Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio Accepts

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio Accepts Saint Luke Award on Behalf of Catholic Chaplains BY TAYLOR HENRY

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY BROGLIO (L) ACCEPTS SAINT LUKE AWARD FROM FATHER DAVID SONGY (R), PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SAINT LUKE INSTITUTE.

Catholic U.S. Military chaplains serving in all branches of the Armed Forces were honored as a group on 20 October 2020 when the Saint Luke Institute presented them its Saint Luke Award during an extraordinary virtual benefit. The Saint Luke Institute is an independent, non-profit Catholic treatment center based in Silver Spring, MD. It provides psychological screening for candidates to the priesthood and religious life, as well as outpatient, residential, and continuing care programs for Catholic clergy and members of religious communities. The Saint Luke Award is presented each year on or around the Feast of Saint Luke—18 October—to a person or persons whose professional life or charitable works embody the ideals of the Institute: the rebuilding of the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual life of those in need.

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, accepted the crystalline plaque on behalf of the chaplains who serve on his watch. He said, “I am grateful for all Saint Luke Institute does to restore priests and religious to their ministry, to help men and women resolve difficulties, fill lacunae in their development, and address challenges that have surfaced. In more than one instance, the intervention of the Institute staff has enabled a priest serving in the Archdiocese to be able to return to his ministry. That intervention was priceless and enabled effective ministry to hundreds of others.”

Saint Luke President and CEO Father David Songy, O.F.M. Cap., S.T.D., Psy.D., spoke of Archbishop Broglio’s many accomplishments and the long thread of service to others that has marked his priestly and episcopal vocation. He remarked, “Archbishop Broglio knows his chaplains and cares about their well-being. He understands the sacrifices they make for God and for this country. As priests, we are called to this deep service. But military chaplains put it all on the line, so he gives all he can to support them.”

The Saint Luke Institute normally holds its annual benefit in a face-to-face gathering at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. This year, though, because of social distancing guidelines mandated by the City of Washington over the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually on the Institute’s website. Retired Rear Admiral and Mrs. James B. Hinkle served as emcees. Their son, Father James C. Hinkle, CHC, LT, USN, is a Navy chaplain at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois.

During the 45-minute ceremony, the Most Reverend Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, welcomed participants, offered an opening prayer, and shared the spotlight with bishops, clergy, and others involved in the psychological screening and treatment of priests, brothers, sisters, nuns, and others active throughout the institutional Church.

The Saint Luke Institute has served Catholics in the vineyard for more than 40 years. Its annual Benefit raises funds and invites prayers to support its special ministry. This year’s virtual benefit remains posted on the Saint Luke Institute’s website at: sli.org, where it can be viewed by the public. V

Special: A Christmas Eve Mass for the Living

BY CHARLES M. FUSS JR.

THE USS BATAAN (CVL-29) RETURNING HOME AFTER SEVEN MONTHS IN KOREAN WATERS, 25 JUNE 1951.

Christmas Eve 1950 was more than a joyous occasion on board the light aircraft carrier USS Bataan (CVL-29). We were the living, with hopes for tomorrow. Hungnam lay behind us; the sea the terminus of a winding bloodstained road from the Chosin Reservoir. In northeast Korea, neat rows of white wooden crosses marked the cemetery of the First Marine Division.

The voices of 1,700 sinners and a few saints rose in praise as the Bataan forged through the black night and the frigid waters of the Sea of Japan. Father John Coffey held the host aloft while the bells rang. Kids wearing navy blue and forest green knelt on the hangar deck to give thanks for an uncertain future. Corsair fighter-bombers of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 212 stood in the dark nave of the 40

steel cathedral. Red and green wing lights adorned the branches of a stunted Christmas tree that had been delivered by the faithful fleet oiler Cimarron (AO-22).

Lieutenant Commander David Hill played the small pump organ. He was a hard-drinking agnostic. Despite his Jewish faith, D. R. Milstein sang lustily in the choir. He was a plane pusher on the flight deck. Father Coffey would hold a service for the Protestant members of the crew and the Marine squadron on Christmas Day, but everyone came to the Midnight Mass. It was our Christmas. The Hungnam evacuation was complete.

I have attended Masses in many great churches and cathedrals since the Bataan’s Midnight Mass in that bleak winter of 1950, but none have been as moving or as inspiring.

Morning on 24 December had arrived cold and gray, with snow flurries and biting winds. It was just another day of endless flight operations. Our gallant Marine pilots in their dark blue Corsairs were trying desperately to hold back the hordes of Chinese attempting to annihilate our troops. We had been at this routine since 17 December, with little time to do more than steal a few hours of exhausted sleep. We had not yet received any Arctic gear. I remember vividly the bonechilling cold. An uncommon act of charity made my life a bit more bearable: A crusty Marine sergeant had accompanied one of the last helicopters off the beach. As we tied down his machine, this fiercelooking man with a handlebar mustache saw me shivering violently. Marines are not notoriously kind to sailors and vice versa, but he took off his bloodstained parka and, without a word, wrapped it around me. That act of kindness left an indelible mark on my memory. On Christmas Day, we sailed south for Pusan. Father Coffey was still hard at work when our two destroyer escorts—the USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887) and USS Arnold J. Isbell (DD-869)—asked for a chaplain. The sun was shining, but the seas were acting up. Our orders to rejoin Task Force 77 did not permit us to slow or stop. The only way our 53-year-old chaplain could reach the rolling destroyers was to Bataan commanding officer, Captain

be lowered from our helicopter. The

CAPTION IN PHOTO: USS BATAAN CVL29: 25 DECEMBER 1950 AT THE CONCLUSION OF MASS WITH FATHER COFFEY, SEA OF JAPAN. PICTURE WAS TAKEN ON THE HANGER DECK WITH PLANES OF VMF 212 SHOWING. NOTE CHRISTMAS TREE ON THE LEFT.

Edgar Neal, asked Father Coffey if he wanted to volunteer for the hazardous mission. Father John immediately agreed, saying: “Those sailors need me today.”

continued on page 42

Special: A Christmas Eve Mass for the Living CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

He was gone for the better part of Christmas Day. The metal shop fashioned a large set of naval aviator wings with the inscription “Sky Pilot.” Commander Reginald Rutherford, our executive officer, presented Father Coffey with the wings when he landed on the flight deck. The whole flight deck crew and many of the Marine pilots were there to cheer. A few weeks later, two of those pilots, Captain A. H. Agan and First Lieutenant A. J. Ward, were killed in action.

The Bataan, with its Marine squadrons, made two more extended deployments to the Korean conflict and earned seven battle stars. After the war, Father Coffey’s shipboard congregation went on to do good things with little fanfare, typical of the survivors of the “forgotten war.”

Father John left the Bataan in 1953, after serving his sailors and Marines in all of the ship’s combat cruises. Everyone remembered how he dragged liberty-bound kids to help out at an orphanage in Japan. He was known for taking groups of enlisted men to dinner and on tours of the atom bomb site in Nagasaki, to keep them out of the bars. Many of us remember him standing alone on the flight deck in the cold wind, his purple stole flapping, as he gave conditional absolution to the sea for those who did not return.

Father Coffey was released from active-duty on 24 June 1953. In 1959, he was named a monsignor. On 23 June 1964, he went to join the saints he had transformed from sinners in the shadow of battle.

Mr. Fuss served on board the USS Bataan as a flight deck plane director. He subsequently completed college under the Korean GI Bill and worked 31 years for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He is the author of two books and numerous maritime articles. V

Save the Dates

All events are subject to change based on governmental mandates.

Rite of Election for U.S. Military-affiliated catechumens completing the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)

21 February 2021 - 3 p.m.

Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center Washington, D.C. 20017

Spring Discernment Retreat for Prospective Priests and Military Chaplains

11-14 March 2021

Saint Patrick’s Seminary Menlo Park, CA 94025 Archbishop Broglio will participate. Young men interested in participating may contact vocations@milarch.org

Chrism Mass

23 March 2021 - 6 p.m.

Crypt Church Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Washington, D.C. 20017 Archbishop Broglio will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

Warriors to Lourdes - Spiritual journey for current and former U.S. Military personnel

18-25 May 2021

Lourdes, France For more information go to: warriorstolourdes.com

27th Annual Memorial Mass

16 May 2021 - 4:30 p.m.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 400 Michigan Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017 Archbishop Broglio will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

For God and Country Discernment Retreat for priests discerning military chaplaincy

28 June - 2 July 2021

Washington, D.C. 20017 Archbishop Broglio will participate. Interested priests may register on the AMS website or contact AMS Chancellor Father Robert Cannon at chancellor@milarch.org