impress his fellow comrades, whether that meant learning the intricacies of their When Duty Calls: John F. Kennedy Jr. weaponry, completing their daily workout On July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette, and his sister-in-law, regimen, or sharing a meal together. Lauren Bessette, took off from Essex County Airport in a flight chartered by Kennedy. “With sailors and with Marines, as a The plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, with all three aboard perishing. form of pre-evangelization, I consistently As the Command Chaplain of Combat Logistics Squadron Two, MacNew was flown exceeded normal role expectations for to Massachusetts to minister to the Navy Divers and crew of the U.S.S. Grasp as they chaplains. I found again and again that this engaged in the search and recovery operations for the missing aircraft. full participation in military training and “I ministered to the Kennedy and Bessette families at sea and the shore in the wake of the excessive knowledge of military subjects JFK Jr. airplane crash. The Navy was dispatched by the President to try to find that aircraft. was the first key in the process of evangeliIt took them about 4-5 days to find it. When they did, there were only two ships capable of recovering the aircraft on the East Coast and both ships belonged to my squadron. zation with the men and women of the sea That meant the bodies would be within the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese for the Military services. Once you had won their respect, Services, and that, of course, the appropriate Catholic chaplain should be on scene.” you were accepted as part of the family. If Senator Edward Kennedy and his two sons were transported to the U.S.S. Grasp by the they came to respect and love you, almost U.S. Coast Guard. Father MacNew’s ministry to the Kennedy and Bessette families began imperceptibly, you were taken into anothin private consultations with the Senator and his sons upon arrival. When the bodies er level of intimacy among them.” of John Jr., Carolyn, and Lauren had been recovered, Senator Kennedy asked MacNew With military service, though, comes to accompany them ashore to minister in prayer, counseling, and facilitation of particularly difficult times. Every day, administrative procedures. regular people sign up to enter military Father MacNew recounts: “A burial at sea aboard the US Navy Destroyer U.S.S. Briscoe service, knowing there is a possibility that was scheduled for the morning following the recovery. A Navy admiral, who is now the chapthey give the ultimate sacrifice. After that lain to the United States Senate, Reverend Barry Black, flew in with an accompanying Navy Catholic priest on the evening of the recovery. I was in place early in the morning to receive bond is formed, it can be difficult to say the cremated remains and to brief Admiral Black on the pastoral situation as it had develgoodbye. While on a large joint military oped. I said, ‘Sir, you and Father Iasiello will obviously guide the funeral service this morning. exercise with Marines in South Korea, With your permission, I’ll now return to the U.S.S. Grasp.’ Admiral Black replied, ‘Jim, you’ve MacNew was called to respond to a tragic made us all very proud. The families have made it clear that they want you to lead them night helicopter crash in which 18 Ameriin prayer this morning. We have vestments to cover your working uniform and we will can Marines and 11 Republic of Korea Maaccompany you in this morning’s service for the families.’ It was a pretty dramatic 40 hours.” rines lost their lives. “I worked in concert with the recovery and medical teams from early morning hours into the night, prayerfully receiving the body Father MacNew's military service had him stationed throughout the of each Marine, as well as counseling and praying United States and abroad, providing religious services to thousands. with Marines who had participated in the overnight mission.” I love to laugh with our students and they keep me humble. A New Family I’m 66 now, but I still climb Bear Mountain with the same At the conclusion of his military career, MacNew fervor each October, and I share the cold at the March for was ready to embark on a new mission. He was Life with our students in the same way I endured the cold of asked by his religious superior to come to Holy South Korea with my Marines. No matter where I serve, Family University because the Sisters of the Holy it is all for the greater glory of God, and God has always Family of Nazareth wanted an Oblate priest to kept me among young adults!” lead the Campus Ministry program. He was asked When asked about his legacy, and what is next for a to attend for one year. MacNew will celebrate his man who always looking like he is rushing toward his 13th anniversary this August. Throughout his next adventure, he is sure in his response. time, MacNew has provided prayer and spiritual “Whatever God wants. I would like to die as a holy man, renewal to students from all walks of life. if God gives me the grace and I am able to respond.” “I fell in love with our students.” Students from last year’s Bear Mountain hike asked While MacNew would certainly point to the MacNew what he’d like his legacy to be—how he would students as the leaders of Campus Ministry, it is like people to remember him years from now—his tombhis iconic humor and bodacious homilies that keep the students stone message. He is qualified for burial at Arlington coming. The group celebrates with a yearly trek to the top of Bear National Cemetery because of his years of service, but would need Mountain and marches through the streets of Washington DC during permission from his superiors. the March for Life rally. He responded instantly and from the heart, “CDR James MacNew, “My true joy is to be among our students and to contribute to their OSFS, Oblate Priest, Navy Padre, Chaplain of Marines, Holy Family personal, professional, and spiritual growth in any and every way. Buddy.”
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