Salute, Winter 2009

11:12 AM

[Luke 2:14]

FARMINGDALE, NY 11735

PERMIT NO 60

PAID

US POSTAGE

PRESORTED STANDARD

12/4/09

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men …

“Serving Those Who Serve”

P.O. Box 4469 Washington, DC 20017-0469

Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA

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WINTER 2009

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

… for to you is born this day…

Christ the Lord [luke 2:11]

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Dear Friends of the Archdiocese for the Military Services,

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s we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am happy to greet you and offer you a smaller edition of Salute for the Christmas Season. Its pages focus on this important mystery of our faith with a reminder that those who serve our country are not always able to celebrate these holidays with family and friends.

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ince my last writing many events have taken place and the usual pace of activities in this global archdiocese has kept the staff and me very busy. The month of December will also be very full as Bishops Higgins and Estabrook and I plan to visit the faithful at different installations in various parts of the world. I am certain that you will accompany us with your prayers.

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s I mentioned in my last letter to you, I was finally able to participate in the annual Veterans’ Day Mass in Pilsen, Kansas for Father Emil Kapaun. Despite the almost three score years that have passed since his death, the beautiful church was full of men and women who admire his virtue and spirit of service. Bishop Michael Jackels, the Bishop of Wichita, concelebrated with me. Father Kapaun’s brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews were there.

The weather cooperated and the day was beautiful.

THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA VOLUME 3. NUMBER 4 WINTER 2009

Table of Contents

4 HOPE 6 Bishop on the Move 8 What is real? What is illusion? can be a challenge 12 Sacraments for troops, Abp. Broglio visits Ft. Hood.

or maybe not, Bp. Higgins.

Bp. Estabrook reaching out at Christmas.

First hand account from Boston Pilot Reporter Sgt. Neil McCabe.

14 The Spiritual Trauma of War: 15 From the Chancellor 16 Christmas Deployed – 2008 War is Hell!

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n excellent DVD will soon be released about the Korean War chaplain’s life and the miracle attributed to him.

Meet Deacon Michael Yakir.

f course, there is still great concern for the lack of Catholic chaplains. Their numbers have decreased, which means that the Archdiocese struggles to meet the needs of our Catholics in the Armed Forces. Please continue to pray for vocations and for an ever greater willingness on the part of priests to serve those on active duty. For those who are deployed the war is not a news item, but an ever present and life-threatening reality.

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s I wish you an abundance of Christmas blessings, I pray that the Christ Child will bestow gifts of peace and good health upon you and your loved ones.

from Diary of Fr. Nielson.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ARTICLES PLEASE VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:

www.milarch.org WINTER 2009

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.

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

… for to you is born this day …

Sincerely in Christ,

Christ the Lord

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

[luke 2:11]

feedback, letters to the editor, & advertising inquiries: editor@milarch.org

(Most Reverend) Timothy P. Broglio Archbishop for the Military Services

2 winter /2009 /

website: www.milarch.org ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO President

MONSIGNOR FRANK A. PUGLIESE Editorial Director

JO ANN REDMOND Editor

ERIC NEUNER | RPISTUDIOS Design Director

© 2009 - 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.

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“Once again innocent men and women were victims of a senseless attack on our soil.

Collectively, we asked why such a thing could happen.

Our hearts went out to the victims and to their families.

Christmas will not be easy for those left behind.”

By ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY P. BROGLIO

HOPE he Advent and Christmas Seasons invite us to hope. Pope Benedict in his second encyclical letter Spes Salvi challenged us to evaluate the object of our hope. Ultimately, the Christian hopes for eternal life, that is, to dwell with Almighty God for all eternity. Every important decision in our lives reflects that ultimate direction of our earthly pilgrimage.

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hose reflections strike a deep chord affected by the tragedy and the intensity of when I look back to last month. No- their ministry in the wake of such suffering. vember is traditionally dedicated to our n November 15th, in order to make prayers for the dead. In the western hemisphere manifest the concern of the Archdioit is autumn when nature begins to lie dormant. cese for the Military Services and her The leaves change and fall. A chill is in the air shepherd, I drove over to Fort Hood from and we know that winter is not far behind.

St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston where I was hose reflections were more powerful this participating in a discernment retreat with year for a number of reasons. First of all sixteen fine young men who are considering the tragedy at Fort Hood gripped our a vocation to the priesthood. While there was attention. Once again innocent men and women little that I could do during a Sunday morning were victims of a senseless attack on our soil. visit, it seemed very important to spend some Collectively, we asked why such a thing could hours with the Catholic Community there. happen. Our hearts went out to the victims celebrated a Sunday Mass, which all four and to their families. Christmas will not be easy priests concelebrated with me. I also greeted for those left behind. the faithful who gathered for the Spanish he Archdiocese for the Military Services Mass at noon. In your name and mine, I was there in the person of our chaplains: expressed condolences and Christian solidarity.

Fathers Edward McCabe (Boston), I assured them of our concern and our prayers as Raphael Eke (San Antonio), and Ken Carlson they rebuild their lives. To make this concrete (Chicago). Later Father Kevin Peek (Atlanta) expression in the context of the celebration was sent down from Fort Carson to assist with of the Eucharist, where the Lord Jesus makes the pastoral care of the Catholic population on us present at His one life-giving sacrifice was a the massive post. All of us are grateful for their powerful message. I was moved to be able to be service. We pray for them, because they are also with them, even for a short while.

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rom there I presided at the funeral for Michael Grant Cahill, a civilian who was killed at the in-processing center at Fort Hood. He had come back to work only a week after suffering a heart attack and he was greatly respected for his interest and dedication to the men and women he served. Again the ministry of presence on my part was a small gesture, but a good way to make this global Archdiocese present for a family in a moment of great sorrow.

into the beautiful neo-gothic church nestled among the corn fields in rural Kansas!

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ather Kapaun, like the chaplains at Fort Hood and elsewhere, remind us how many opportunities we have to do good. They challenge us to use our talents to build up the Body of Christ. In the context of this Archdiocese, which, of course, did not exist during Father Kapaun’s time, they make us proud and stimulate our response to the needs he other reminder of our mortality of others. was very positive. It was the annual n our prayers this Christmas we can rememVeterans’ Day celebration in Pilsen, ber those families who will feel the absence Kansas to commemorate Father Emil Kapaun, of loved ones in an acute way—both those an Army chaplain who died as a prisoner of war in North Korea. I mentioned in my letter at the who have lost family members and those beginning of this issue how well the priest is separated due to deployment or other service remembered in his hometown where he also commitments. The community of the Archdioserved as an Associate and as Pastor. It was cese for the Military Services is united with all heartening to see how many people crowded of them.

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he Archdiocese for the Military Services wishes to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to Catholic Church Extension Society for the most generous gift of $100,000 to help grow our “co-Sponsored Seminarian Program” which has increased from 7 to 23 seminarians in the past year. We are most appreciative of their partnering with the Archdiocese on this key element of the Vocations Program. Their generosity will help the Archdiocese fulfill our commitment to provide priests to serve in the dioceses of the United States. winter /2009 /

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Bishop on the Move

By

AUXILIARY BISHOP RICHARD B. HIGGINS

One to Remember

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’m looking over the shoulder of the controller in the Operations Center, beneath the radar. The wind is howling outside…. the snow is falling horizontally. There are occasional breaks in the overcast. It’s mid-winter in the Southeast corner of Iceland.

There are only a couple of hours of daylight this time of year and the weather is often treacherous. But the 117 is due in today and I’m heading back to Keflavik for Christmas dinner with the commanding general and his family.

ride! Getting a bit anxious…the 117 is in range and I need to get out there. Finally the “shirt” shows up with the six-pack (military SUV) and off we head to the dirt strip that serves as the Hofn airport.

HOFN "CHAPEL" BUILT FROM PLYWOOD PACKING CRATES

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ur radar site is a key component of the early warning system monitoring air traffic in the Greenland, Iceland, UK gap. It’s the height of the cold war and we are watching for the Russian “Bears” testing our defenses or heading down to Cuba. Back at Keflavik the Air Force has a squadron of F-4C interceptors, a couple of “Connie’s”, the early warning versions of the Lockheed Super Constellations (forerunner to the AWACS) a few T-33 trainers and a squadron of “Jolly Green Giants” air-sea rescue helicopters. The Navy is big back at “Kef.” There are about 9,000 of them with a couple of P-3 squadrons rotating from Brunswick, Maine or Jacksonville, Florida.

The Navy’s got a pair of C-117s (military version of the Douglas DC-3) and a lone C-118 (Military DC-6) that they use as morale transports.

The 117s re-supply Hofn, but they don’t do well in icing conditions, so it’s hit and miss most of the time.

is an Air Force lieutenant colonel, with a seasoned major as his operations officer.

A crusty senior master sergeant keeps an eye on the enlisted troops. Civilian contractors maintain the equipment. They live in a separate compound. Besides the towering “golf balls” there’s the long-range communications antennae and a magnificent lighthouse guarding the treacherous shoreline. The winters are long, dark and dreary out here. The locals monitor the composition of the site carefully. There are sensitivities to be observed.

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he 117 is our lifeline. It carries the mail, the B-movies, fresh vegetables and miscellaneous provisions. It is also the ticket home for the troops who’ve survived the “Rock.”

Of course it also brings the replacements, the occasional USO show and once a month the Catholic chaplain! There’s a “chapel” of sorts out here. It was built from plywood packing crates years before and it’s held to the ground here are 120 unaccompanied males out at with a few steel cables thrown over the roof.

Hofn on the bleak, barren coast of the Might seat fifteen or twenty!

Southeast corner of the island. It’s a one-year ’ve been here a week, seen all the B movies tour for the folks out here with a much-anticiseveral times, visited every section, drank pated mid-tour break. The squadron commander

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he “shirt” is quiet, driving pretty slowly.

I figure it must be really heavy stuff he wants to unload on me. Finally he opens up…just chat and more chat, nothing of consequence. As we round the bend a mile or so from the airstrip I hear the unmistakable roar of the Wright 1820s. There goes the 117 climbing away heading West! There’s no other airplane for a week! I look over at the “shirt” and he’s got this grin a mile wide on his face!

more coffee than I ever cared for, heard a few confessions, downed a few at the bar… it’s time to go home. So, several of us are huddled around the scope which normally searches East looking for the occasional “Bear” heading down through the Greenland, Iceland, UK gap. The crew here is used to scrambling the F4s to intercept the Tupolevs, take pictures of them taking pictures of us, checking for any adre” he says….“I talked it over with the unusual antennae, blisters, probes etc. But we commander. We both feel you need to are looking West this time, anxiously awaiting the Christmas mail, fresh vegetables, turkeys, spend Christmas with us out here on the “Rock” I’m speechless! I’ve just been kidnapped, and the new arrivals. hoodwinked, conned by the “shirt.” It was a had packed for a week and it was time to head quiet ride back to the “Rock.” But the “shirt” was right…I needed to spend Christmas and home to Keflavik, sleep in my own bed. the holidays with those enormously talented, he first sergeant approached…”Father, you courageous, lonely and wonderful Airmen. got a minute?” I should have known! Sure, So, about 1130 that Christmas Eve I hiked what’s on your mind sarge? I need to chat with around the barracks rounding up the faithful you, can’t do it around the site. Do you mind if for midnight Mass in our little chapel fashioned I drive you to the aircraft? No problem…the from the packing crates. We “sang” what we could, prayed for our loved ones, shared the 117 is still a way out.

Eucharist, shut the lights out and adjourned to he bus with all the departing personnel the bar to hoist a few in honor of our loved ones. and their gear heads out…no sign of my I’ve never forgotten.

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Bishop on the Move

By

Reaching Out at Christmas

and women and families who are making these sacrifices for our safety. Reality or Illusion.

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hristmas is a celebration that not only speaks to the mind about the mystery of God becoming man but to the heart as well about why. Why did this great God immerse himself so completely in our human existence? What does it say about the meaning of our lives in God’s eyes? All of us are on this journey in search for meaning. It’s a difficult journey for some and seems incredibly easy for others.

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t Christmas we, the Bishops of the Archdiocese, try to locate ourselves with our military people who are in places and situations that make their particular journey more difficult.

Archbishop Broglio will travel to Bahrain and Qatar and I will visit our people in Saudi Arabia. Bishop Higgins will be at Fort Hood with the soldiers and civilians and their families whose lives have been traumatized by the murderous acts that have taken place there last month. We will be with our deployed troops who are separated from family and friends, who are in cultures that are foreign to our own world and faith views, and fighting in wars that challenge them physically, emotionally and spiritually.

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hese past eight years have presented challenges for some of them that are sometimes overwhelming. The Army alone has suffered over 140 suicides so far this year. Divorces, alcohol and substance abuse and domestic violence have increased and continue to climb.

Many have lost loved ones and others have suffered terrible physical and mental injuries.

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hat is key on this journey is that each of us remains aware and involved in what is real and not with what can too easily become

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illusion. This seems to be our main challenge as a nation today, whether we’re talking about TV commercials or talk shows, politics or religion.

What is real? What is illusion?

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returned from a trip to Alaska some time ago after spending time with an Army brigade that suffered 54 casualties. The very same month that many of the wives were bearing children, those same wives were burying their husbands.

Our military and their families are asked to make incredible sacrifices that few others are required to make to safeguard our country from terrorists.

I visited Fort Leavenworth where there were four funerals of young soldiers in one morning.

They were all in their twenties: three casualties of war and one suicide. Upon returning home I watched TV for perhaps the first time in over a month and heard nothing else but stories about celebrities and incredibly superficial conversations about the plights of some of our Hollywood stars. There was nothing about the wars we were fighting or our people who were fighting them. The nation was disconnected from the problems our men and women in the military were experiencing because of the sacrifices they were making for our country. It’s not that we must be absorbed by the wars but we should be a part of the sufferings of the men

o this Christmas I invite you to remember the men and women of our nation who are out there for you. The Innkeeper had no room in his inn. Compelled by the innocence and need of Mary and Joseph to find something, anything, where they can rest and have their child, the Innkeeper offered the stable.

So also, we must make room in our lives for the people who matter most right now – the men and women in Service who are protecting us. The message of Christmas is that we have a God who loves us all so totally that everyone is called to be part of his family. His forgiveness and love will penetrate every part of us so that, with his healing, we can become that family and that Kingdom. He calls us to a relationship that has no limits.

BISHOP JOSEPH W. ESTABROOK

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o welcome to the journey. It’s a challenging world with harsh realities. The clear lines of good and evil seem to have vanished and the path can sometimes be threatening. We the bishops are traveling to connect with our men and women this Christmas. The question is how will you make them a part of your celebration? They must not have the sense that they are traveling alone.

ince the last Salute, Bishop Estabrook celebrated his fortieth anniversary as a priest at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria where he lives when on the East Coast. He is pictured with his mother and some parishioners during the celebration. He also celebrated Mass at the Notre Dame Basilica on the occasion of the Notre Dame-Navy football game and spent two months celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on installations in California. After Thanksgiving he continued his Pastoral Visitation and Confirmation schedules in Arizona and New Mexico before leaving for Saudi Arabia on December 17th.

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IMAGES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MASS AT BASILICA OF NOTRE DAME, BP. ESTABROOK WITH HIS MOTHER, BP. ESTABROOK WITH PARISHIONERS

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By DR. MARK MOITOZA

U.S. Army “DRE’s” encourage Catholic Youth Ministry

“ Gerri encourages

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his year over 180 military-connected participants came from 13 U.S. Military installations throughout the United States and Japan. The group that received the most attention was Camp Zama which traveled the farthest and included NCYC youth reporter, Stephen Venzlauskas. In an interview Stephen was asked how their group came up with the idea to participate all the way from Japan.

training for youth and adult leaders to share their gifts in the church.

She has participated in many national conferences and has been an active leader in Teens Encounter Christ/Troops Encounter Christ.”

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t all started with our Director of Religious Education, Mr. Ted Snow. He gave us this idea to come to NCYC and said it would be an uplifting experience because he had brought a group to NCYC before, from Fort Irwin, CA, and thought it would be a really good experience for us. We had to raise a lot of money to pay for the flights. We came up with the idea of selling homemade burritos after Mass on Sundays and did lots of bake sales.

We received a lot of support from the people at Camp Zama.”

A very two years Catholic youth and their adult leaders gather at a national conference to celebrate and grow in their faith.

This year the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA highlights four U.S. Army Directors of Religious Education who encouraged military-connected Catholic youth to participate by helping them to plan, fundraise and spiritually prepare for this pilgrimage of faith.

group from Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD attended NCYC with the help and encouragement of Gerri Merkel who has been a strong advocate of Catholic youth throughout her assignments in Germany and the US. Gerri encourages training for youth and adult leaders to share their gifts in the church. She has participated in many national conferences and has been an active leader in Teens Encounter Christ/Troops Encounter Christ. TEC is one of the collaborating members of NFCYM.

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CATHOLIC YOUTH GROUP FROM FORT LEAVENWORTH, KS

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he feast of Christ the King was celebrated in Kansas City, MO with over 21,000 high school youth and adult leaders attending for the 30th biennial National Catholic Youth Conference. NCYC gathered the young Catholic Church for keynote sessions and workshops held November 19-21, 2009.

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his conference was organized by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, an organization of affiliated Catholic dioceses and collaborating youth-serving organizations that advocates for a comprehensive approach to youth ministry and active participation of young people in the church.

ort Belvoir, VA sent a group to NCYC with the support and encouragement of Sr. Michael Bochnowski. Sr. Michael has encouraged military-connected youth to participate in a wide variety of experiences be it national conferences, World Youth Day or diocesan conferences sponsored by the

diocese of Arlington. Sr. Michael fosters leadership development among youth and their leaders utilizing resources and workshops from the Center for Ministry Development (CMD).

The Center is also a collaborating member of the NFCYM.

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inally, we highlight Dorothy Ling of Fort Leavenworth, KS. While this group did not have far to travel, they certainly did a lot to prepare. Dorothy organized a Scouting trip and also worked on NCYC volunteer committee that recruited a large number of adult leaders to assist throughout the conference. One of the volunteer highlights was the Eucharistic Procession from the Sprint Dome to the Kansas City Convention Center which had 21,000 young people praying through the streets with the guidance and direction of volunteers along the entire route.

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he Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA thanks these U.S. Army Directors of Religious Education for their commitment to serve military-connected youth and their families. Dorothy, Sr. Michael, Gerri, and Ted are committed to encouraging all people in the military to grow in faith. We keep them and all who mentor and serve young people in our prayers. Find out more about NCYC online at http://ncyc.nfcym.org/ winter /2009 /

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By JIM LOCKWOOD | PILOT STAFF

Sacraments can be a challenge for troops, says Pilot reporter

Reprinted with permission Boston Pilot

PILOT PHOTO/ GREGORY L. TRACY CARDINAL SEÁN P. O’MALLEY WISHES SGT. NEIL W. MCCABE WELL AS MCCABE PREPARES TO RETURN TO IRAQ AFTER A TWO WEEK LEAVE IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

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hile Sgt. Neil W. McCabe was prepared for the blazing temperatures and the dusty, dry conditions which are part of the arid desert climate in Iraq, deployment has brought him an unexpected challenge – the struggle to receive the sacraments.

McCabe, a Pilot reporter on active duty with the Army has gone from suburban Massachusetts, where it is easy to receive the sacraments, to Iraq, where attending Sunday Mass and receiving other sacraments has been a challenge at times.

Though sometimes travel and other obligations keep service members from participating in the sacraments, many times the problem is that there are simply too few priests

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to go around.

“As a Catholic soldier in Iraq, it’s very painful when you arrive at the chapel to realize that there is no priest because the priest is somewhere else,” said McCabe, speaking to The Pilot while home on leave in late September.

For McCabe, it’s quite a change from life in the Boston area, with its large Catholic population.

“I’ve never in my life had to deal with

a situation where there are no priests. It’s something you hear about in missionary countries,” he said. “It’s something you would read about in a history book,” he said.

Chaplains are responsible for meeting the spiritual needs of military personnel, ministering to those within and out of their own respective denominations. Catholic chaplains perform the same ministries that any priest does in serving his congregation. Including celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, administering the Sacrament of the Sick, and counseling.

McCabe said sometimes senior officers may lead liturgies of the word when a priest is not available. Other times, Catholic service members have to settle for attending Mass whenever they can, even if it is not Sunday.

He recalled a time when he was at a base on the Iranian border. He and a group of Catholic military personnel attended a Mass on Tuesday, which they counted toward their previous Sunday’s obligation; then the following day they attended an “anticipatory Mass” for the following Sunday. The priest who offered the Masses was available only for those two days before flying on to another base.

At division headquarters, according to McCabe, a priest is more often available, so while he is there, McCabe said he could typically engage in what he called his “Sunday ritual,” running, attending Mass, and then taking a bus to a neighboring camp to enjoy a cinnamon bun.

“It was an important part of my Sunday routine.”

Vicar General Father Richard Erikson, a colonel and chaplain in the Air Force Reserve, concurred with McCabe’s experience of a scarcity of Catholic chaplains in the military.

“There’s an enormous shortage,” Father Erikson said.

“Right now, there are 20 Air Force bases without chaplains. There are ships in the Navy going out without chaplains. The army is depleted as well.”

Father Erikson spoke of the dedication of the existing chaplains who often go back on successive tours of duty.

“It would not be unusual to have an active duty Catholic chaplain who has been to Iraq five or six times.”

According to Father Erikson, the lack of Catholic chaplains in the armed services results from a shortage of vocations to the priesthood in the United States. Priests are needed at home, so bishops are less willing to send them abroad.

In 2007, the Archdiocese of Boston stipulated that 3-percent of its active priests would be eligible to serve as chaplains, second only to the Archdiocese of Newark, according to Father Robert Deehan, the Archdiocese’s director of clergy personnel.

Father Deehan said that 15 priests from the Archdiocese are currently serving as chaplains in the armed services — 13 in the Army, Navy, and Air Force combined, with one serving at a local (continued on page 18)

CONNECT WITH YOUR ARCHDIOCESE ONLINE

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he Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, launched a brand new web site in November. Visit your Archdiocese at the same web address, http://www.milarch.org, to see our new look and access helpful resources.

Our web design team has worked hard to create a site that is easy to use and navigate. Take a web stroll through the different sections of our new site to find out where things are located.

CLICK IT OUT! THE NEW WWW.MILARCH.ORG winter /2009 /

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By Father James Burnett

The Spiritual Trauma of War: From the Chancellor

WAR IS HELL

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ast week, a group of over 125 participants representing a wide variety of professional and community-based organizations spent one and a half days listening, exploring and reflecting on personal experiences, current data, psychological and spiritual theories and practical advice in treating the moral and spiritual crises that affect the returning Iraq/Afghanistan veteran.

FR. JAMES E. BURNETT

Fr. James E. Burnett is the Chief, Chaplain Service at Hines VA Hospital (708.202.7268) in Chicago, Il. Hines VA is a 475 bed hospital sharing the same campus as Loyola Medical Center in Chicago.

Fr. Burnett, ordained a Catholic Priest for the Davenport, Iowa Diocese, served for 20 years as a Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. After his retirement from active duty he entered the VA Hospital System 10 years ago. His duties as Chief of Chaplain Service include supervising a staff of 9 chaplains who serve the needs of the veterans and their families.

In 2007, Fr. Burnett was elected the President of NCVACC (National Conference of VA Catholic Chaplains), an organization addressing the spiritual needs of the 300 Catholic Priests who serve in The Veterans Administration System.

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he theme of this conference, held on November 3 and 4, was “The Spiritual Trauma of War: WAR IS HELL”. The initial concept of this conference was to have it be a tool box approach for clinicians and caregivers from within and outside the VA system to empower them to better understand the dynamics involved in delivering care to veterans and their families. This conference was the follow-up to the conference held last year entitled “Embracing Spirituality in the Face of Trauma; a Soldiers Journey from Harms Way to Home.” At their core, both conferences emphasized the importance of spirituality in the healing and reintegration process for veterans and their families. In this year’s conference, national leaders with great expertise focused on bridging the gap between psycho-social and spiritual services.

he connecting thread throughout the conference was that veterans experience significant trauma that gives rise to profound moral injury. These experiences adversely affect the veteran and his/her family. It was the goal of this conference to help raise awareness and educate the attendees about available resources and ongoing programs designed to address the returning veterans and their families. The presenters arrived from all points of the nation to share their expertise on identifying and resolving in a clinical or informal setting the sometimes urgent needs that the active duty person and veteran bring to their clergyman or therapist/provider.

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ne of the major highlights of the conference was the personal story of a returning wounded warrior by the name of Steve. The story was personal and inspirational. Steve shared with us about the explosive (continued on page 15)

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ince I have just recently accepted Archbishop Broglio’s invitation to become the Chancellor at the AMS, I really don’t have a lot to say. On the personal side I can tell you that my wife, Susan, and I live in Mansfield, Ohio and that we have been married for 31 years. My wife is an elementary school teacher and we DEACON MICHAEL YAKIR hope that she can find a job here soon. Right now she is still teaching back in Ohio.We have three children, two grandchildren, and two more grandkids due by February 2010. My son is a Spec 4 MP currently stationed in Germany though he and his wife (another MP) are expecting to be deployed sometime next year. I also just recently celebrated my 25th year as a permanent deacon and I was ordained for the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio. I am an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War, a member of the VFW and I am a 4th Degree Knight.

I have enjoyed riding motorcycles since I was a teenager in the 60’s and my current ride is a 2008 Anniversary Ultra.

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ne of the first things I experienced was being able to attend the chaplains’ convocation here in D.C. I got to meet many of our priests and it was a great honor for me to talk with them during the breaks and to pray with them at Mass and at morning and evening prayer.

I especially appreciate that the Archbishop, our two bishops and all of the priests have accepted me as a peer in ministry.

suited for the diaconal “ministry in the marketplace” and my marketplace has now been expanded to literally the entire world. I am excited about being here and humbled at the same time, especially as I hear stories from our chaplains who are down range, in harm’s way, literally putting their lives on the line to bring the Gospel to our troops.

’d like to thank the staff here at the AMS, especially Sr. Helen for her help as I get my eople keep asking what does a chancellor do sea legs. You have all been great to me and I and my easy answer is to say, “To make sure appreciate your help and support. that the chaplains, contract priests, deacons and lay wish you all the best this Christmas season people of the AMS have everything they have everyand if I can be of help in any way, please thing they need to do their jobs in serving our military men and women and their families.” This job is well contact me.

I

P

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The Spiritual Trauma of War: WAR IS HELL blast that took the life of his best friend, who was sitting next to him, and caused him to lose his sight. He stated many times that he had always been an up-beat person, and that he always has had a love for life. His personal dynamism and his faith gave him the interior resources to grab a hold of life and not let go! Steve told the audience that;

(continued from page 14)

“pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice”, and each day he chooses to live life to the fullest. I hope that participants in this conference will be able to take the thoughts and ideas presented at this conference back to their facilities and communities and increase their effectiveness in responding to the needs of the veterans and their families. winter /2009 /

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By FATHER KEN NIELSON

Christmas Deployed - 2008

F

ather Ken Nielson shares real-life experiences of celebrating Christmas and the Sacraments in Iraq. His journal entries report the details of preparations for Midnight Mass which do not go quite as planned. There are also encounters with missed flights, brownies, cigars, IEDs, baptisms, shared rooms, crowded planes and experiences of the holy in unexpected places. Each of these entries provide a glimpse into the gift of Military Priest-Chaplains called to serve those in harm’s way. As you read through the journal entries pray for all of our troops and those who serve them. The price they pay for our freedom, with their presence, is a gift beyond measure.

1 DEC Today we had the longest flight ever, 2 hours long, and the coldest. We were placed directly next to the gunner’s window, so the very cold air flew in at over 100 mph and chilled us to the bone. We arrived 45 minutes late for the Mass time, too, so I presumed nobody would be there, since when flights are cancelled there is often no way to notify the congregation.

Surprise—hoping we would make it, they waited for us in the chapel! They were hungry for the Sacrament! Makes me realize all the more how much priests are needed here.

4 DEC Fairly often our Explosive Ordnance guys have to blow up caches of weapons or IEDs that are found, and when they do, sometimes the repercussions are very loud and shake our buildings, windows and doors. Today was a strong one, and it knocked one of the ceramic tiles loose from our room’s ceiling, which crashed onto the cement floor into a thousand pieces.

We are flying 3-4 times a week now, and I have taken the practice of saying the Rosary during the often long flights. The time is, though extremely high in decibels, low in communication, and so the time “alone” is good for prayer and thought. Often it’s dark, and the people

16 w i n t e r / 2 0 0 9 /

climbing on and off at the different stops we make sometimes have to be crammed into the seating spaces with their packs. Today we were literally stuffed to the ceiling with packs and cargo—not the safest way to fly, but, oh well.

If we go down I guess it would make little difference. Maybe the packs would actually shield us or prevent us from being tossed around!

Today was also a morale booster, as it always is when a package from my folks arrives with cookies and brownies. Mom and Dad are becoming famous for their goodies. The contents usually don’t last through 1-2 hours. I often give them to the guys going out on convoys, as sometimes they don’t get back for meals.

Another set of boxes arrived from my sister Lisa and husband Pete—about 200 votive candles that we will use for the Midnight Mass on Christmas. Several Christmases ago, my cousin Scott sent several hundred candles for the same purpose. Got to keep it in the family!

5 DEC EOD detonated another blast today, and another tile fell, this time on my bed. Made a mess.

14 DEC The temp last night outside was 36.

It’s a rude awakening when you have to get up

and run to the latrine in the middle of the night.

16 DEC Good day again, more of the folks’ brownies and candy arrived. I had to hide some to hoard it for myself!

17 DEC Learned a new term the Soldiers use, “goat grab.” It refers to the meals that the locals sometimes offer us, even bringing us a huge spread into our battalion building. Usually the main meat served is lamb or even goat, and the dishes are laid out on a large table. Everybody digs in as the locals do, with their fingers— hence the term.

26 DEC The last three days have been pretty grueling. We traveled to 7 locations to do Christmas Masses. The day before Christmas Eve we were at one location far out into the countryside. The return flight was scheduled for 2230. Finally at 0430 on Christmas Eve they cancelled the flight. So we found a bed, and slept for a few hours. I was worried, since there was only one more flight that we might get listed on at 1730 on Christmas Eve. We wanted to be sure to be back “home” at FOB Falcon for the big Midnight Mass scheduled there. After repeated hopes for a bird and subsequent cancellations, at 2230 I gave up that we would make it back in time. I thought, “Well, I guess here is where I celebrate my ‘Midnight” Mass.’” We were out at the landing zone, in the middle of nowhere, and another 130 Soldiers were waiting in the dark as we were for a flight. So I spread the word that we would celebrate Mass off to the side of the trailer, in the gravel. So a couple of soldiers found a crate and a cardboard box. With that as our altar and in that humble setting we celebrated the presence of the Lord with us in the great Sacrament. It was cold and dark, much like Bethlehem must have been. But it was meant to be. One Soldier came up afterwards: his dad had died several months earlier and he had been unable to reconcile his death. He said being at Mass really helped him to come to terms with his death, as they used to always go to Midnight Mass. Another Soldier’s brother had died several years earlier and he had never been to Church

since. God works in mysterious ways.

After Mass, at 2300, we got a call that a bird was on its way. None of us knew for whom it was coming. The higher-ups in aviation operations had diverted a flight, 30 minutes travel one way to pick us up, and my assistant and I were the only two allowed on board! I felt bad for the other Soldiers who were waiting to go home, looking wistfully at us as we took off.

We arrived at Falcon at 2330, where the sign had already been posted that Mass was canceled.

Nevertheless, a crowd was still waiting at the door. So quickly, we set up the altar and the 200 candles my sister and brother-in-law had sent, lining them up all around the room. The musicians, thinking Mass was canceled, had gone to their tents, spread out in rooms all over the FOB we knew not where. So once again in Iraq, I celebrated Midnight Mass to candles and a cappella singing. The chapel was full. We also received a young Captain into the Church.

He had been preparing in our RCIA for 10 months and was leaving for home in just a few days. It was a beautiful evening in many ways after all!

On Christmas afternoon we flew to FOB Loyalty, where we also baptized 4, received into the Church five converts. They all had been preparing for the past 10 months and were quite happy to receive the sacraments of initiation into the Church. There was a Lt. Colonel, a Captain, a Warrant Officer, and several Sergeants in the group. They, too, were leaving Iraq in a few days, and spirits were very high. (continued on page 18) winter /2009 /

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Sacraments can be a challenge for troops, says Pilot reporter (continued from page 13)

Veterans Affairs Medical Center and another as the director of vocations for the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

However, despite the hardships, service in Iraq has provided the Pilot reporter with unforgettable spiritual memories.

Just prior to returning to the Boston area for a two-week leave, McCabe recalled a unique Rite of Sprinkling. At Mass, the priest put some salt in a bottle of water, blessed it, and walked among the congregation sprinkling the water from his palm.

“He didn’t stop until he was sure every single one of us had been hit,” McCabe recalled.

“There was something tactile about the water coming directly from his own hand. It was so unceremonial. It was pure, actual,” McCabe added. “It was the love and protection he felt for us.”

At another time, the Bishop of Basra offered a Mass in Aramaic, the language Christ spoke,

Christmas Deployed - 2008 Afterwards, we continued celebrating with fine cigars sent to us by many of you.

31 DEC The large warehouse in which I share a room with another Captain is shabby at best.

We came in tonight to find all the wiring in the rooms in our wing had fried up, and my computer wiring with it. We were told the rooms were being condemned and we had to move. We are in a smaller room now, with a bird’s nest directly above us in the rafters. The thoughtful birds leave their droppings aplenty in front of our door.

The new year came in and we hardly noticed. There were no parties to speak of, and of course no drinks with which to celebrate.

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at McCabe’s base. There, a seminarian offered responses on behalf of the congregation, similar to the altar boy’s role in the Tridentine rite, the norm before Vatican II. “It’s pre-Tridentine,” McCabe said. “We participated in a Mass that was said in the same language as the first Mass in the land of Abraham.”

“In military life, there are unique sacrifices and hardships and literally life-threatening dangers, yet you also have opportunities to witness things and participate in things you could never have dreamed you would be a part of,” he said.

“For all my experiences so far, this is the highlight of my deployment — to have been in that chapel for that Mass.”

McCabe is currently deployed as a military historian, documenting the field experiences of soldiers in his division.

(continued from page 17)

11 JAN Today we celebrated the sacraments of initiation on FOB Falcon for another 6 Soldiers.

One came from the Jewish faith, another from “The Cool Church” (the name of the church on his baptismal certificate!) and several from other denominations. They have been meeting with me faithfully the past 10 months and it was wonderful to share the celebration with them.

One of them afterward said, “It’s a bit overwhelming, Father.” With a smile I said, “Good!”

Keep us in your prayers!

Love, Father Ken Nielson

TO SHOW YOUR MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO veterans, military members, their families, and chaplains. Your commemorative brick will join the thousands of others in adding that “personal touch” to the pathways of our new chancery building in Washington, DC. Order your bricks online at: www.milarch.org or complete and return the form below.

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FATHER TIMOTHY VAKOC REST IN PEACE 1 JANUARY 1960 – 20 JUNE 2009