ministry as a pastor and on faculty at a major seminary, his bishop gave him permission to come to the United States for graduate studies at Fordham University in pastoral counseling. Father Onyeabpor received 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education while completing a residency in York, PA, and has been full-time at the VAMC in Philadelphia since 2011. In his native language, his name means “helper, back up, trusted friend, and companion” which are all great qualities we would want in any priest-chaplain in ministry to our Veterans. V

memorial mass

29th Annual Memorial Mass Remembering and Honoring All Who Served

BY MARY LAVIN

All who have served our nation in uniform, living or deceased, were once again honored at the AMS Annual Memorial Mass on Sunday, 21 May 2023, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. - the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America. e Annual Memorial Mass is an event to which all Catholic faithful are invited and encouraged to attend with the hope that one day the event will be standing room only.

e Memorial Mass is an opportunity to gather as a community of faith to remember and honor with gratitude the service and sacri ce of all who have served in the U.S. Military and for the families of those who paid the ultimate sacri ce, and to join veterans and service members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families to pray for peace.

Members of Gold Star Families of America and Blue Star Mothers of America also attend yearly and participate in special ways, including the O ertory procession, during which hundreds of names and intentions asked to be remembered are presented at the altar. Gold Star Families are those who have lost a family member serving active-duty, and Blue Star Moms have a son or daughter who is serving or has been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces.

e Annual Memorial Mass is indeed a poignant reminder of the cost of the freedoms we as a country take for granted. A collective silence follows the nal blessing as Taps is played by a single bugler from high atop the nave in the choir lo to honor those who made the ultimate sacri ce.

It has long been hoped that one day every pew will be lled for the Annual Memorial Mass, with standing room only along the sides. It could be more than a hope with your help.

Please consider attending next year, especially if you live within driving distance of our nation’s capital. e Mass is open to the public, and the day’s uniform is business attire for civilians or military equivalent. e Basilica is air-conditioned and disabled-accessible for those who may require it. ere is a whole year to plan. V

THE HARVEST CONTINUES...

NAME: Joseph Heisey

DIOCESE: Archdiocese of Washington

ARMED FORCES BRANCH: Army

RANK: 1st Lieutenant

COLLEGE(S) / UNIVERSITY(IES) / SEMINARY(IES)

ATTENDED (DEGREES AWARDED): Catholic University of America, B.S. Physics, eological College, M Div (current)

HIGH SCHOOL(S) ATTENDED: St Mary’s Ryken, Leonardtown, MD

HOBBIES: Woodworking, hiking

TEAM SPORTS: Wrestling, boxing

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD?

During cadet training in ROTC, I was talking to a chaplain candidate who mentioned the need for Catholic chaplains. From that point, the idea never le my mind and the need became more obvious during training exercises and time in the reserves.

WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY?

Stories of heroic priests, especially Father Kapaun and Father Capodanno. eir heroism was motivated by the grace of God which they received through following their vocations. Good friends before and during seminary have always supported me.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY?

John 1:5 “ e light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” It is an image of the strength of Jesus against sin and death. Darkness sometimes seems larger but it cannot overcome one.

HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY?

rough silent prayer and the example of people who lived the Faith vigorously. Jesus has been there to give me strength and wisdom whenever I needed it.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES THAT HELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH? Silent retreats are paramount. ose are the times that strip away everything nonessential to bring you into a close conversation with Jesus and give you a sense of purpose. Parish and unit ministry activities make the need for the Church clear. People always have a need for the spirit- lled work of the Church in their lives, even if they are unaware of such a need. Being a minister of this work is a great privilege.

HAVE ANY SAINTS OR CHURCH LEADERS PARTICULARLY INSPIRED YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY?

Saint Joseph is my favorite saint. I admire his silence, protectiveness, and trust in God. He was disciplined and did his daily work without complaining. He took care of the people entrusted to him.

WHAT WAS THE NEXT TO LAST BOOK YOU READ, AND WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I recently reread Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry and am now working my way through the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPIRITUAL BOOK?

e Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis.

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE?

Teddy Roosevelt, Father Emil Kapaun, Saint Joseph, Ernest Shackleton, Joan of Arc.

DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH? WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW?

I have the opportunity to participate in liturgy at eological College in various ministries: lector, acolyte, sacristan, and master of ceremonies. I serve Sunday Masses at my parish assignment. rough these ministries, I get to experience how the Church prays the liturgy in various ways, and how it meets the needs of di erent communities. I pray the Liturgy of the Hours. e Church’s liturgical life is indispensable for my personal prayer since it provides the Word of God. I start each day with a Holy Hour where I read the scriptures and spend time in contemplation. is is when God speaks to me. is gives clarity and purpose to the day which can be lled with business and distraction. V

U.S. Military Catholics Join First In-Person SEEK

Faith Conference in Two Years

BY TAYLOR HENRY

For the rst time in two years organizers staged the annual SEEK Catholic faith conference in person 2 – 6 January 2023, in St. Louis. Some of the nation’s best and brightest future military leaders were among more than 17,000 people from throughout the United States and other countries, including Ireland, Austria, Germany, and Mexico, to participate “SEEK23: You Are Called,” hosted by Denver-based FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). FOCUS, a 25-year-old religious organization, stages SEEK each year in an ongoing mission to help Catholic college students and young adults explore the Gospel and answer God’s call in their lives through interpersonal sharing, but the 2021 and 2022 gatherings were held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among U.S. Military members taking part in the conference were 49 from the Army, three from the Marine Corps, 25 from the Navy, and 28 from the Air Force. ey came to St. Louis from installations as far and wide as Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Fort Liberty in North Carolina, Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

e ve days of prayer, talks, group sessions, confession, and liturgical celebration were punctuated by the occasional surprise. Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in the hit series e Chosen, surprised the SEEK23 audience by playing trivia with students and speakers on stage and then sharing his testimony. He encouraged attendees, “If you feel like you need some sort of breakthrough in your life, if you need some sort of opportunity to go further and something’s holding you back, ask yourself: Have you completely surrendered to God?”

SEEK23 o ered several tributes to the late Pope Benedict XVI, who died on 31 December. ey included an all-week memorial at the Adoration Chapel and a Mass for the Dead on ursday, 5 January. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), was the principal celebrant and homilist. Archbishop Broglio preached, “ e passing of Pope Benedict is a reminder of God’s divine love for us and the opportunity to respond to the Lord.” Archbishop Broglio, recently elected to lead the USCCB and fresh from a visit to war-torn Ukraine, urged attendees not to leave SEEK23 “without recognizing the immense love of God for you and the amazing opportunities to witness to His name in our daily lives.”

e ongoing participation of military Catholics, including cadets and midshipmen, is coordinated by FOCUS missionary teams at the military academies. e Vocations O ce and the Evangelization O ce of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), under the direction of Archbishop Broglio, collaborate with the FOCUS missionaries to invite and encourage participation on the part of military members. At SEEK23, the AMS Evangelization team, led by Mark Moitoza, .D., D. Min., AMS Vice-Chancellor for Evangelization, facilitated discussion among participating military Catholics. Casey Lee, Associate Director for Young Adult Ministry led a panel discussion. More than 180 participants, including ROTC students from colleges around the country, engaged in the dynamic conversation.

SEEK23 organizers helped the AMS Evangelization team set up some militaryconnected small groups during the daily a ernoon “Making Missionary Disciples Small Group Power Session.” In a brown bag military lunch panel on Wednesday, 4 January participants heard from active-duty military Catholics about the ways they live out their Catholic faith on active duty. at evening, they mingled and shared stories at a social gathering sponsored by the AMS. V

Archbishop Broglio Leads

U.S. Military Catholics on March for Life

BY TAYLOR HENRY

Dozens of Catholic U.S. Military personnel and members of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), walked in the 50th annual March for Life on Friday, 20 January 2023, along the National Mall. It was the rst March for Life since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on 24 June 2022, overturning Roe v. Wade (1973), which had declared a constitutional right to abortion. e AMS delegation included cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), led the delegation through the heart of the nation’s capital under mostly clear skies in mild winter weather. Among those walking the route were Father Mark Rutherford, J.C.L., AMS Judicial Vicar; Father S. Matthew Gray, AMS Director of Vocations; Brother Carlos Hernandez, O.F.M. Cap., who serves in campus ministry at West Point; and Chaplains Father Curtiss P. Dwyer, CHC, LCDR, USN, currently stationed at the Naval Academy, Father David R. Kirk, CH (MAJ), USA, and Father Christopher J. Yakkel, Ch, Capt, USAF.

e peaceful demonstration in favor of the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death was joined by tens of thousands along the onemile route beginning on the National Mall and continuing all the way to the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building. e March was followed by “Silent No More” testimonies outside the Supreme Court. e theme of March for Life 2023 was “Next Steps: Marching in a Post-Roe America.” According to organizers, the theme “emphasizes the need in the absence of Roe v. Wade for pro-life advocates to continue boldly marching in defense of the unborn – both on the state and federal level – and advocating for a minimum federal standard to protect innocent life against radical pro-abortion legislation.”

Just before leading the AMS delegation to the National Mall for the March, Archbishop Broglio, in his homily at the daily noon Mass in the main chapel of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center in Northeast Washington, told marchers their demonstration is primarily a testimony to dignity of the human person. It is authentically pro-life:

continued on page 40

“Today’s prayer, and the March, are all about the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death. We reverence and defend life from the womb to the tomb because we believe that such respect ows from the innate dignity of the human person. By the same token we strive to assist the poor, to ease the tensions provoked by racism, to care for the migrant, to support Ukraine against unjust aggression, and to foster human development here in our country and abroad. All of those activities stem from the fact that Almighty God created the human person in His image and likeness…. Our activities today are not so much against as they are for, because we all want to share life in abundance with the Lord.”

March for Life 2023 followed a rally at the starting point. Speakers included Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, VA, Chairman of the USCCB Pro-life Activities Committee; actor Jonathan Roumie, best known for his award-winning role as “Jesus” in the groundbreaking series, e Chosen, a drama about the life of Jesus Christ; Pro-Football Hall of Famer Coach Tony Dungy; Dr. Christina Francis, CEO-elect of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG); Ms. Gina Tomes, Director of the Bethlehem House Maternity Home; Sister Mary Casey of the Sisters of Life; Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who won the Dobbs case; U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana; and Congressman Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-life Caucus. e rally was preceded by a concert featuring the musical group, We Are Messengers. V

Save the Dates

Virtual Q&A for Men Discerning Priesthood and Military Chaplaincy

10 June 2023 - 5:00 p.m. EST - Zoom

To register: contact the AMS Office of Vocations

Vocations@milarch.org • (202) 719-3651

Labor Day Weekend for Co-Sponsored Seminarians

1-3 September 2023

Washington, DC

Archbishop Broglio will participate

Memorial Mass for Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM

5 September 2023 - 6:30 p.m.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

400 Michigan Avenue NE • Washington, DC 20017

Archbishop Broglio will be the principal celebrant and homilist

Fall Discernment Retreat for Prospective

Co-Sponsored Seminarians

28 September - 1 October 2023

St. Mary’s Seminary • Baltimore, MD

Archbishop Broglio will participate

Annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services

1 October 2023 - 3:30 p.m.

The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

339 South Seton Avenue • Emmitsburg, MD 21727

Auxiliary BishopF. Richard Spencerwill be the principal celebrant and homilist. Complimentary dinner afterward

15th Annual Benefit

18 November 2023

Saint John Paul II National Shrine

3900 Harewood Road NE • Washington, D.C. 20017

www.milarch.org/annual-benefit

Preparing for the Year of Parish Revival

BY MARK MOITOZA, TH.D.

Last June, the bishops in the United States announced a three-year Eucharistic Revival that began on the Feast of Corpus Christi. is current year, known as the Year of Diocesan Revival, invites diocesan sta , bishops, and priests to respond to the Lord’s personal invitation and equips them to share the love of Christ with the faithful through eucharistic congresses and events. In August, the AMS hosted a virtual Novena to Saint John Marie Vianney to pray for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life. It remains available on the AMS website, https://www. milarch.org/resource/nationaleucharistic-revival/.

Soon the National Eucharistic Revival moves into the Year of Parish Revival, from 11 June 2023, through 17 July 2024. It will place an emphasis on the parish (Catholic faith community), diocesan, and digital e orts focusing on formation, community, and encounters. ere is not a program to download and follow, but rather an encouragement to foster a grassroots initiative that ts the needs of your

community. A variety of resources are available on the National Eucharistic Revival website, https:// www.eucharisticrevival.org/.

e four pillars of the revival are:

Personal Encounters: Bring your people to Jesus

Reinvigorating Devotion: Receive Jesus. Worship Jesus

Deepening Formation: Learn and preach the truth about Jesus

Missionary Sending: Go out and bring Jesus to the world

While this Eucharistic movement is national in scale it also has a local reach. Much has been written recently indicating that around 50 percent of Catholics are unaware of the Church’s doctrine on the Real Presence. e revival seeks to promote bold clarity in the true teaching of the Church to encourage understanding. is includes pursuing robust formation through spiritual reading, educational events, and study groups that will help many to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist. e more intimately we

know Our Lord, the better we can love Him, serve Him, and bring other people to know Him!

Consider ways that your community may pursue these four pillars in the coming year. Gather with a core team to pray and consider what could be encouraged locally. A visit to the EucharisticRevival.org website will surface additional resources. For example, the leaders guide has suggestions for each pillar to build your own unique revival blueprint. A free online course and bulletin inserts (scroll down to Resources) are also available to share with your community.

Today much is written about absence and anxiety. As the world becomes

increasingly digitally connected there remains a deep longing for personal relationships that o en get lost in the digital mix of daily life. Helping people recognize the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist renews relationships between the individual and the Lord. It also renews the Church, and helps each one of us to recognize the healing presence of God’s love in our daily lives. Encourage your Catholic faith community to make the Year of Parish revival a blessing for all. e following year begins with the National Eucharistic Congress to be celebrated in Indianapolis, Indiana from 17-21 July 2024. From there the Church in the United States enters a Year of Going Out on Mission in anticipation of the Universal Church celebrating a Year of Jubilee in 2025.

“May the risen Lord fill your hearts with His presence and give you serenity in these challenging days. Let us continue to support one another in prayer.” –Archbishop Timothy

P. Broglio