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