CHRISTMAS 2014
T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E A R C H D I O C E S E F O R T H E M I L I T A R Y S E RV I C E S , U S A
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” — [Isaiah 7:14]
Dear Friends of the Archdiocese for the Military Services,
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he wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in the manger, because there was no room in the inn.” The beauty of hundreds of Christmas crèches comes to mind immediately, but the reality consisted in doors closed to Mary and Joseph in their need. Doors are still closed to those in need, be they immigrants, poor, or merely confused. We should all find confidence in the immense love of Almighty God Who sent His only Son to offer us the unreachable gift of salvation. As a Church and a people, we gather to celebrate such great love and we pray that the joyful announcement by the angels might reach all women and men of good will.
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ur prayer also compels us to remember all of those who find the figurative “doors of the inn” closed to them in their moment of need. Jesus Christ is at the center of Christmas and He assures us that we can always find Him in those most in need.
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ecember brings many people together to celebrate the mystery of divine love. For the Bishops of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, it also means that rather than decorating trees, we continue to walk with the pilgrim’s staff to visit the faithful at different installations. Bishops Higgins, Spencer, Buckon, and Coyle, and I plan to visit the faithful in different corners of the world in order to proclaim the ever-new message of the Savior’s presence in our midst. God willing, I will celebrate the Savior’s Nativity in Japan! Your prayers for the successful completion of our pastoral wanderings are deeply appreciated.
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his issue of the AMS quarterly publication Salute will recount many of the activities in the Archdiocese over the last few months. The first national collection to benefit the Archdiocese was a smashing success. While the funds help to ease the financial crunch, they also make us even more careful about how this generosity is responsibly overseen in the service of a global mission.
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njoy the following pages of Salute. Invoking abundant blessings from the Christ Child upon all of you now and throughout 2015, I wish you and all your loved ones the experience of that divine love and the lasting peace that only Christ can give! Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio Archbishop
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THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA VOLUME 8. NUMBER 4 CHRISTMAS 2014
TA B L E
CONTENTS
of
4 Serving Those Who Serve Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio
8 Christmas 2014 — You Can Make a Difference Bishop Richard B. Higgins
10 Christmas in Letnica! Bishop F. Richard Spencer
12 Gift from God Bishop Neal J. Buckon
14 Honoring a Local Son on Staten Island Bishop Robert J. Coyle
22 - 25 The Harvest Continues Meet our New Seminarians
26 New Judical Vicar Appointed for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, U.S.A. Taylor Henry
28 Veteran Helps Formally Establish Campus Organization at Catholic University Ellen N. Woods
32 Pope Francis Denounces War in Visit to WWI Cemetery Ann Schneible
34 Role of the Family in Cathechesis José Amaya
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.
CHRISTMAS 2014
T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E A R C H D I O C E S E F O R T H E M I L I T A R Y S E RV I C E S , U S A
ADDRESS CHANGES AND NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS: Please send title, name, address, and phone number to: support@milarch.org or call: 202.719.3600 or write: Development Office, Archdiocese for
the Military Services, P.O. Box 4469, Washington, D.C. 20017-0469 Feedback, letters to the editor, & advertising inquiries: editor@milarch.org
— [Isaiah 7:14]
Website: www.milarch.org ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO President
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
MONSIGNOR JOHN J.M. FOSTER Editorial Director
JO ANN REDMOND Editor
ERIC NEUNER | RPISTUDIOS Design Director
© 2014 - A PUBLICATION OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA - SERVING CATHOLICS IN THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD,VA MEDICAL CENTERS, AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES OVERSEAS.
By ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO
SERVING THOSE
WHO SERVE
FATHER THOMAS HOAR, SSE, THE CONTRACT PRIEST AT THE SUBMARINE BASE IN GROTON, CONNECTICUT AND THE DIRECTOR OF ST.EDMUND’S RETREAT HOUSE ON ENDER’S ISLAND, PRESENTING ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO WITH THE ST. EDMUND’S MEDAL
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verywhere the arrival of the Advent and Christmas Seasons always means a heightened level of activity. At the Archdiocese for the Military Services, U.S.A., individuals prepare themselves and their families for these important seasons, but the AMS must also consider celebrations on a global scale.
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n my office Sister Lisa Marie Drover diligently prepares envelopes for Christmas cards to the many priests who serve as chaplains to the men and women in the Armed Forces and at the VA Medical Centers. Have there been changes? Are the correct addresses available?
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ther events must be scheduled. I make my way out to Annapolis at the beginning of Advent to celebrate the sacrament of penance with the midshipmen, families, and others who take advantage of the opportunity. Advent and Christmas homilies must be prepared. Eventually bags have to be packed for the traditional Christmas visit to the men and women and their families stationed overseas.
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ntil I came to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, travel at Christmastime had not really been a part of my experience for several decades. Christmas in Rome or in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) was usually celebrated there on site. There were frequent visitors, but at least I did not move very far. Now motion is very much a part of the Christmas experience.
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f course, it is also part of the rest of the year. By October 12th, I will have been out of Washington 161 nights in 2014. That number will increase before the year ends. The AMS is certainly a ministry on the move.
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here are even some travels that cannot be made. On 13 September the Holy Father commemorated the “pointless slaughter,� as Pope Benedict XV called World War I. He went to the military cemetery of Redipuglia near Gorizia. The advance notice was too short for me to attend, but the AMS was well represented by Father Paul Amaliri and over two hundred pilgrims from Aviano Air Base (see Pope Francis Denounces War in Visit to WWI Cemetery page 32).
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eptember did offer me the opportunity to represent the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at an international congress on canonical penal law held at the Catholic University in Washington. The presentations were quite interesting and a good blend between very theoretical papers and more practical applications. I was pleased to see two of my former professors and some fellow students, as well. (continued on page 6) christmas 2014 |
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SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE
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or my generation of canonists, penal law was something we expected to use sparingly, but it has, unfortunately, become very crucial in the canonical response to cases of sexual abuse. Consequently, the congress offered important considerations on a very timely topic.
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ather Thomas Hoar, SSE, the contract priest at the Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut and the Director of St. Edmund’s Retreat House on Ender’s Island, presented me with the St. Edmund’s Medal at their annual benefit on September 19th.
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n my remarks to thank those gathered for granting me an unmerited distinction, I pointed out that a cleric receives accolades on behalf of those he is privileged to serve. Certainly, the men and women in uniform and their families give me many reasons to be inspired and to strive to give them the best that I can.
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t was a pleasure to see many officers and sailors from the Sub Base at the banquet. Many of them were familiar from my many visits to the base, which is generally included in my annual visit to the Coast Guard Academy.
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he end of September found me in Lincolnshire, Illinois (suburban Chicago) for the Mission Bishops’ Conference conducted by Catholic Extension. As you know, the Catholic Extension Society is very generous to the AMS. Every other year they invite all the bishops whose dioceses benefit from Extension’s generosity to gather, study
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(continued from page 5)
approaches to evangelization, and learn about new opportunities for assistance.
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his year’s conference was centered around Evangelii Gaudium, the Apostolic Exhortation prepared by Pope Francis. The presentations and the discussions were quite good. In particular Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, gave an excellent application of the Holy Father’s message in his diocese. We were also privileged to hear Archbishop Rino Fisichella offer a careful theological analysis of the exhortation.
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ardinal George joined us for the closing banquet and it was good to see him and to thank him again for the many priests he has released for the chaplaincy during his seventeen-year tenure as Archbishop of Chicago.
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he days were well-spent and I also enjoyed a walk in the surrounding area after lunch each day. Ninety minutes of free time in the middle of the day were a new dimension in the conference and all of the bishops welcomed them!
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finish these lines in the airport, my second home, as I head to the Eternal City both to represent the AMS at the diaconal ordinations of Ryan Boyle and Alec Scott and to join Father Logan and the recruiters in making a presentation on the chaplaincy to the seminarians at the North American College. On the weekend I will also participate with many couples from installations in Europe who will gather for a marriage retreat. As the Synod Fathers gather to
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September did offer me the opportunity to represent the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at an international congress on canonical penal law held at the Catholic University in Washington.
L-R: ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO, MOST REVEREND LEONARD P. BLAIR, ARCHBISHOP OF HARTFORD, REVEREND RICHARD D. WILSON, AND FATHER THOMAS HOAR, SSE.
consider the family, it is good for the AMS to offer an opportunity for prayer and reflection to the families served by the Archdiocese.
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oly Matrimony, where a man and a woman represent Christ and the Church is an essential unit in society. The families served by the AMS have been so tried by these long years of war. It is important to offer them an opportunity to be nourished in their commitment and to offer them an occasion for growth in their relationship, which has been blessed by the Lord.
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efore boarding the plane for Rome, I celebrated the final Spanish Mass at Fort
Belvoir. Financial constraints obliged the installation to eliminate the Mass, which has enjoyed a good following from several of the local parishes. Of course, the community was reluctant to see the tradition discontinued, but none of us had a role in making the decision. Fortunately, there are a number of Spanish Masses in the local community. Change is never easy!
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ndeed Advent announces the immediate preparations for Christmas. As the chief Shepherd of a global Archdiocese, part of my preparations will include packing for distant lands. It is a privilege to announce the good news of the birth of the Savior of the World to those who serve our Nation every day. ✞ christmas 2014 |
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By BISHOP RICHARD B. HIGGINS
Christmas Gift 2014 You Can Make a Difference
The call came a couple of years ago…
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Bishop, we would like to do something for veterans. Can you give us some ideas?
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The call was from the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, and they were anxious to establish a diocesan apostolate for Military and Veteran Families. They were willing to create a department dedicated solely to meeting the needs of veterans within their jurisdiction. Wow! Where to begin?
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ince our nation went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military has occupied the headlines. The plight of returning veterans, scarred by their experiences on the battlefield, has become a lightning rod for all and sundry. Scandals associated with homelessness, delayed access to medical care, insufficient caregivers, inadequate funding, and outdated facilities complicate the veteran issue. Despite these challenges, there is a genuine desire on the part of the citizenry to “care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.” The Department of Veterans Affairs is the primary “go to” resource in support of veterans, and its website, www.va.gov, provides links to a host of services available to veterans and their families. The Department operates 157 Medical Centers and more than 850 Community Based Clinics throughout the Continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico. A visit to the website of any VA Medical Center will reveal the vast network of services available to veterans in that specific location. In addition to the services available through the Department of Veterans Affairs, an internet search reveals at least 47 different civilian/fraternal organizations dedicated to veterans and their families. But the Diocese of Metuchen realized the value and benefits a faith-based organization brings to those whose spirits have been wounded by their time in service. I knew the VA National Chaplain Center in Hampton, Virginia, provided a resource kit to parishes and churches wishing to reach out to veterans in their congregations and surrounding communities. A quick call to the chaplains in Hampton (www.va.gov/chaplain), and several kits were on their way to Metuchen. In May, 2013, building upon this and other resources, the diocese of Metuchen established the Apostolate for Military and Veteran Families (AMVF). For additional information on this dynamic apostolate, visit their website http://diometuchen.org (in search box type Apostolate for Military and Veteran Families) or call (732) 562-2478. Many of us veterans are your neighbors. We sit next to you in church. Sometimes we celebrate your liturgies. We sing in your choirs and teach in your CCD classes. A few of us might be classified as “wounded warriors,” but the majority of us are just fellow parishioners. Frequently our military service and skill sets are unknown to you. Our collective calling to service resonates with us and we are anxious to help, to heal, to provide. What a Christmas gift it would be if we could follow the example of the good people of Metuchen and establish apostolates for Military and Veteran Families in our dioceses. This Christmas I hope to concelebrate Midnight Mass in St. Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, Ireland, where I first heard the “whisper” of a call to the priesthood. Following the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass of 24 December 2009 the iconic Cathedral was engulfed in flames. When the flames were finally extinguished “all that was standing was the exterior walls, portico, and campanile.” Built between 1840 and 1856, St. Mel’s is being restored to its historic configuration and I shall remember each and every one of you during my Christmas Masses in my “home” church. May God Bless you and yours in this wonderful season. ✞ christmas 2014 |
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By BISHOP F. RICHARD SPENCER
CHRISTMAS IN LETNICA! LETNICA, MOTHER TERESA and “PRIEST, PROPHET, KING”
CONFIRMATION MASS FOR THE U.S. ARMY AND NATO TROOPS IN THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY IN KOSOVO, LETNICA
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ecently, I enjoyed celebrating the Confirmation Mass in Kosovo for our U.S. Army and NATO troops in the Church of St. Mary, which overlooks the village of Letnica, often visited by Blessed Mother Teresa and her family during her childhood. It is said that Mother Teresa received the inspiration for her life’s work in this church while venerating the figures and the words above the Nativity set: “Priest, Prophet, King”. The Nativity set remains on permanent display.
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estled in the Karadaku Mountains, the village Letnica is scattered over a territory consisting of three hills with dense vegetation. It is borderd by the Republics of Macedonia and Kosovo. During the Fourth Week of Advent, the village becomes the host to many Christians from around the world, including our U.S. SOULdiers, who come as pilgrims. The pilgrims pitch their tents next to the church, and stay awake through the night on Christmas Eve. The tents are illuminated by candles, which are also spread throughout the village. People pray at the Masses celebrated throughout the night and on Christmas Day.
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uring my ministry travels, I have noticed that in several of our military chapels here in Europe the Nativity sets are permanently displayed. As noted at the beginning of this article how Saint Mary’s Church in Kosovo, with its Nativity set that influenced the life of Mother Teresa, may, we, the members of this global Archdiocese
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It is said that Mother Teresa received inspiration for her life’s work in the church of St. Mary in Kosovo, Letnica
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uring the weeks since publication of the Fall edition of Salute in October, my ministry travels have included visits to Japan and parts of Europe and also included sharing time with Father Pat Dolan (recently retired ARNG Brigadier General Chaplain) during the Vienna Institute for Peace Program. During this four-day conference, religious leaders from throughout Europe gathered to reflect upon the causes of World Wars I and II and what can be done today to prevent a repetition of those factors which brought the world to armed conflict.
for the Military Services, USA, also keep the Light of Christ burning brightly in our hearts and lives as we celebrate this Christmas Season, 2014, and honor our Lord as the true “Priest, Prophet, and King” of our world. ✞ christmas 2014 |
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By BISHOP NEAL J. BUCKON
GIFT FROM GOD
L-R: DEACON GREGORY HALAMICEK, FATHER CHRISTOPHER SORENSON, BISHOP NEAL J. BUCKON (CENTER), FATHER PHILIP LLANOS, OFM, AND BROTHER CHRISTOPHER SILVA OFM CAP
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ur military services are well represented in the high desert of California. The Army has Fort Irwin; the Navy is situated at China Lake; the Air Force utilizes the ground and the air space of Edwards Air Force Base; and the Marine Corps is always busy at Twenty Nine Palms Base. It is my honor and privilege to travel to each base every year to visit the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese for the Military Services; to discuss the Catholic program with the priests, deacons, and leaders on base; and to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation for those who are prepared to be confirmed in their faith.
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meet with the candidates for Confirmation prior to Mass. We discuss their preparation for the sacrament. The candidates tell me their Confirmation names and why they chose them. We talk about their Confirmation Retreat and I ask them to not let this retreat be their last retreat; encouraging them to find the time to retreat from the commotion and noise of the world to a place where God can speak to their hearts. The candidates also tell me of the service hours they performed as a part of their preparation. In our meeting, I always tell the candidates that God loves them so much He is giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit and the seven gifts of the spirit. I compare Confirmation with Christmas by asking the Confirmation Candidates, “On what day of the year might you receive seven gifts?” I invite them to open their hearts, their minds, and their souls and receive these gifts with joy and gratitude. The candidates will hear me praying to God the Father during the Rite of Confirmation. I will be asking God to send the Holy Spirit upon them and to give them the gifts of wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder and awe in His presence. God wants us to have these gifts because God loves us and He wants us to have the best in life. God loves us so much that He wants to spend eternity with us, and with the Holy Spirit as our helper, and guide, we will find our way to our true home in heaven. ✞
AMS WISHES YOU A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND BLESSED HOLIDAY!
Merry Christmas!
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By BISHOP ROBERT J. COYLE
Honoring a local son on staten island
FATHER VINCENT CAPODANNO
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ather Vincent Capodanno Memorial Chapel located at Fort Wadsworth Staten Island, New York, honors a local son who gave his life in service to Our Lord. The Coast Guard facility located here is a fitting tribute to a man of God who served his God and country in a heroic manner. I am always grateful to return to this location.
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n a Sunday in September I joined with several military and veteran groups to honor the life, sacrifice, and legacy of Father Vincent Capodanno, recipient of the Medal of Honor. I was humbled to join people of all faiths who came to this special Mass to honor an American hero. Many of the attendees were veterans of the Vietnam War. They proudly wore different uniforms and insignia to recall their service. They returned to this chapel to honor one of their own. The chapel was standing room only. I looked up to see those gathered in the choir loft. Members of the Jewish War Veterans and people of many religious denominations were in attendance. They all attended this Mass and the military honors ceremonies that followed. At the Mass, members of the Capodanno Family were in attendance. They are so grateful for the annual Mass in Washington, D.C., that prays for him every year. This Mass was an opportunity for the local community also to join in prayer for the Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno. Visiting with the dedicated chapel community includes time spent with their well-loved and respected priest, Monsignor James Dorney. I first met Monsignor Dorney in 1996. As a Naval Reserve chaplain, I was asked to close the Catholic Chapel Program on Governors Island Coast Guard Base and move it to Fort Wadsworth. I recall transporting the tabernacle and sacred vessels and statues in my car. Setting up the Catholic program and chapel was a challenge at that time, but the transition was made much easier because of Monsignor Dorney and his dedication to the people he would serve. Several priests concelebrated the Mass including Monsignor Peter Finn who is the
Co-Dean of Staten Island. I have joined Monsignor Finn at many events around New York since my days as a young priest and Naval Reserve chaplain. Seminarian Mark Bristol, a co-sponsored seminarian and future Navy chaplain studying for the Diocese of Brooklyn, served as the Master of Ceremonies at the Mass. The local chapel community and many volunteers gave a fitting tribute to Father Capodanno, a native son of Staten Island. May I briefly comment on one aspect of the day that was very moving? The attending Veterans represent what is best about our country; love of God, love of country and devotion to our brothers and sisters. They go out of their way to assist their fellow veterans. They volunteer for hospital visits and assist our wounded warriors. They deserve our deepest respect and admiration. A group of motorcycle enthusiasts were among the veterans and they asked me to bless them and their many motorcycles after Mass. They proudly adorn these bikes with symbols of their military service and the American Flag. They go to many events such as the Mass celebrated on Staten Island. This Christmas season we give thanks for the Prince of Peace who was born into the world. May all wars cease. May the world be at peace. Jesus Christ was made present to the Marines and Sailors that Father Capodanno ministered to in Vietnam. Two members of that unit were at the Mass. They will never forget the faith, love and service of a true servant of God. He touched their lives, in the midst of war. He devoted himself to the Prince of Peace. May each of us be about the same mission. Merry Christmas! ✞ christmas 2014 |
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By FATHER GREGORY CAIAZZO
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT TRAVIS
RETIRED CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT ROGER OLAES AND COL. MARK WEBER SPEND TIME WITH SOME OF OUR 8TH GRADE CONFIRMATION STUDENTS
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t has been a year since the promulgation of the Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum Guide and its implementation through the military services. Most of us welcomed it but initially we found ourselves scratching our heads trying to figure out how we could reasonably implement it. On one side, it looked overwhelming, insurmountable, painful, and too much work. “Just give me a text and let me teach” we found many of our teachers saying. On the other hand, it made incredible sense, would bring organization to our curricula, would ensure that when our young people moved from one base to another they would be on the same page, and would guarantee the critical elements of our faith were covered.
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LEFT: TWO EAGER 3RD GRADERS BEGIN THEIR FIRST DAY OF RE AT TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE. RIGHT: JOHN EVALLE EXPLAINS THE KEY ELEMENTS THAT HIS CLASS WILL COVER.
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ut… it was agonizing trying to convince volunteers that creating their own lesson plans was worthwhile and beneficial to both students and teachers.
After a year we have changed our tune. Not only does it make sense but it works. It caused us to rethink completely how we bring religious education to our community of faith. It helped us to focus on how religious education integrates into the sacramental life of our community and to provide the important support for parents who are the first educators of their children in the faith. It also gave us an opportunity to educate these same parents who in most cases had not had any ongoing religious education since they received the sacrament of Confirmation which for many was eons ago. We are far from perfect in our execution but are well on our way. Here are three things that are working for us here at Travis Air Force Base:
yearly organization: We have 26 weeks of religious education throughout the year where our children are in class. Taking the curriculum’s six major elements, we divided the year into four-week segments. This left two additional weeks; one during Advent and the other during Lent to focus on these important church seasons. We are supporting this with bulletin announcements, e-mails to parents, prayers of the faithful and references in our homilies. This involves the entire parish in our ongoing religious education. This is inspiring a whole parish catechesis. teachers: Traditionally, we recruited teachers in August and September, just prior to the start of the Religious Education year. There was always a scramble finding volunteers and we found ourselves begging for teachers at the last moment. It just wasn’t working. Through the efforts of our Knights of Columbus and other parish organizations, we began recruiting teachers in May and used the summer months to train and prepare them for the upcoming year. As we approach Fall, all our classes are fully manned with a teacher and teaching assistant and they have all received training and ongoing education. With end of year money we also contracted with the Institute for Pastoral Initiative to provide ten slots for teachers for ongoing education online when they were available.
parent education: Our students receive the Sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation and Eucharist in the second grade and the Sacrament of Confirmation in eighth grade. These are critical sacramental moments for our children and their parents. To support them we required at least one parent to meet once a month during the time their children were in class and provided catechesis to explore their own relationship with these sacraments, their faith commitment and how they could reinforce the sacramental understanding at home. (continued on page 38) christmas 2014 |
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By FATHER AIDAN LOGAN
CHRISTMAS DEPLOYED
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ne of the first lessons a chaplain learns is that the military does not follow the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, or, for that matter, any other religion. War and military operations respect only one thing, the mission at hand. Of course the major holidays are acknowledged and every effort is made to stand down on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. If possible, special meals are served. The troops or crew usually manage to produce Christmas decorations and organize the singing of carols. But, no matter how elaborate the festivities, it’s not the same – especially for those away from home for Christmas for the first.
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here you are in a chow hall in Kandahar or at sea on the hangar deck of an aircraft carrier, a group of overwhelmingly young men (the least likely demographic to be involved in religion at all) holding “chemlights” in place of candles. It doesn’t look like Christmas and certainly doesn’t smell like it. But, remarkably, for many of them this is the first time they will realize what Christmas is really all about.
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n our popular culture, fed by the sentimentality of Hollywood, Christmas is tied up with all sorts of things except the birth of our Savior. Many of this these things are very good in themselves. Who could be against the warmth and love of the family, the joy and innocence of children, the unselfish giving of gifts, food and drink with friends, the celebration of life itself? But what happens when none of these things are there on Christmas Day? What is there to celebrate?
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nd yet, in some forsaken corner of the world the grace of God will touch the heart of a warrior far from home at Christmas. His situation is not really that different from that of the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem one night long ago. On deployment and in the midst of war it is not the choirs of angels who announce the “good news of great joy.” This is the great privilege and vocation of a priest-chaplain. I have experienced this time and time again. To this day I receive Christmas cards from Marines and old shipmates telling me that the Christmas far from home was the best one ever.
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erhaps they might not put it this way but I think it was the best because it was so very much like the first Christmas, away from home, among strangers, cold and dark and dirty. And into this world, the real, messy, chaotic world came the Love of God.
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he life of a military chaplain is full of such moments of grace. But this Christmas many of our troops will be without a priest to celebrate Mass. May prayer during these holy days of Advent and Christmastide is that God will touch the hearts of many young men to answer His call to the priesthood and the vocation of a military chaplain. Please join me in that prayer. ✞ Father Aidan Logan, a 20 year veteran of the Navy Chaplain Corps, is Director of Vocations for the AMS. www.milarch.org/vocations
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By MARY LAVIN
Gratitude and Hope
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enefactors make financial donations in support of the mission and ministry of the AMS for many reasons, and each reason is personal. What Jesus said in Luke 12:48 has been quoted more than once when asked what motivated a first-time or most recent gift: “To whom much is given, much shall be required.” Recently, when asked why she had included the AMS in her will, one benefactor simply stated, “In gratitude and in hope.”
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o honor and thank AMS benefactors who generously and consistently support the mission, serving those who serve, the AMS recently expanded its Donor Recognition Societies. The first AMS Donor Recognition Society, St. George’s Circle, was established several years ago for military chaplains. The additional societies have been established to recognize levels of giving (one-time gifts of $2,500 or more), consecutive years of giving (starting with 5 years of consecutive donations), and for cumulative giving ($1 million or more). For all societies, membership will be determined by gifts received in a given calendar year. The newest society will be a planned giving society named after Saint Lawrence of Brindisi. Saint Lawrence was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1881 and declared a Doctor of the Church by Saint John XXIII in 1959. Born Giulio Cesare Russo in 1559 in Brindisi, a city located on the Adriatic coast of the heel of Italy, Saint Lawrence is the only Capuchin Franciscan to be honored as a Doctor of the Church. During his years of ministry Saint Lawrence served as a chaplain to the forces at Lepanto and a papal emissary and peacemaker. He is considered the greatest linguist among the Doctors of the Church. Beginning in December 2014,
those who notify the AMS that they have included the AMS in their will or estate plans will be lifetime members of the Saint Lawrence of Brindisi Donor Recognition Society. Archbishop Broglio is the first member. For more information about any of the Donor Recognition Societies, or to notify the AMS that you have included it as a beneficiary in your will, please contact Mary Lavin, Director of Major Gifts/Development at mlavin@milarch.org or (440) 223-6482. The confidentiality of donor information continues to be a high priority for the AMS. Individual names and donations will not be made public in an annual report or on the AMS web site. The AMS does not sell or rent donor information, a standard practice of many non-profit organizations. A complete list of the AMS Donor Recognition Societies may be found at www.milarch.org/development. While many non-profit organizations provide programs and services for activeduty military and their families, veterans, and the Catholic Church, there is no other non-profit organization or Archdiocese like the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). With gratitude for your continued support, and with hope and prayers for peace, thank you. ✞ christmas 2014 |
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The Harvest Thomas Jay Jones DIOCESE: Fort Worth, Texas RANK / BRANCH OF SERVICE: Air Force. Separated as a SSgt (E-5) NAME OF SEMINARY: Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED: The Colony High School, Texas HOBBIES: Exercise (weights, running), watching movies, hiking/camping, rock climbing; I played hockey in the past.
WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? I considered a vocation to the priesthood in high school but at that time the diocese had seminarians carry their own student loans. I decided to join the Air Force to get money for college. I found that the military tested my call and strengthened it.
WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? Daily Mass influenced me the most. That was my home and I did not want to leave.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? Most people are surprised to hear that I was in the Air Force; they usually say I look too young to have served
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY? I usually focus on a whole book rather than a specific passage. Jonah, Jeremiah, and Isaiah would be my diary while the Gospels and Psalms would be my bread.
HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY? In the Mass. All my life it has been a peaceful retreat from a chaotic world.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES THAT HELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH? This past semester we have been visiting the sick in hospitals and I have found Christ in their suffering.
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Continues... HAVE ANY SAINTS OR CHURCH LEADERS PARTICULARLY INSPIRED YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? My Bishop was my rector up to his ordination and his example of love for God’s people is an inspiration to me. Of course, various other figures in the church inspire me: the Archangel Michael, St. John, St. Stephen, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Augustine, and Thomas (Aquinas, Beckett, More).
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND/OR ACADEMIC AND/OR MILITARY BACKGROUND BEFORE APPLYING TO BE A SEMINARIAN? I graduated from high school and joined the Air Force for 8 ½ years before joining seminary. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPIRITUAL BOOK? Dark Night of the Soul
WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE? Aside from the list of saints and church leaders, my dad handed on the faith to me so I admire him for that. I also admire the Special Forces community. They take on the most dangerous missions while their successes are most often secret and their failures are always public, similar to the spiritual mission of the church.
HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE? WHAT COMPRISES YOUR DAILY PRAYER? DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH? WHEN, WHERE, HOW? We meet for Morning Prayer, Mass and Evening Prayer as a seminary. I set reminders to keep the other hours on my own. We have Adoration on Thursdays and there is time set aside for mental prayer on weekdays but I usually do spiritual reading during that time and visit the Blessed Sacrament in solitude to pray.
“Jonah, Jeremiah, and Isaiah would be my diary while the Gospels and Psalms would be my bread.” christmas 2014 |
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The Harvest Timothy Gary Mergen DIOCESE: Madison, Wisconsin RANK / BRANCH OF SERVICE: 1Lt US Air Force HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED: Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart, Madison, Wisconsin COLLEGE ATTENDED: U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado HOBBIES: Playing and watching all sports, golf, skiing, aviation, reading, all things Catholic
WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? My parents and a teacher, retired Army Colonel Lee Conner, stand as the most influential people of my faith life. Lee Conner became my confirmation sponsor and provided a wonderful example of the exemplary military Catholic officer. One of the most important events in my life was to attend the Air Force Academy. It was witnessing the role of the military chaplain during Basic Cadet Training that made a profound impact in my life.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? Between the professional success and the possibility of marriage to my girlfriend, people are surprised to know I am joyfully giving up all that is going so well in my life to serve the Lord as a priest instead.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY? Three that stand out are 2 Timothy 1: 1-14, Ephesians 5, and Matthew 13: 45-46. I love Paul’s letter to Timothy since I feel as if Paul is writing to me in my life. I love Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. I love the Catholic Church’s teaching on sex and marriage and consider it a call to share it with the rest of the Church and secular world. Recently I have been enthralled with the parable of the pearl of great price in Matthew. I know Jesus to be the one pearl of great price and I want to sell everything to follow faithfully the path God has chosen for me to attain His pearl.
HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY? I came to know Jesus personally through receiving the Eucharist and through Eucharistic Adoration. There is no more personal relationship than to physically receive our Lord in the Eucharist.
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Continues... WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES THAT HELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH? I would point to attending daily Mass at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB). Initially I was shy about sharing the impact it had on my life. After inviting one of the men, Joe, to go to Mass with me, he was enthused to go. I developed a great friendship with Joe and we began to go to Mass together every day. Joe’s zeal and enthusiasm inspired me to be more open, and reawakened the call to evangelize others that I had been neglecting. Joe showed me the importance of living and sharing my faith openly with others.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND/OR ACADEMIC AND/OR MILITARY BACKGROUND BEFORE APPLYING TO BE A SEMINARIAN? I graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 2010 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science. I was assigned to Cannon AFB, N.M. I recently returned from my first deployment as a pilot in South East Asia, the highlight of which included humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE? One of my biggest heroes is my grandfather, Nick Mergen. Nick served in the Army Air Corps during WWII and was stationed on the island of Corregidor in the Philippines when it fell to Japan. He survived three and a half years in captivity as a prisoner of war in the Philippines and Osaka, Japan. He survived by risking his life to keep and pray a rosary every day. He died when my father was just a young boy but he is one of the biggest reasons I am in the military today and the biggest reason why I love the rosary.
HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE? WHAT COMPRISES YOUR DAILY PRAYER? DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH? WHEN, WHERE, HOW? Throughout my life it has fluctuated but I have reached a point where I refuse to take a step back in my prayer life and have committed to improve and help it flourish. I participate in the liturgical life of the church in Mass as a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and lector at daily Mass.
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By TAYLOR HENRY
New Judicial Vicar Appointed for Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
FATHER CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG, S.T.D., J.C.D., NEWLY APPOINTED JUDICIAL VICAR FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA.
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he Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), has a new Judicial Vicar. The Reverend Christopher Armstrong, S.T.D., J.C.D., of Cincinnati, Ohio, assumed the position on 1 October.
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n announcing the appointment, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., said “Father Armstrong brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this important role in the pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. I am grateful to Archbishop (Dennis M.) Schnurr for releasing him and to Father Armstrong for accepting these new responsibilities.”
As Judicial Vicar, Father Armstrong is now responsible for overseeing the work of the archdiocesan tribunal, which handles, among other matters, cases of nullity and dissolution of marriage. He succeeds Msgr. Thomas Olszyk, J.C.L., who retired in July. Father Armstrong said, “I look forward to this opportunity to serve our Church and our country. I am grateful for Archbishop Broglio’s confidence in me and entrusting to me one aspect of his pastoral care for the Archdiocese for the Military Services.” Father Armstrong is a native of Kettering, Ohio. He graduated from St. Albert the Great Parish School and Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering; St. Gregory College Seminary in Cincinnati; and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1980. Father Armstrong has advanced degrees in canon law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and in Marian Studies from the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton. He has taught canon law for nearly 20 years at Mount St. Mary Seminary at the Athenaeum of Ohio, and he taught for nine years at Lehman Catholic High School in Sidney, Ohio. Father Armstrong was parochial vicar at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sidney and at St. Michael Catholic Church in Fort Loramie, Ohio. He spent several years in central administration of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, serving as the Administrative Assistant to Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, and pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church in Cincinnati. Until moving to Washington in late September, Father Armstrong was pastor of St. Antoninus Catholic Church in Cincinnati. In his new residence and office at the AMS Pastoral Center, he finds himself in familiar surroundings. The five-story building, at 1025 Michigan Avenue Northeast, is a converted seminary, formerly owned by the Society of the Divine Word, where Father Armstrong lived from 1990-92 and again from 1994-96 while pursuing studies across the street at Catholic U. “I’ve been walking around saying ‘this is where this used to be,’ or ‘this was my room,’” he laughed; “It’s almost like coming home, in some respects.” Even so, he expects a period of adjustment in his new position. “It’s a learning curve,” he said. “I will be spending several months just learning the system.” In the meantime, Father Armstrong will have plenty of opportunity for professional consultation. Both Archbishop Broglio and AMS Vicar General John J.M. Foster are themselves canon lawyers, making his new priestly community as much “at home” with the letter of the law of the Church, as with the spirit. ✞ christmas 2014 |
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By ELLEN N. WOODS REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF “AMERICA MAGAZINE”, EDITED SUMMER 2014 ARTICLE.
Veteran Helps Formally Establish Campus Organization at Catholic University
AFTER MULTIPLE COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS, ARMY MAJOR JOSEPH EVANS COMPLETES MASTER’S DEGREE, HELPS FOUND “CARDINAL VETERANS ORGANIZATION” ON CAMPUS
n the decade that Army Major Joseph Evans served as an infantry officer with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., he was deployed four times. He served in a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo followed by three combat deployments: one in Iraq, then two in Afghanistan. His last tour of duty in Afghanistan was in the Nuristan province, where for 18 months in 2006 and 2007, he was the commander in charge of a valley about 20 miles long. “Our mission was to secure the area, make sure there were no bombs planted on roads, support the local government and police, develop the villages so they were safe for NGO’s,” explains Evans.
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MAJOR EVANS AT THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION DURING THE ASIA-PACIFIC CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE FOR MARY, IN MAY, READING A PETITION FOR PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL IN URDU.
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nd he was in harm’s way every day. “My best friend was killed in front of me when his vehicle ran over an IED [improvised explosive device]. I was in the vehicle behind his and I knew instantly we had lost him.” As an infantry commander in charge of 200 soldiers, Evans says it was his job to support his troops after the loss of their comrade. “That helped me deal with it—or maybe not deal with it.” The hardest part was coming home and talking to his wife and sons. While stationed at the Pentagon with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Evans was directed to continue graduate work, specifically in the area of South Asia relations. A year ago, he chose Catholic University, and he has since completed a master’s degree there in world politics. “My experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan has left me with the opinion that the U.S. military underestimates the importance of religion in that part of the world. I wanted to incorporate theology into my program.” Evans, 37, is headed to Nepal next, where he will be the chief of security cooperation in Kathmandu. Despite three long combat missions, he feels “blessed, fortunate, and grateful.” He has lots of friends who have come home with lasting disabilities and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. “I have the occasional bad dream. But for the
most part, I’m doing OK. War affects everyone in a different way. I went to a wedding a few months ago and there were about 20 of us who had been on those last three deployments and seven years later every one of us has had a different experience. Some are sucking down a bottle every night and can’t hold a job and others are keeping it together. “My life is pretty good every day. There’s not much that bothers me. I don’t mind waiting in lines, sitting in traffic, having too much work. Sometimes I see people stressing over little things and I want to shake them and say, ‘You don’t have anybody shooting at you, nobody is about to die.’ Of course I don’t do that because they would think I’m crazy,” says Evans. Instead, he has found productive ways to express his gratitude. He worked with a few other veterans at CUA to get the Cardinal Veterans Organization (CVO) off the ground as an official student organization. (There had been an informal group for student veterans previously.) “There are a lot of veterans at CUA. Young guys who enlisted right out of school, served in dangerous missions and now are coming back to college with their GI benefits. It’s not an easy transition. They need a group where others understand what they’ve been through,” says Evans. ✞ (Interview with Taylor Henry continued on page 31)
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By TAYLOR HENRY
U.S. Army Maj. Joseph Evans talks to SALUTE about joining other veterans to start the Cardinal Veterans Organization (CVO) at Catholic University. What motivated you to help start CVO at Catholic University? I was looking for a way, here at school, just to be able to reach out to veterans, see what I could do to interact with them, to help them, and also work with the ROTC students. Just help them, as they start out. How many veterans got involved with CVO its first year as an official campus organization? We ended up having pretty large numbers. I think probably month to month, there would be ten to fifteen people who would come to the meetings, but overall, probably 40 or 50 people, 60 people, became involved, came to at least one or two of the meetings. How did the organization spend its first year? Probably most of the year was spent doing administrative stuff, trying to write a constitution, trying to elect officers, figure out a schedule, that kind of stuff, and really set up the guys who are going to run it this year, kind of set them up to be able to have a functioning organization. What sorts of service projects did CVO undertake? We collected a bunch of food and other things to send over to deployed units.We had a collection of food stuffs that we donated to a homeless shelter that serves veterans here in D.C. We had guys attend Wounded Warrior dinners on campus. Is this a legacy that you hope to leave? Yeah, I hope so. I hope it's something that lasts and I hope that it's something that even as I, as an alumnus, in other parts of the world, when I come back, I can still reach back to or remain part of, the veterans that are here at CUA. LEFT: U.S. ARMY MAJOR JOSEPH EVANS
Evans of his service in Afghanistan: “I think we made a difference,” he says. “Was it lasting? I’m not sure. But we gave it all we had.” Thinking back on that last deployment, Evans says, “I was only able to go to Mass three times. Once the first week, once the last week, and one time in between. So that was 17 ½ months that I only went to Mass one time. Now I’m here on this college campus, I can go to church any time. I’m pretty lucky.” christmas 2014 |
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By ANN SCHNEIBLE
POPE FRANCIS Denounces War in Visit to WWI Cemetery REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF THE CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY (CNA) / ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK (EWTN)
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redipuglia, italy – Pope Francis warned against the destructive indifference towards our brothers and sisters that arises from ideologies of war during a Mass celebrated on Saturday, 13 September, for the victims of all wars. “Whereas God carries forward the work of creation and we men and women are called to participate in His work, war destroys. It also ruins the most beautiful work of His hands: human beings. War ruins everything, even the bonds between brothers,” the Holy Father said. “War is irrational; its only plan is to bring destruction: it seeks to grow by destroying.”
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hese words came during the Pontiff's visit to Redipuglia to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. Located in the northeast of Italy’s Province of Friuli Venezia Giulia, it was the site of heavy fighting between Italian forces and the Central Powers during that war. The region holds particular significance for Pope Francis, in that his own grandfather fought in Italy's 1915-17 offensive against the Austro-Hungarian empire, the battlefields of which are commemorated at the Redipuglia memorial. The Pope began the day with a visit to the Austro-Hungarian Cemetery of Fogliano di Redipuglia, the site where some 14,000 soldiers are buried, and offered a silent prayer. He then moved to the nearby Italian Military Memorial of Redipuglia, the final resting place of 100,187 fallen soldiers in WWI, where he celebrated Mass for the victims of all wars. In his homily, Pope Francis reflected on the entrance of the cemetery, where “hangs in the air those ironic words of war, ‘What does it matter to me?’ Each one of the dead buried here had his own plans, his own dreams… but their lives were cut short. Humanity said, ‘What does it matter to me?’” “Greed, intolerance, the lust for power…. These motives underlie the decision to go to war, and they are too often justified by an ideology; but first there is a distorted passion or impulse. Ideology is presented as a justification and when there is no ideology, there is the response of Cain: ‘What does it matter to me? Am I my brother’s keeper?’” “After experiencing the beauty of traveling throughout this region,” he continued, “where men and women work and raise their families, where children play and the elderly dream… I now find myself here, in this place, able to say only one thing: War is madness.” He added that the prevailing attitude of indifference – “Am I my brother’s keeper?” – is in complete contradiction to the Gospel message, which teaches that Jesus is in the least of our brothers. We are therefore called to care for all those who hunger, thirst, are strangers, sick, or in prison. “The one who cares for his brother or sister enters into the joy of the Lord; the one who does not do so, however, who by his omissions says, ‘What does it matter to me?’, remains excluded.” (continued on page 38) LEFT: POPE FRANCIS VISITS THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN CEMETERY IN FOGLIANO SEPT. 13, 2014 TO PRAY AND PAY A TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN ON THE BATTLEFIELD DURING WWI.
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By JOSE AMAYA
The Role of the Family in Catechesis
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he family is the core institution of every society. It is through the family that values, traditions and the faith are passed down from generation to generation. Church documents refer to the family as the ‘domestic church’ where children learn to love God and discover a life of prayer. Parents bear witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ in the hearth of the family. Catholic parents have the duty to educate and form their children in the faith. The natural role of the family in shaping children’s faith is complemented, not replaced, by the religious education program. In light of the Synod on the Family, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, U.S.A., strives to support the institution of the family to fulfill its duty to teach the Catholic faith to their children.
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n his ‘Letter to Families’ on the occasion of the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 5-19, 2014), convened to discuss the theme of ‘pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization,’ Pope Francis highlights the daily life of families. The Holy Father wrote, “In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest,housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support…Nevertheless, if there is no love then there is no joy, and authentic love comes to us from Jesus. He offers us his word, which illuminates our path; he gives us the Bread of life which sustains us on our journey.” (2 February 2014) These very moments, in the life of the family, ought to be infused with the joy of the Gospel. Whether catechists receive training about the AMS Curriculum Guide online or in person, there is always a focus on the necessity to support active-duty families in their primary role to teach the faith to their children. Parents are always with their children. Catechists are lucky to have one hour a week with youth and children for about nine months out of the calendar year. The Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization: Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum Guide emphasizes the unique role of the family in catechesis. The family precedes the religious education program in this glorious task of teaching the faith to youth and children. Active-duty families in the archdiocese have online access to the “parent segments” of
Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization. These segments contain the same age-appropriate standards and indicators being taught in religious education. Families work hand in hand with the religious education process to develop a partnership that strives to form children in the faith (Introduction to the Curriculum Guide, p. 12). The segments open with a Q&A introduction about the Curriculum Guide. They provide concrete ideas that parents can employ to encourage faith learning with their children at home. Coordinators of religious education and catechists need to inform parents what standards and indicators are being taught throughout the years so that they may reinforce these at home, in the everyday settings of family life. Since the segments are online, all catechetical leaders need to do is to provide the link to parents so they can download the materials to their personal digital devices. The continuous collaboration, communication, and consultation among these partners in the faith formation enterprise will yield households of faith, love, and service. Catechetical leaders and catechists should expect families to grow in faith over the year. Families will continue to pray and share faith at home, over dinner, or on the way to and from Mass. Together, all of us can pray for military families and catechetical teams as these suporting tools are implemented. May they be used within family life as another way to strengthen both knowledge and witness to the Catholic faith throughout this global archdiocese. ✞
he AMS Family Faith Assessment is a digital tool that has recently been introduced to assist active-duty families to engage in faith learning through fun, dynamic “question and answer” games. Assessment is used here loosely as process rather than a one-time event. A test is designed for pass or fail. This Assessment is designed to help families grow in faith and to strengthen their role to form their children in the Catholic faith. The stay-at-home parent and the deployed parent can schedule specific times to engage with their children and challenge one another with the questions and games. Each question, whether it was answered correctly or not, has a look-up feature that allows the family to learn more about the topic together. Additionally, the AMS Family Faith Passport is a digital tool that is easily accessible as families transition. The assessment results follow families and can easily fit into the new religious education program, whenever the family participates in the military Catholic faith community religious education programs. Learn more about both of these resources online, www.milarch.org/formingdisciples.
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By MARK MOITOZA, D.MIN.
A Net of Relationships
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eople value relationships and seek to share their experiences with those they care about. With the increasing presence of screen time on laptops, tablets, and mobile devices a multiplicity of options enable instant connections with family and friends. Jim Gaffigan, a comedian making fun of the digital age, remarked how difficult it was just ten years ago not to be able to take a lowquality photo of my dessert to share with all of my contacts. Critics have often remarked that there is a certain divide between real life and online life. At a recent conference on Theology and Communications, however, it was argued that the virtual world is not a parallel world but rather part of the daily experience of the world that reshapes the dynamic of relationships.
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his past June TheoCom14, hosted by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Greek Orthodox Church of America, and Santa Clara University, gathered a cohort of theologians and those utilizing digital media for evangelization to reflect upon community, presence, and authority in the digital age. One of the presenters, Father Antonio Spadaro, SJ, editor of La Civilta Cattolica – well known for his interview of Pope Francis, encouraged those gathered to reflect upon the reality that today the internet gives shape to something that humanity has been engaged with for a very long time; search, knowledge, and relationships. The digital environment is not a separate place but rather a more integrated way to interconnect with physical relationships. We cannot have a digital self and a real self. We are called to live our Christian life consistently through these interconnections evangelizing by the way we live our lives. This includes the choices, comments, and discussions we engage with online. There is a connection between technology and spirituality that longs for deeper meaning. In the technological age the search for God has changed. Religion, as Father Spadaro noted, used to be the needle of the compass pointing to the north of our life,
i.e., God. After World War II, however, the analogy switched to that of a radar as many in the 19th and 20th century questioned ‘God, where are you?’ The search moved from looking for a direction to find God to instead seeking God’s presence in a world dealing with so much tragedy. Today, the analogy has changed once again as we search for access. Think of those on a train trying to access a wireless signal on their phone to obtain information. Once connected answers are everywhere. What has become important now are not the answers but rather the questions. Most pastoral work is oriented toward giving answers. The spiritual environment, however, is a place to bring our moral questioning. A question creates community and deepens authentic community whether it is asked in person or online. A question shared allows for the possibility of discernment and prayer. The Church must be online not just to do things or to offer answers but to listen to people. The Church encourages the gift of relationships by discovering where people are conversing and trying to understand the voice of the Holy Spirit. The disciples gathered around a different type of ‘net’ but like them our focus remains on Jesus. Where and with whom do you share your questions? ✞ christmas 2014 |
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT TRAVIS (continued from page 17)
where we need to go: We have just scratched the surface. Ideally, we would love to have a required class for parents of all grades each month. This again would catechize our adult community, bringing the catechesis back to the home and help the parents grow in the faith. This is all part of helping our community to see themselves not as customers or consumers of a product, but sharing in the mission of Christ and the Church. This mission, growing from our Eucharistic commitment reaches beyond the classroom and beyond the doors of the chapel. It’s a beginning and there is a lot more that we need to learn and places where we will continue to grow. ✞
Pope Francis Denounces War in Visit to WWI Cemetery (continued from page 33)
Reflecting on the wars that continue to rage throughout the world, the Pope said that “perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction.” Pope Francis said these wars are driven by “interests, geopolitical strategies, lust for money and power, and there is the manufacture and sale of arms.” “The merchants of war perhaps have made a great deal of money,” he said, “but their corrupted hearts” engraved with the words “What does it matter to me?” – “have lost the capacity to cry.” “It is the task of the wise to recognize errors, to feel pain, to repent, to beg for pardon and to cry,” he said.
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Referring again to the question posed in Genesis, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”, the Pope reflected on the “shadow of Cain” which “hangs over us today in this cemetery.” This shadow “is seen here. It is seen from 1914 right up to our own time. It is seen even in the present.” Pope Francis concluded his homily by appealing for “a conversion of heart,” one which changes from the apathetic attitude represented by the words “What does it matter to me?” to tears “for each one of the fallen of this ‘senseless massacre’, for all the victims of the mindless wars, in every age.” “Humanity needs to weep,” he said, “and this is the time to weep.” ✞
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Save the Date 21ST Annual Memorial Mass 18 MAY 2015 at 4:30pm Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception|Washington, D.C.
“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” — [Luke 1:35]
— Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio
“Invoking abundant blessings from the Christ Child upon all of you, I wish you and all your loved ones the experience of that divine love and the lasting peace that only Christ can give!”
“Serving Those Who Serve”
P.O. Box 4469 Washington, DC 20017-0469
Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA