SUMMER 2020
THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA
Serving
THOSE IN NEED
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Dear Friends of the Archdiocese,
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o doubt this will be one of the most unusual issues of Salute that I have ever sent. The pandemic that has taken hold of the world touched the pastoral activities in favor of the military and restricted movement. The priests who serve the military have been extraordinary in their creativity and efforts to minister to the faithful, sustain morale, and buttress the hope of those in anguish about the future. These ordained ministers are extraordinary men, but they really demonstrated their ability and, more importantly, their deep concern for those they serve. The bishops saw our margin of action severely limited by travel and access to installations restrictions, but Bishop Muhm managed to visit Guam, and Bishop Spencer crossed the threshold of many installations. All of us learned to celebrate the Eucharist before a camera, cell phone, or some other instrument facilitating live-streaming. Many, but not all, of the AMS co-sponsored seminarians returned to their dioceses and continued academic classes on line. Ordinations have been celebrated, moved, or restricted to a handful of people. The Lord always provides for His Church. My prayers continued to be offered for the victims of the virus, those who care for them, families who have lost loved ones, and those who live paralyzed by fear. Fortunately, the AMS Pastoral Center was allowed to continue with a skeleton staff, while most of the employees worked from home. The Archdiocese is grateful for the continued support of so many generous donors, even in this uncertain time. Enjoy the following pages of this issue. I pray that Almighty God might grant you good health and serenity in the days of summer and beyond. Thank you for your continued interest in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Just as preparations were almost concluded for this issue, the Country was buffeted by demonstrations provoked by the death of George Floyd. The military has long given witness to the ability of men and women of different races and ethnic groups to work together. However, we all pray for racial equality and mutual respect for all peoples.
Sincerely in Christ,
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The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop
THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA
VOLUME 14 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2020
TA B L E o f C O N T E N T S 4 Headquarters Rediscovered
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio
Bishop F. Richard Spencer
Bishop Neal J. Buckon
Bishop William “Bill” Muhm
Bishop Joseph L. Coffey
The Reverend Mr. Edward Hoffmann
Taylor Henry
Casey Lee
Mark Moitoza, Th.D.
12 Ministering within the Challenges of Mother Nature 14 The Paschal Triduum Like No Other 20 There is a Balm in Gilead 28 VAMC Heroes
32 The Harvest Continues, Meet Co-Sponsored Seminarian:
37 USS Theodore Roosevelt Chaplains Launch Plan for Safe Worship after Coronavirus Outbreak 40 Young Adult Ministry (YAM) Symposium 42 Prayers for the Dead
COVER: SERVING THOSE IN NEED
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.
SUMMER 2020
THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA
Serving
THOSE IN NEED
ADDRESS CHANGES AND NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS: Please send title, name, address, and phone number to: support@milarch.org call 202.719.3600 or write: Advancement Office, Archdiocese for the
Military Services, P.O. Box 4469, Washington, D.C., USA 20017-0469
COVER STORY ON PAGE 11
Feedback, letters to the editor: editor@milarch.org | Website: www.milarch.org
Summer 2020
Summer 2020
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HEADQUARTERS
REDISCOVERED BY: ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO
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MASS AT THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
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ormally, my quarterly article to you is filled with details about pastoral visitation, Catholic communities across the globe, and the valiant men, women, and families who serve the Nation. Something called the Coronavirus altered my agenda. You all know its effects very well. January and February were still very full. After the bishops’ retreat at the beautiful Bethany Center near Tampa, Florida I flew to Israel for a visit to the Christian communities there along with several bishops from Western Europe, Canada, and South Africa. This was my second and last trip with the Holy Land Coordination, a gesture of solidarity to increasingly isolated populations in Israel. The first stop was Gaza where I presided at Sunday Mass for the Baptism of the Lord. The Catholic community is vibrant, but not nearly as numerous as it once was. It was amazing to see the charitable outreach and to visit some families in their homes. Leaving Gaza was probably one of the most degrading experiences in my life. Obliged to remove our shoes, coats, and collars, empty our pockets, walk through an internal check point filled with cameras, microphones, long corridors, and screens we had to wait for our luggage which was completely inspected by hand. Can you imagine enduring that anytime you want to leave Gaza to go to Jerusalem? continued on page 6 THE ISRAELI WEST BANK BARRIER NEAR ADU DIS, JERUSALEM.
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The rest of the visit included a kindergarten separated from the occupied territories with a wall right through the property. We also had Mass with the Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, met with some officials at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and with the Palestinian Government in Ramallah. After the final Mass with the Catholic parishioners at Holy Family Parish in Ramallah I made my way to the airport in Tel Aviv. My driver, a Palestinian, was convinced ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO, WEST POINT that he would be searched at CADETS, AND AMS STAFF PARTICIPATING IN THE RIGHT TO LIFE MARCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. the first gate for the airport and told the police that we were coming from Haifa! I suspect that my diplomatic passport from the Holy See protected the driver from the feared search. The return from the Navy retreat in Palm Beach was designed to allow my participation in the annual vigil for life and the march. As usual, several cadets from West Point joined the staff of the AMS in this annual walk in favor of the unborn. This year the weather could not have been more clement. The annual visit to West Point took place just before I left for the National Catholic Bioethics Center’s symposium for bishops in Dallas. Those lectures are always very useful and the center is an extremely valuable
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asset for the Church in these complex times. Their staff has often aided individuals in the military when confronted by a moral dilemma. One of the AMS co-sponsored seminarians, Peter St. George (Diocese of Arlington) was in charge of Mount 2000 (a gathering for youth aged 1318) and ably demonstrated his leadership skills throughout the weekend. I was invited to celebrate the closing Mass at the seminary in Emmitsburg on Sunday, but came out a day early to be with the military participants and to hear confessions. No one told me that I would be busy for two hours in the afternoon and three in the evening. It was a wonderful experience. The visit also allowed me an opportunity to visit with the many co-sponsored seminarians who are studying at Mt. St. Mary’s. Little did I know that they would soon be returning to their dioceses to continue their education online.
ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO (CENTER), AT MOUNT ST. MARY’S, WITH THE AMS GROUP THAT ATTENDED MOUNT 2000 IN FEBRUARY.
The next week gave me an opportunity to visit Maxwell Air Force Base and the priests preparing for the chaplaincy there. The visit provided the occasion for some office calls with the leadership both of the Air University and the Chaplain School. It was good to celebrate Mass and to enjoy a meal with the priests there. continued on page 8 Summer 2020
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I arrived back in D.C. on Friday evening 14 February so that I could leave for Rome the next afternoon. While the transatlantic trip was for a meeting in the Secretariat of State on Monday morning, it was good to see some friends and enjoy a lovely meal in a Roman restaurant. Once again I was unaware that such events would soon be remembered privileges! The first inkling was in the airport on Monday afternoon when the agent at Alitalia asked me if I had been in China! I arrived in Washington at 10:15 p.m. so that I could board a plane anew on Tuesday morning at 5:55 and begin the pastoral visit to the installations in Wyoming and Colorado. The time out west followed the usual pattern and provided many opportunities to visit with the faithful, celebrate L-R: SARA B (FOCUS), REVEREND THOMAS S. FOLEY, STL, confirmation and baptism, CADET KATIE G., CADET LINUS M., ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY meet the commanders, P. BROGLIO, CADET RACHEL O., DEACON BOB WALLER, and discover the Air Force AND MIKAYLA G. (FOCUS) AFTER WEEKDAY MASS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL, USAF ACADEMY, Academy with a closed COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO. chapel. A significant moment of the visit out West was the ordination of co-sponsored seminarian Anthony Davis (Denver) to the diaconate. It was the last crowded ordination in which I was to participate. After the annual visit and Ash Wednesday Mass at Walter Reed Military Medical Center and the Rite of Election, I managed a quick pastoral visit to Parris Island. Celebrating Mass for several hundred recruits and
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responding to their questions was a unique experience. It was also touching to visit the site of the first Mass in South Carolina, which is on the grounds of the Marine installation. My return coincided with my first meeting as the Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Priorities ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO (L), FATHER THOMAS S. and Plans. While I was at the FOLEY, AND DEACONS WALTER AND ROSS, WITH CONFIRMANDI Conference headquarters all FROM THE USAF ACADEMY, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO. of the other bishop members participated by telephone. It was a foreshadowing of things to come. The spring discernment retreat in San Francisco was another first: everyone registered was able to participate and we even added one young man! Let us pray that some of the participants join the ranks of the cosponsored seminarians. My return from San Francisco ushered us into the week we all remember. Businesses were closed, stay-at-home orders were issued, and at the AMS the priests began to take out food from restaurants, wash dishes, and organize the house with less domestic help. Despite a last minute attempt to participate in Jason Allen’s ordination to the diaconate on 19 March, I was unable to ensure AMS presence. However, I did concelebrate and preach the homily at Garrett Braun’s diaconate ordination on the Saturday before Palm Sunday near Evansville, Indiana. Counting everyone we were ten in the parish church! continued on page 10
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Even though Bishop Spencer was ready and willing to represent the AMS at the diaconal ordination of Michael Kapolka and Edward Hoffmann in Cincinnati on 25 April, the restrictions on gatherings imposed by the Coronavirus obliged him to cancel his plans. Probably the most interesting week was Holy Week. For the first time we celebrated Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil in the main chapel of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center with the participation of very few lay people. Many of us remarked that it was the most prayerful Holy Week we have ever known as priests. I did miss celebrating with the Catholic communities at West Point and Annapolis, but there was no other option. Easter Sunday’s Spanish Mass placed me in the empty Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (see picture page 4). I celebrated before two cameras with a very small choir socially distanced among themselves behind me. I hope that the viewing audience was able to pray and to rejoice in the Risen Lord. I spent a good bit of time on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday sending messages to some priests and calling others. It was good to connect with them and see how they were helping their flock celebrate the Easter mysteries in uncharted waters. Their creativity and willingness to go the extra mile to stay in touch with the flock tell so much about their commitment to ministry. Not having assistance, I learned how to find e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and addresses for envelopes. The work is slower, but not traveling gives me more time. As someone wrote to me, this is the longest time I have spent in one time zone since I returned to the United States twelve years ago. It has also allowed me to clean off my desk and arrange some photographs which came with my personal effects when I moved north from the Dominican Republic. I do wonder who the dark-headed young man is in the pictures! V
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COVER STORY A Navy nurse deployed in New York City to augment the health care workers battling the COVID-19 crisis, forwarded a photograph of a Navy Chaplain administering anointing of the sick to a patient in the ICU. The family of the patient requested that he receive the anointing of the sick by a Catholic priest. The hospital was unable to locate a priest in a timely manner so the nurse contacted her unit which sent their chaplain. The nurse witnessed the sacrament and took a photograph because it reminded her of Father Vincent Capodanno. The nurse's father is also a Marine veteran who served with (and knew personally) Father Capodanno in Vietnam.
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MINISTERING WITHIN THE CHALLENGES OF MOTHER NATURE BY BISHOP F. RICHARD SPENCER
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very diverse spring season of ministry presented itself this year! We all have experienced Mother Nature in her very best and in her present very dangerous pandemic moments these past months. Yet the ministry of Jesus Christ continued within our military chapels. We were blessed with surprises of joy and hope in the journey of ministry, as well as, confronting the reality that nature can cause much destruction and sadness. Even though confirmation Masses had been suspended on most military installations, I still continued my weekly visits to our military chapel communities and experienced many blessings in return during these difficult quarantine times. However, some moments of sadness touched me while observing the lingering damage of tornados that affected military locations such as Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida, as well as Fort Stewart, Georgia, where I celebrated Holy Week and Easter.
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These two pictures below, the first of a chapel with blue plastic covering protecting the damaged chapel roof; and the other showing the destruction to the neighborhood trees and property from the wind damage, are just two examples of
the lingering effects from these spring storms. There were also moments of beauty within nature that generated hope as I witnessed
was at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, where Father Rafael Britanico celebrated his 35th anniversary of priesthood. We were able to celebrate a public Mass and rejoice with the chapel community over this special milestone. Another joy was gathering at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, this past May, to celebrate a public Mass with Father Ferdinand Madu and to thank him for his ministry as he continued to serve even after officially retiring from the Army.
an awesome sunrise this past spring over Patrick Air Force Base, near Orlando, Florida. Ministering in spite of the challenges of the current pandemic draws out creative ways to assure the celebration of the sacrament of confirmation while observing the recommended protections. During the month of May, at Fort Lee, Virginia, the sacrament of confirmation was celebrated with the RCIA candidates while wearing protective face coverings and keeping social distancing. Two additional joys in ministry these past months took place during my pastoral visitations. The first
So despite the challenges of life that Mother Nature presents to us, we find moments of joy and of hope; because we are an Easter people on the journey in preparation for the promised Second Coming of Christ! V
“Ministering within the challenges of the current pandemic brings forth creative ways to continue the ministry...� Summer 2020
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The Paschal Triduum Like No Other BY BISHOP NEAL J. BUCKON
(L-R) BISHOP NEAL BUCKON AND FATHER NORBERT KARAVA.
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he COVID-19 global pandemic has made this celebration of the 2020 Paschal Triduum like no other. The infectious disease, death, school closures, stay-at-home orders, and government restrictions on travel and gatherings have put the majority of individuals and family units in isolation. Our much-loved military chapels have had to suspend worship, activities, and events. My episcopal visits with the sacrament of confirmation have been falling in sequence just like dominoes. Despite the conditions, we are an Easter people; and with amazing innovation our Catholic Church celebrated the Paschal Triduum with incredible zeal. We are a Resurrection people, and Alleluia is our song! Knowing this will keep our heads held high, maintain our morale, and let us be steadfast in our resiliency as we continue to contend with this potent new Coronavirus.
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The Paschal Triduum begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and ends on Easter Sunday evening. On Holy Thursday, I celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper with Father Norbert Karava at the 32nd Street Chapel of Naval Base San Diego. There were just three of us in the chapel: Father Karava, myself, and a sailor who was using a cell phone to live stream the Mass to viewers by way of the chapel’s Facebook account. It was during the first Mass of the Lord’s Supper that Jesus instituted the Most Holy Eucharist and the priesthood. Jesus also washed the feet of his disciples and thereby modeled for us an act of silent humble service. The unseen viewers heard the proclamation of the sacred scripture and witnessed the confection of the Eucharist. However, they must have been stunned to see that the traditional washing of the feet was omitted. At the conclusion of our Mass I told the invisible members of the chapel’s community of faith, that they heard the Word of God, benefited from a spiritual communion with the Lord, and watched priests bring the Paschal Mystery into the present moment by celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass. When the Paschal Mystery, that is to say the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, is the central mystery of our lives we will always emerge from our struggles, sufferings, and the sacrifice that comes with service, a better person and a better Catholic. We are a “Resurrection people” when the Paschal Mystery, celebrated in every Mass, is the central mystery of our lives. On Good Friday, and for the remainder of the Triduum, I joined the priests at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Coronado Island, CA, where I have been in residence for the past seven years. I was to be at the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, but their contract priest was sent home on 16 March and all chapel services were suspended. What a blessing to celebrate Easter at home for the first time! The church is located between the Naval Air Station where two aircraft carriers call home and the Amphibious Base where aspiring sailors train to become Navy Seals. Many parishioners are active-duty service members! Father Michael Murphy, continued on page 16 Summer 2020
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The Paschal Triduum Like No Other
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(L-R) DEACON FEDERICO DRACHENBERG, FATHER MICHAEL MURPHY, BISHOP BUCKON AND MONSIGNOR DONAL SHEAHAN.
the pastor, live-streams the liturgies to the Catholic faithful on Coronado with the help of Monsignor Donal Sheehan (a retired priest), a deacon, an altar server, two lectors, a musician, and a cantor. The ministers in the sanctuary do all they can to celebrate every liturgy in a manner conducive for the full, active participation of hundreds of people in the act of worship in the comfort of their homes. The nave is empty except for the echo. I was the principal celebrant and homilist for the celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday. To adapt to the situation, we added: 1) a prayer for relief from the pandemic to the Solemn Intercessions; 2) the adoration of crucifixes and crosses located in the homes of the viewers; and 3) a prayer of spiritual communion at the conclusion of the Communion Rite.
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Things were not looking too “good” on that first Good Friday. Yet Jesus, went forward trusting in His heavenly Father. During the crucifixion Jesus’ humanity was stretched to its breaking point, and as He was dying on the cross; He was saving the world. But the story does not end here. From Good Friday came forth the Resurrection! God raised Jesus from the dead, and herein lies an important message for every Christian. There are times in our life when we find ourselves in situations that are beyond our control. We may find ourselves in dangerous and life-threatening situations. The COVID-19 pandemic is such a time. This infectious disease is highly contagious; in many cases it is debilitating, and, for some, it is deadly. It is a cause for fear and anxiety. However, Jesus gave us the example par excellence: we are to place our trust in a God who loves us, a God who saves! The lesson of Good Friday is that God can bring “good” out of any situation in our life. We may not know what it is, but it is important for us to trust in God. Even when our humanity is being stretched to the continued on page 18 BISHOP BUCKON VESTED TO HEAR CONFESSIONS ON HOLY SATURDAY.
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The Paschal Triduum Like No Other
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breaking point, we can even thank God for what He is going to do. We are a “Resurrection people” when we place our trust in God and believe that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ! In the Paschal Triduum we find the juxtaposition between suffering and death, and glory. As we arrive at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, we are making the transition from the Passion of the Lord to the Glory of the Resurrection. The Easter Proclamation Exsultet exhorts us to be glad as the Earth is covered in glory and to rejoice as Mother Church is arrayed with the lighting of God’s glory. The Exsultet identifies the cause for the celebration and the source of the glory by stating that “This is the night when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld.” The resurrection of Jesus unleashes sanctifying power that “dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, drives out hatred, and fosters concord.” However, the greatest implication for the faith-filled disciple is captured in the solemn blessing at the end of Mass, which says, “May He, who restores you to eternal life in the Resurrection of His Only Begotten, endow you with the prize of immortality.” We are an Easter people because we have been restored to eternal life, and our ultimate hope is the prize of immortality in the Kingdom of Heaven. BISHOP BUCKON ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING.
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On Easter Sunday morning I dressed in choir cassock, as I had the night before, and took my place in the sanctuary. Monsignor Sheehan was the celebrant and the homilist. At the end of Mass, the Monsignor asked me to say a few words to the Catholic faithful of Coronado Island. In my remarks I asked them to remember two sentences, 1) “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (The refrain of the Responsorial Psalm); and 2) “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.” I suggested that during the Octave of Easter they say the former sentence when they get out of bed in the morning and their feet hit the ground; and they say the latter sentence when they look into the mirror and see themselves for the first time in the morning. During this pandemic we will do well to remember who we are, to whom we belong, and the importance for us to keep our eyes on the prize! The Resurrection is the central mystery of our salvation; and Alleluia is a Hebrew word that is the shining word of praise, the transporting word that fills earth with the glory of God. We are an Easter people because we know God loves us, He has our interests at heart, and He will never abandon us. Alleluia. V
(L-R) BISHOP BUCKON AND CANDIDATE FOR PERMANENT DIACONATE, MR. JOHN ROBERTS (FORMER ARMY PILOT).
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BISHOP MUHM PREACHES TO CONFIRMANDI DURING CONFIRMATION MASS AT ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GUAM ON 13 MARCH 2020.
THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD
BY BISHOP BILL MUHM
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uring January and February, I was able to visit our AMS Catholic communities and priests in Naples, Vicenza, and Aviano, Italy; Ankara and Incirlik, Turkey; Mons, Netherlands; Landstuhl, Daenner Kaserne, Hohenfels, and Wiesbaden, Germany; and Croughton, the United Kingdom. My spring confirmation visits to Korea, Germany, and United Kingdom all had to be postponed. By the time Salute readers read this article, I hope to have completed at least this year’s confirmations in Germany. As you might remember, the public health crisis unfolded quickly during Lent. This coincidence made me think of a wonderful African American spiritual, which is very appropriate for sickness during Lent: “There is a Balm in Gilead”:
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“There is a balm in Gilead, To make the wounded whole, There is a balm in Gilead, To heal the sin-sick soul.”
As the virus began killing and sickening people worldwide, I was grateful that I could visit Guam from 11 – 17 March. I was able to celebrate Mass at both Andersen AFB and Naval Station Guam, confirm young adults at both installations, and spend some time with Fathers Ruben Covos, USAF, and Bill Brunner, USN. My follow-on visit to Japan had to be cancelled. I made it back to Germany just as most international flights were ending and just as many countries, including Germany, were imposing restrictions on travel and public life. (USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71)) arrived in Guam a few days later for her much-publicized visit.) Those suffering from COVID-19 did and do need the balm of healing. Those whose confirmations were postponed did and do need the balm of hope that the Holy Spirit actively works within them through their baptism, even as they await the grace of confirmation. Those whose lives have been turned upside down by the public crisis continue to need the balm of Christ’s peace, which this world cannot give and cannot take away. Yet, neither virus, nor physical sickness, nor public crisis is our greatest problem; sin remains our greatest problem. Our sin-sick souls need the balm of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. That balm flows from Him through the sacraments of His Church, through His disciples who receive those sacraments, into a sin-sick world. The sacrament of confirmation amplifies and strengthens the graces of baptism. Those who have been confirmed—
BISHOP MUHM CONFIRMS SOPHIE PURYEAR AT NAVAL STATION GUAM ON 15 MARCH 2020. TO THE BISHOP’S RIGHT IS FATHER BILL BRUNNER.
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THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
whether many years ago or just this spring—receive the healing balm of Jesus Christ as disciples who are, or soon will be, confronted with adultsize problems and challenges. The balm of confirmation carries the power to heal them—and through them those with whom they soon will be interconnected in providential ways. Throughout April and May, I was able to visit various installations in Germany to celebrate Mass livestreamed. The unstoppable natural flowering of spring has occurred, even as the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit progresses according to His own timetable. The deathdefying and healing balm of Jesus Christ will flow eternally through the holy lives of those recently confirmed and those soon to be confirmed. Thanks be to God, there is a Balm in Gilead—and He is Risen! Thank you for your prayers and support for all of us at AMS. V BISHOP MUHM BLESSES FATHER STEPHEN MCDERMOTT, USA, BEFORE HE PROCLAIMS THE GOSPEL DURING A LIVE-STREAMED MASS AT U.S. ARMY GARRISON WIESBADEN, GERMANY, ON PALM SUNDAY 2020.
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COVID-19
Can’t Stop the Holy Spirit
BY MIKE PANLILIO, COORDINATOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO
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year’s preparation for sacraments began with a 3-day AMS Catechetical Training and formation to prepare catechists. In addition, catechists attended the Mid-Atlantic Congress in Baltimore, MD., at the end of January for additional faith and skills development. The children and youth started the catechetical year with in-person sessions and finished the last few months with online Zoom gatherings, the AMS Family Faith Assessment, and parents sharing the faith at home.
After the year’s preparation, on Sunday, 3 May 2020, the Marine Corps Base (MCB) Chapel in Quantico, Virginia, celebrated First Communion for 2nd graders and older. The day was joyful with everyone in good spirits. In compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines, everything went smoothly. Understandably, the children forgot social distancing as it is unnatural, so volunteer leaders were spread out to help ensure the children maintained proper distances. The rehearsal was a big help to manage any logistical concerns for the children and their families. From processing into the chapel, receiving the sacraments, to placing markings continued on page 46
FATHER GERRY KASULE (REAR, CENTER) WITH FIRST COMMUNION CLASS, MCB QUANTICO, 2020.
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26th Annual Memorial Mass and Father Capodanno Mass Both Rescheduled for 6 September BY TAYLOR HENRY
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unday, 6 September, promises to be a glorious day of celebration for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). On that day, government mandates permitting, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio will celebrate—at the same time and place—two of the AMS calendar year’s Masses. Both the 26th Annual Memorial Mass, normally celebrated in the spring, and the Annual Memorial Mass for Vietnam War hero and U.S. Navy Chaplain Father Vincent R. Capodanno, M.M., are now rescheduled for 6 September at noon in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Avenue Northeast, Washington, D.C. The rescheduling of the two Masses into one combined celebration is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally this year, the 26th Annual Memorial Mass, normally held just before or just after Memorial Day, was scheduled for 31 May. In March, though, with the coronavirus spreading rapidly in the nation’s capital, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed protective measures to promote social distancing. She ordered, among other things, the shutdown of public schools, libraries, and nonessential businesses, and banned gatherings of ten or more people. With lingering uncertainty over how gatherings would be treated going forward, Archbishop Broglio decided it best for all concerned to reschedule the 26th Annual Memorial Mass to coincide with the period set for the annual Memorial Mass for Father Capodanno. The Capodanno Mass, held each year around 4 September—the date in 1967 when Father Capodanno died of gunshots rushing, unarmed, to the aid of embattled U.S. Marines under ambush—had been originally scheduled for Thursday, 3 September. In announcing that the two Masses will now be celebrated contemporaneously at noon on 6 September in the Basilica, Archbishop Broglio said, “In the unchartered waters navigated since mid-March all of us have learned to adjust and to be more flexible. While I earnestly hope that we will soon be able to welcome the faithful to scheduled Masses, I think that prudence dictates postponing major large gatherings until there is more certainty.” Archbishop Broglio said he will continue to monitor developments as the nation gradually reopens from the coronavirus shutdown. Any possible further adjustments in schedule will be announced as warranted. V Summer 2020
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On The Front Lines BY MARY LAVIN
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or weeks there were banging pots, loud cheers, and countless acts of kindness and generosity bestowed on those serving on the front lines where needed most – and rightly so. Along with first responders, hospital workers, grocery and pharmacy employees, truck drivers, and others, let us also always remember the military men and women at home and abroad and the AMS chaplains who serve with and minister to them. As I write this, the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center remains closed in accordance with the extended stay-at-home order issued by the Mayor of Washington, D.C. The AMS mission continues as Archbishop Broglio, his Auxiliary Bishops, clergy and staff continue to respond, adapt and pivot as needed while focused on familiar goals – to preach the Gospel, to have enough ministers to do so, and to have the means necessary to support both efforts. More than ninety percent of gifts to the AMS received each year are from individuals – active-duty, retired, civilian, and clergy. Each gift has a personal story, and every gift matters. With recent statewide shutdowns, the loss of millions of jobs and lingering economic uncertainty, it is unknown how many may not be able to contribute at the same level, or at all this year. If you are fortunate to be in a financial position to do so, please consider becoming an AMS frontline supporter in one or more of the following ways to help short-term or long-term:
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• Make a one-time donation. If your employer has a matching gift program, your gift can be doubled! • While not required to receive a sacramental record, consider a small donation. • Become a monthly donor with a gift of $10, $25, $50 or more. • Order a commemorative brick to recognize the service of a first responder or veteran. • Establish an AMS Donor Advised Fund managed by Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors. • Explore the financial benefit of a Charitable Gift Annuity managed by the National Catholic Community Foundation. • Establish a partial or full named and endowed co-sponsored seminarian scholarship. • Consider naming the AMS as a beneficiary of a will, trust, donor advised fund, IRA, or life insurance policy. •
Learn more about the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) enacted by Congress that allows for a charitable deduction “above the line” up to $300 per year if you do not itemize your taxes.
Information about these opportunities and more may be found at www.milarch.org/ways-to-support, by emailing mlavin@milarch.org, or calling (440) 223-6482. Thank you for helping to ensure the continued formation of priests to serve the Church and the military chaplaincy, and answer the need for spiritual care for those who were on the front lines before the pandemic as they continue to respond whenever, however, and for as long as needed, to defend our country from all threats, visible or invisible, known or unknown - U.S. Marines, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, and activated members of the National Guard. V Summer 2020
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VAMC HEROES BY BISHOP JOSEPH L. COFFEY
BISHOP JOE COFFEY VISITED THE VAMC IN HIS HOME CITY OF PHILADELPHIA AND CELEBRATED MASS IN THE CHAPEL WITH HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN FATHER UKACHUKWU ONYEABOR ON 11 MARCH 2020
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ear Friends of the AMS, by the time you read this article I will have retired after almost 30 years in the U.S. Navy. First as a seminarian CCPO (Chaplain Candidate Program Officer), a Reservist, and then 19 years on active-duty. My retirement from the Navy on 31 May, which in itself is a big event, also marked the day I was born 60 years ago! As we often say in the Marines Corps, Uhrahhhh! I have been looking forward to my retirement so that I could dedicate myself full-time as the Vicar for Veterans Affairs for the Military Archdiocese. A journey which I began on 1 January 2020.
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I succeeded Bishop Richard Higgins who recently began a well-deserved retirement as a Bishop after 16 years of direct service to the AMS. He has been a true friend and mentor to me; as have many priests and bishops who have faithfully served the AMS. As the former Vicar for Veterans Affairs, Bishop Higgins astounded me with his energy level as he travelled our Country to visit the priest-chaplains and our Nation’s veterans in 153 VA Medical Centers (VAMC). In early February, I began these travels myself with great excitement and anticipation. I started close to home in D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, DE, as well as including a visit to the VAMC in Philadelphia. This one was of particular interest to me as newly minted Veteran myself, this is where I will go for medical care. Looking back, it would seem that in a very short span of time, everything seemed to be cancelled or postponed indefinitely. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that for most of us, it was stunning. I believe we will look back in history at this time as “Pre-Coronavirus”. This virus has greatly impacted the lives of most of the world’s inhabitants including our Nation’s veterans. continued on page 30
BISHOP JOSEPH L. COFFEY CELEBRATED MASS AT THE VAMC CHAPEL, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WITH (L-R) FATHERS MARIO J. WILSON BLAS, MARIAN A. PIEKARCZYK AND ALEJANDRO J. DE JESUS, 1 JUNE 2020.
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VAMC HEROS
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For the next few weeks after the lockdown, I sheltered-in-place at my rectory in Baltimore, as did millions of Americans and people around the world. I called and emailed our dedicated Catholic priests who serve as Chaplains in the VAMCs. Just as our military chaplains in the Army, Navy, and Air Force Chaplain Corps, they are all endorsed by Archbishop Timothy Broglio. Friends, I was inspired by what the priests told me. They never missed a beat. They continued to administer the sacraments especially Confession, the anointing of the sick, and the Holy Eucharist. For any Catholic, including our veterans, many of them elderly and in poor health, this time of isolation and loneliness has been stressful and difficult. We had many priests administer the anointing of the sick to COVID-19 patients before they went home to God. As priests, we act in Persona Christi, when we forgive sins, anoint the sick, and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The priests showed great courage in donning the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and visited the patients in their final moments of life. We can all be very proud of them. It is what priests all over the world are called to do. In many VAMCs, as in civilian parishes, public Masses were temporarily suspended. The priests continued to offer Mass on closed circuit television that could be viewed by patients in their rooms. Then they would visit the patients’ rooms to bring them Holy Communion. Recently, I was able to resume my visits with the priests. Using the required and prudent social distancing and wearing a mask, I have visited VAMCs from Richmond to Miami. It has been wonderful to thank the priests in person for their heroic efforts. We are all praying that there will soon be a vaccine for this terrible virus. We can believe with faith that God does not will evil but allows it. The Good News is that He always brings good from evil. Our world has changed, the future is uncertain but some things remain, our faith in a loving God, our thanks to our faithful veterans, and the priest-chaplains I am honored to call my brothers.V
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The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
Pathway of Honor Show your support for service members, veterans, chaplains, military families, and all who have served or continue to serve by reserving a commemorative brick today. Your brick will join hundreds of others lining the pathways of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center in Washington, D.C. A suggested donation of $150 will ensure that the brick you order, in memory of your loved one, will be placed in the “Pathway of Honor”. To order a brick, visit
https://www.milarch.org/bricks/
You can donate online or print a donation form.
If you have any questions, please contact the Advancement Office at: (202) 719-3622 or support@milarch.org
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THE HARVEST CONTINUES...
NAME: The Reverend Mr. Edward Hoffmann (ARCH)DIOCESE / RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY: Archdiocese of Cincinnati ARMED FORCES BRANCH: Army RANK: 1LT COLLEGE(S) / UNIVERSITY(IES) / SEMINARY(IES) ATTENDED (DEGREES AWARDED): Xavier University, BA (Classics), Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, MA (Theology) in progress. HIGH SCHOOL(S) ATTENDED: Homeschooled HOBBIES: Hunting, fishing, and reading
WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? A few weeks after my conversion, at Mass on Good Shepherd Sunday. WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? My older brother, Brother Henry Hoffmann, CO (Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri), was a source of inspiration to be open to God’s calling. WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I am a relatively recent convert to the Catholic Faith; I grew up a Protestant, and converted a few years after my older brother. After God’s grace, the second cause for my conversion was reading the Church Fathers. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY? 1 John 1:1 and following: “We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and
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touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life...Jesus Christ.” This verse is a beautiful introduction to contemplation, capturing the immense grandeur of our Lord – the Word of life from the beginning – while dwelling on his intimate love for us, such that our lowly eyes may see him and our unworthy hands handle him. HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY? Briefly, holy Mass. I pray daily for an ever deeper encounter with His merciful love in the Eucharist. WHAT SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES HELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH? Fraternity with a group of strong friends in college and now with my seminary classmates has helped me to grow into a more mature relationship with the Lord. WHAT SAINTS OR CHURCH LEADERS INSPIRED YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? St. Catherine of Siena and St. Edmund Campion. WHAT WAS YOUR BACKGROUND BEFORE APPLYING TO BE A SEMINARIAN? I went straight from college to seminary. WHAT WAS THE NEXT TO LAST BOOK YOU READ, AND WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING? Next to last was Convergences: To the Sources of the Christian Mystery, by Hans Urs von Balthsar. Currently, I’m (re)reading The Lord of the Rings. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPIRITUAL BOOK? Heart of the World, by Hans Urs von Balthasar WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE? Saints and sinners, factual and mythical: St. Ignatius of Loyola, Hector (from The Iliad) and Pope Benedict XVI. HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE? I try to let the liturgy guide my prayer life, meditating on the daily readings for spiritual sustenance. Mental prayer is life. I pray the Liturgy of the Hours and serve daily Mass. Other prayers I love are the Rosary and the Litany of the Sacred Heart. V Summer 2020
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Archbishop Broglio Joins in Re-Consecration of U.S. and Canada to the Blessed Mother BY TAYLOR HENRY
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rchbishop Timothy Broglio virtually joined his brother Catholic bishops throughout the United States and Canada on 1 May 2020, in renewing the consecration of the two nations to the care of the Blessed Mother in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 3:00 p.m. (EDT) re-consecration was led in Los Angeles by Archbishop José H. Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, with U.S. and Canadian bishops joining in their respective dioceses. Archbishop Broglio took part in the prayer of consecration from the main chapel of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center in Washington, D.C., home base for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The AMS live-streamed Archbishop Broglio’s participation on its Facebook page, and some of the faithful took part online. The consecration renewal began with an opening prayer asking God, “the Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also,” to grant “with her loving help” that the Church may be more fruitful and “draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples.” There followed a reading from John
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19:25-27, wherein Christ told his mother from the Cross, “Woman, behold your son,” and the Evangelist, “Behold, your mother,” before the disciple “from that hour” took her into his home. After the reading, the faithful joined in reciting a decade of the Rosary and saying a formal Prayer of Renewal of Our Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary, entrusting to her all who are infected with the coronavirus, those who have lost loved ones in the pandemic, all caregivers, all who are suffering in any way from the pandemic, those working to find a cure, and all leaders and policymakers who are dealing with the health crisis. Following a concluding prayer and blessing, participants ended with the singing of Regina Caeli. According to the USCCB’s 23 April announcement of the event, “an act of consecration is meant to be a reminder to the faithful of the Blessed Mother’s witness to the Gospel and to ask for her effective intercession before her Son on behalf of those in need.” The bishops recounted that “Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, the first bishop in the United States, promoted devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, and placed the United States under her protection continued on page 36 Summer 2020
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Re-Consecration
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in a pastoral letter of 1792. The twenty-one bishops attending the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore in 1846 determined to name the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, as the Patroness of the United States, and Pope Pius IX approved this decision the following year. More recently, the dedication of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., in 1959 was the opportunity for the bishops once again to consecrate the nation to the Blessed Mother. Several popes have likewise consecrated the world to Mary on various occasions.” V
ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ CONSECRATES US TO MARY, TELLING CATHOLICS TO “TRUST GOD’S PLAN”.
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USS Theodore Roosevelt Chaplains Launch Plan for Safe Worship After Coronavirus Outbreak BY TAYLOR HENRY FATHER MARK C. BRISTOL, CHC, LTJG, USN, ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) AT GUAM ON 6 MAY 2020, INSIDE THE SHIP’S CHAPEL WITH A STATUETTE OF SANTA MARIAN KAMALEN, PATRON OF GUAM.
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he U.S. Navy chaplains assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) spent much of the spring sidelined in the western Pacific with their shipmates at Guam due to the coronavirus outbreak on board. Beginning in April, they worked closely with commanding officer Captain Carlos Sardiello to develop and implement new guidelines and procedures for conducting safe religious services as the ship’s crew prepared to get back
underway on its deployment from San Diego. Among chaplains assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Father Mark C. Bristol, CHC, LTJG, USN, serves with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Father Bristol said the new procedures include separating chairs by six feet at all religious continued on page 38 Summer 2020
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USS Theodore Roosevelt
services including Holy Mass, distributing Holy Communion in an orderly fashion maintaining sixfoot distances between the faithful in the receiving line, and meticulous sanitizing between gatherings. Hundreds of Sailors began reboarding in late April after nearly 85 percent of the crew was evacuated, and many spent more than a month in isolation or quarantine while the carrier underwent a thorough cleaning. More than eleven-hundred crew members had tested positive, and one died of COVID-19. In response to an inquiry from the AMS Office of Public Affairs and
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Media Relations, Father Bristol sent the following message on Thursday, 30 April: “I am one of four chaplains aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and the only Catholic Priest. Since our arrival on 27 March in Guam, I have been actively engaged in providing spiritual care to the thousands of Sailors assigned to the ship. “Over the past few weeks, due to the fact that the majority of the crew were not aboard the ship due to COVID-19, I had to find creative new ways to provide spiritual care to the crew. For the first time, I used Facebook to live-stream the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Hundreds
of Sailors participated in the livestreaming, uniting themselves in prayer to God, joined, as well as, their families back home. “In addition to live-streaming Masses, my chaplain colleagues and I produced videos of inspirational talks for those in quarantine. Every evening a chaplain posts the Evening Prayer on the ship’s Facebook page. Evening prayer is a longstanding Navy Tradition for ships at sea. In these trying times it has been prayer that continues to inspire the Sailors of the Theodore Roosevelt to continue the fight. “I am in good health, and have tested negative for the virus. My
fellow chaplains and I are currently working with the commanding officer to develop guidelines and procedures to conduct religious services safely, minimizing the potential spread of the virus.” Father Bristol is a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, NY. He was commissioned in May of last year and went on active-duty as a chaplain assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt on 1 July 2019. Before entering seminary and being ordained a priest in 2016, Father Bristol had served in the Navy for nine years, enlisting out of high school as an Information Systems Technician. V Summer 2020
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BY CASEY LEE
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he 2018 Synod on Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment concluded with the document, Christus Vivit. Pope Francis calls on the Church to consider how she can shepherd and accompany young people in refreshed ways. The Holy Father points out that young people are not only recipients but also agents in this mission. Pope Francis writes, “I am more concerned with helping young people to use their insight, ingenuity, and knowledge to address the issues and concerns of other young people in their own language,” (Christus Vivit, 203). Young people are at the center of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Approximately 90% of the U.S. military falls in the young adult age range, 18-39 years old. Roughly two-thirds of all DOD active-duty military personnel were ages 30 or younger in 2018. With this in mind, outreach to this age range is crucial to “Preach the Gospel” as a part of the mission of the Archdiocese.
The Archdiocese desires to respond to this concern and will host its own Young Adult Ministry (YAM) Symposium later this summer, 6 – 9 August 2020, in Washington, D.C. The Symposium will host 75 participants to include military young adults, priest chaplains, chapel ministry leaders, and non-military pastoral leaders. It will take place at a hotel so that most events of the symposium such as
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meeting space, lodging, dining, public transportation, and child care can be centrally located. It is important to note that the AMS will offset the cost to participants by providing the event space, lodging and food, and a $200 travel reimbursement. The Symposium is an opportunity to renew the vision on young adult outreach across the Archdiocese. Military young adults will share their voice, including the challenges and opportunities presented in their military lifestyles that influence their ability to grow as followers of Christ. The Archdiocese has moved away from the programmatic approach, to young adult ministry and is placing an emphasis on young adult leader formation and evangelization training. This new focus allowed military young adults to form small communities of disciples at various military installations across the globe. Each group/ministry is unique with its own best practices and challenges. The symposium will enable military young adults to share these insights, as well as, support the Office of Evangelization toward updating some of the critical areas that became apparent during the Military Young Adult Ministry Roundtable held in 2011. Upon registration, each participant will receive a copy of Christus Vivit and be asked to reflect on the themes that seem relevant to the AMS faithful’s experience of striving to live a life for Christ in the military setting. Military young adults will discuss what is aiding growth in their relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church along with what they are doing to build the Kingdom of God. As missionary disciples, how can the AMS faithful meet the unaffiliated (the “nones”) and invite them into the body of Christ and to the healing sacraments of the Church? This conversation will be facilitated by means panels, breakout sessions and table discussion. Precautions will be taken to assuage any concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to stay up-to-date on the YAM Symposium, please visit milarch.org/symposium/ or contact Casey Lee at YoungAdultMinistry@milarch.org. V Summer 2020
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Prayers for the Dead BY MARK MOITOZA, TH.D.
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hese recent months have found us consumed by news of the pandemic, navigating isolating experiences of absence, and confronting loss in unexpected ways. As the majority of people adapted to new protocols, the community continues to confront the challenge of mourning those who have died; either from the effects of the coronavirus or of other causes in the midst of this global tragedy. Stories of family and neighbors who have been left at the hospital doors, relying on healthcare professionals to accompany them, pierce our hearts. The inability to be present physically as loved ones were dying was compounded by delayed accompaniment, forcing the community of faith to pray from afar. While all of us desire a return to some sense of routine, we must remember that many in our midst are also dealing with grief and loss. Viewing live-streamed Masses for multiple weeks emphasized our longing for presence with one another along with the desire for the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Each week the prayers of the faithful grew as more names of those who were sick and those who have died were recited. Our slow process of returning back to interactions must also emphasize the necessity of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, especially those that relate to accompanying the dead and those who mourn them. The website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) lists these particular works of mercy and suggests useful ways to accompany, both directly and from a distance. continued on page 44
FATHER ROBBIE DEKA, CATHOLIC PRIEST, INCENSES THE CASKET OF MASTER SGT. MATTHEW GONZALEZ DURING HIS FUNERAL AT MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D., 26 OCTOBER 2015. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/SENIOR AIRMAN STEPHANIE MORRIS, 5TH BOMBER WING, 30 OCTOBER 2015) Photo Credit from DVIDS – Minot AFB https://www.dvidshub.net/i-mage/2263960/minot-afb-honors-memory-master-sgt-matthew-gonzalez
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Prayers for the Dead
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The Spiritual Work of Mercy: Praying for the Living and the Dead • • • • •
Request a Mass intention for a friend or family member who is going through a tough time. Request a Mass intention for a friend or family member who has passed away. Keep your own book of prayer intentions, writing down the names of those who you are keeping in your prayers. Ask a friend or family member if there is anything you can pray about for them. Through prayer, entrust your cares and concerns for those around you to God.
The Corporal Works of Mercy: Bury the Dead Funerals give us the opportunity to grieve and show others support during difficult times. Through our prayers and actions during these times we show our respect for life, which is always a gift from God, and comfort those who mourn. • • •
Send a card to someone who has recently lost a loved one. Visit the cemetery and pray for those you lost. Spend time planning your own Funeral Mass, read through the Order of Christian Funerals and find hope in the Resurrection.
Christ conquered death through dying on the cross and rising from the dead. While death is certainly a loss to grieve, there is also hope in the resurrection. Those in transient communities, such as the military, will encounter people who have experienced loss over the past few months. Accompaniment through prayer and presence, when that is feasible again, is vital. So many
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online initiatives have supported individuals and families to adapt to new ways of living. As a community of faith, we are also called to adapt to those mourning loved ones who have entered eternal life with the hope of light, joy, and peace in heaven. The USCCB has posted a pdf resource regarding the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy During the COVID-19 Pandemic, http://www.usccb.org/_cs_upload/about/communications/304736_1.pdf
Prayer of Commendation1 Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, you willingly gave yourself up to death so that all people might be saved and pass from death to new life. Listen to our prayers, look with love on your people who mourn and pray for their brother/sister N. Lord Jesus, holy and compassionate: forgive N. his/her sins. By dying you opened the gates of life for those who believe in you: do not let our brother/sister be parted from you, but by your glorious power give him/her light, joy, and peace in heaven where you live for ever and ever. Amen. V 1 Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum, No. 231, 1983.
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Can’t Stop the Holy Spirit on the sidewalk for a socially distanced group photo, the rehearsal was crucial for successfully following COVID-19 guidelines.
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The day was extraordinary also because it was the first Sunday to have Mass with the participation of faithful after the long lockdown period. One family, recognizing the importance of receiving Holy Communion, did not let respiratory issues prevent their son from receiving the sacrament for the first time. They felt safe with the confidence of the Base CO, the AMS, Father Gerry Kasule, the First Communion catechists, and volunteer leaders to move ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO (REAR, CENTER LEFT) forward. Even grandparents AND FATHER GERRY KASULE (REAR, CENTER RIGHT) WITH THE NEW CONFIRMED, MCB QUANTICO 2020. were in attendance as well as some medically challenged In addition to people walking individuals. Face masks, hand at least 6 feet apart, the seating sanitizer, social distancing made was altered in such a way to everyone feel safe. continue meeting guidelines. Single pews were reserved for each On Pentecost Sunday, 31 May family. Additionally, every other 2020, the Chapel was privileged pew was not to be used to provide to celebrate the sacrament adequate spacing within the of confirmation. Some Chapel. For the First Communion families were concerned about students, 15 in total, their banners COVID-19. Families were reassured helped mark the pew in which that there was no problem if they their family would sit.
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preferred to postpone reception of the sacrament, because of concerns related to the pandemic. They were acquainted with the opportunities to celebrate confirmation off base or next year without repeating the sacramental preparation. After some back and forth with the families, ultimately the day arrived with no glitches or hiccups. The day was filled with the Holy Spirit. All the same precautions were maintained as with the First
Save the Dates
Communion group. The rehearsal, as with the First Communion group, was critical to the success. Families thanked Father Kasule for his leadership and Archbishop Broglio for continuing to shepherd the flock of the Archdiocese for the Military Services during the 2020 pandemic. A great thank you goes out to the First Communion and Confirmation catechists for their outstanding service during these unusual times. V
Young Adult Ministry (YAM) Symposium 6 – 9 August 2020 Saint John Paul II National Shrine Doubletree Hotel by Hilton Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Labor Day Gathering for Co-Sponsored Seminarians 4 – 6 September 2020 Washington, D.C.
All events are subject to change based on governmental mandates.
26th Annual Memorial Mass and Mass for Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM, Servant of God Combined this Year 6 September 2020, 12 Noon Great Upper Church, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 400 Michigan Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017
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I pray that Almighty God might grant you good health and serenity in the days of summer and beyond. – Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio
“Serving Those Who Serve”
P.O. Box 4469 Washington, D.C. 20017-0469
Archdiocese For The Military Services, USA NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID SOMD PERMIT #1169
