These last two issues of Salute are following one after the other, and I apologize for the delay. On one hand it means that many things have been taking place in this global archdiocese. On the other it means that more time must be dedicated to keeping you informed about what is happening here.
This issue was intended to reach you for Christmas and it will still be considered as the last issue for 2024. You will be able to read about the Christmas activities that were mine and recent pastoral visits on the part of the Auxiliary Bishops.
You will also meet another co-sponsored seminarian.
At this writing, the archdiocese was busily preparing for the Jubilee of the Armed Services and Police Forces which took place in February. This great outpouring of grace represented by the ordinary Jubilee of Hope was a splendid occasion of personal renewal and cultivation of that virtue.
You and I begin the New Year filled with that hope. We long for lasting peace and we take our small steps to humanize our society, to preach the truth in love, and to care for those who need our help. Our faith helps us to see Christ in those who look to us in their need.
In the midst of our busy lives we recognize that the Lord is in charge, we open ourselves to His grace, and try to keep our gaze fixed on him.
Thank you for your support and enjoy these pages of Salute.
Sincerely in Christ,
The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA
THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA VOL. 18 NO. 4 WINTER 2024
TABLE of CONTENTS
4 The Merry-Go-Round
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio 12Creative Pastoral Logisitics
Bishop F. Richard Spencer 16Praying for the Dead
Bishop Bill Muhm
20Cooperation Without Compromise
Bishop Joseph Coffey
22Father Paul-Anthony Halladay
Named Vocation Director
Taylor Henry
24 The Harvest Continues
Meet Jonathan Hoole
28 The Sacrament of Marriage
Mark Moitoza
40 The Catching Force of Stewardship
Jean Tony Zander
46Building a Culture of Life
Elizabeth Tomlin
50Higher Mission: Military, Police Recommit to Faith During Jubilee
Catholic News Service reprinted with permission, Cindy Wooden.
Cover: Archbishop Broglio greets Pope Francis during an April 2024 visit of a delegation from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to the Vatican.
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.
ADDRESS CHANGES AND NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS:
Please send title, name, address, and phone number to: support@ milarch.org call 202.719.3600 or write: Advancement Office, Archdiocese for the Military Services, P.O. Box 4469, Washington, D.C., USA 20017-0469
FEEDBACK, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: editor@milarch.org
WEBSITE: www.milarch.org
Winter 2024 |
Pilgrims of Hope
The Merry-Go-Round
By Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio
As a child I liked riding the plastic horses on a merry-go-round. They did not move too fast and you could wave to the same people as the horses moved by the same spot for a second time. Never did I think that it might be an analogy for my agenda as the Archbishop for the Military Services, USA. However, it is not a bad one!
Last June I was privileged to concelebrate the priesthood ordinations of four co-sponsored men in Atlanta, Colorado Springs, and here in Washington, D.C. One of them I met when he was a firstie at West Point several years ago and another spent much of the pandemic in the clergy residence of the Pastoral Center.
Those happy events were a prelude to the on-boarding of ten new cosponsored seminarians about which you read in the last issue of Salute. I must say that the AMS is blessed with incredible seminarians. I am so grateful to the dioceses and orders who share this part of their future with us.
I will confess that the first two weeks of July last year gave me an opportunity to rest and be restored. I stepped off the merry-go-round for some days with close friends on the shores of Lake Michigan. Then, a brother, sister-in-law, their eight sons and daughters, their spouses and their 27 children and an unborn daughter of the next generation invited me to join them for another week of a continued R & R. By the end of that week I even knew which name went with which member of the third generation!
That was a good prelude to the memorable gathering which was the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Those days of prayer, instruction, celebration, and adoration have marked our Nation. It was so good to gather with a substantial group of AMS faithful for a Mass at Marian University.
The other usual summer events such as the Napa Institute and the Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus were rounded out by a new experience of opening the Vietnamese Youth Eucharistic Movement’s annual meeting near Gainesville, FL. So many young people gathered to renew their faith in the Most Holy Eucharist.
Later in August, I returned to Florida for a visit to Hurlburt Field and the Catholic community there. Father Robert Monagle, a senior Catholic priest in the Air Force, was my host. It was good to return there so many years after rather regular visits to the area.
September was filled with many recurring activities: the annual Labor Day gathering with the co-sponsored seminarians, the Cleveland Mass and reception, USCCB Administrative Committee meeting, Masses with the Military Section of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre, Investiture for the Constantinians, and confirmations.
The new officers of the Military Council of Catholic Women journeyed to Washington and their new Board of Directors were installed in the main chapel of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center. It was propitious to invoke the blessings of Almighty God on the new officers and pray with them. The Council has much to offer the women, the Archdiocese, and the Church. I am so grateful for their support and their good work.
As you know, October found me at the Plenary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. All of the participants would agree that the sessions were long and we were ready to return home at the end of October. The wonder of modern communications did allow me to participate in a few board and committee meetings. I also made a quick visit to the Naval Station near Naples and greeted some of the faithful ably led by Father David Campo (newly on active-duty from Boston).
The AMS also hosted a marriage enrichment retreat at the Divine Word retreat center in Nemi (right outside of Rome). It was a good experience for the couples who came and I was happy to spend time with them and celebrate the Eucharist with them on Saturday and Sunday. The AMS is forever grateful to the generous couple who makes these retreats possible.
continued on page 6
Winter 2024 | 5
Merry-Go-Round
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
I made it back to Washington in time to leave for St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park (Baltimore) where a discernment retreat was held with an exceptional number of participants. The seminarians and faculty showed great hospitality. We were also on hand when the community learned that one of the faculty had been named Coadjutor Bishop of Oslo!
At the end of the retreat, I blessed the new stained glass windows at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in the Archdiocese of Washington. In addition to the Army National Guard chaplaincy of the pastor, the Reverend Samuel Giese, and the presence of images of the Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun, St. Joan of Arc, and St. Martin of Tours, the parish also serves the French-speaking community. Father Giese wanted some French both in the homily and at the blessing.
Fort Meade again provided my preferred venue for Sunday Mass before the Plenary Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The community is always so warm in its welcome and Father Patrick Monaghan, OFM Cap. is offering first-class pastoral care for them. I even baptized a baby girl before heading back to Baltimore for the meeting.
The annual benefit on 16 November was a great success. It was good to gather for the Eucharist at the St. John Paul II National Shrine and to have a delightful festive meal afterwards. I am so grateful for the support of the AMS mission.
Ponce, Puerto Rico called me back for a continental missionary congress. The last time it was held in Puerto Rico, I was the Apostolic Delegate! It was a great opportunity to see old friends, hear inspiring messages, and enjoy a warmer climate.
I went from there to San Diego where Father Samuel Schneider, currently a Navy chaplain assigned to the Marine Corps, welcomed me to his home. Together we went to the Los Angeles Cathedral the next morning for the diaconal ordination of Paul Collins, a co-sponsored seminarian and future Navy chaplain. I had been out in the area last August for the opening Mass and convocation at Thomas Aquinas College. I ended the weekend with Mass at the Los Angeles Space Force Base on Sunday morning. It was good to visit the community and to see both Fathers Okwaraocha (activeduty AF) and Gerovac (a Jesuit contractor). Of course, LA and D.C. did not get any closer during my absence from the latter.
December was overflowing with events and commitments, but there was still time to contemplate the mystery of Christ’s birth among us. On 14 December, I was able to witness the matrimony of two recent Naval Academy grads in Asheville, NC. Father William Appel (US Navy currently serving the Marine Corps) was my chauffeur and a local pastor, Father Patrick Cahill, was my host. I even celebrated his 7 a.m. Spanish Mass before flying back to Washington, D.C.
The airlines must have known that I needed an extra day, because, for the third time in as many years, my departure for the annual Christmas visits was delayed from 16 to 17 December. Unfortunately, Monsignor Frontiero had to drive to Dulles twice!
The return visit to Djibouti (since 2010) was excellent and filled with opportunities to interact with the leadership, faithful, and the local bishop. Fathers Jason Hesseling (Army) and Christopher Krall, S.J. (Navy reservist) planned the time well and did not wear me out too much. There has already been an invitation to return!
The base Skipper was present at almost all of the activities and I enjoyed her company.
continued on page 8
Archbishop Broglio celebrates Mass at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, with Father (LTC) Jason Hesseling, USA, and Father (LT) Christopher Krall, CHC, USN, as concelebrants.
Merry-Go-Round
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
Colonel Stefano Capriglione, Commander of the Italian Military Support Base in Djibouti, presents Archbishop Broglio with a Christmas gift during the Archbishop’s pastoral visit to the United States Naval Expeditionary Base, Camp Lemonnier.
A long flight took me from Africa to Qatar where I arrived at night. Father Brendan Mbagwu (active-duty Air Force) and his team assured a good welcome, many opportunities to be with the Catholic faithful and to meet the command. I am amazed at how much the installation has been developed since my initial visits.
On Christmas Eve, he put me on the plane to Kuwait. That was a short flight, and I was easily on hand for the first Christmas Mass with both Father Roberto Padilla (Air Force) and the chaplain for the Italian Forces, don Valerio.
Kuwait is one of the few places where the AMS also serves the diplomatic community. So my final Christmas Mass gathered them at the Open Gate Community whose celebrations are at the Radisson Hotel. Our hosts there made certain that no one went home hungry.
However, before that late afternoon celebration, I had a morning Mass with confirmation at the air base and then rode with Father Lito Amande (Army) and his team to Camp Arifjan for Mass with that community. That brief visit concluded with a banquet in the mess hall.
The day after Christmas allowed for Mass and later, lunch with the base leadership. There were good exchanges and a friendly atmosphere. That afternoon I flew to Bahrain where Father Anthony Davis (active-duty Navy) welcomed me to his first assignment.
It was good to be there once again and to spend some time with the community. In addition to the celebration of confirmation and an additional Sunday Mass, I also visited the new bishop of the Northern Arabia Vicariate. We had a good conversation and also spent some time with some sailors who had joined us at the co-cathedral. Later the bishop, Father Davis and I joined all of the priests for a delayed Christmas gathering at the parish downtown where I later returned to celebrate the evening Mass.
I wanted to thank the good religious who cared for the people at the naval station during the six-month gap between uniformed priests. It was also good for the parishioners to hear about the good that their priests had accomplished.
The final stop in the Christmas visitation was Jordan. There the Army and the Air Force hosted me at their respective installations. Father Sherwin Monteron (Army reservist about to pass to active-duty) had prepared some
continued on page 10
During his Christmas pastoral visit to Djibouti, Archbishop Broglio celebrates Mass at the base chapel on U.S. Naval Expeditionary Base, Camp Lemonnier.
Merry-Go-Round
Archbishop Broglio blesses couples celebrating wedding anniversaries in Sacred Heart Church, Bahrain on the Feast of the Holy Family, 28 December 2024.
people for confirmation. The garrison chaplain was particularly attentive to the various events and accompanied me on all the road trips.
Father Andrew Young (Air Guard reservist) planned a very good visit to the Air Base and I enjoyed spending time in adoration, at Mass with confirmation, with the Catholic community, and the leadership. His Wing Chaplain was a great source of support. They even introduced me to pickle ball.
During his pastoral visit to Djibouti, Archbishop Broglio visited classes in the Catholic Charities building for the street children in Djibouti with Father Jason Hesseling. Bishop Jamal Khadar Daibes of the Diocese of Djibouti and Somalia also accompanied the group and is seated to the right of Archbishop Broglio.
The visits ended when I boarded a flight in Amman just before 2 a.m. The trip back to Washington was long, but I arrived before noon and had to wait an hour for the checked bag. Needless to write, I was not pleased. However, I did make it back in time for the D.C. SEEK gathering and enjoyed spending time with a good sized military contingent between cadets and midshipmen from West Point and Annapolis respectively, R.O.T.C. students, and other friends of the AMS. I left SEEK early in order to participate in the diaconal ordination of Conrad Jaconette in Owensburo, KY. That visit also allowed me to see some seminary contemporaries. You can see that this merry-go-round does not frequently stop. However, the opportunities to bear the light of Christ to others are many and I give thanks to Almighty God for the visits, those who work so diligently to make them productive, and you who make them possible. V
During a mid-day luncheon, Archbishop Broglio addresses militaryaffiliated students who attended DC SEEK this past January.
Creative Pastoral Logistics
By Bishop F. Richard Spencer
Saint Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus comes to mind as I review the events that took place this past fall. The birth in the stable is one of the details that Luke gives us. During Advent, while the liturgy prepares us to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, we have shared stories of recent weeks of surviving and coping with the challenges from the hurricanes and tornados that have affected many of our military chapel communities in the Eastern Vicariate of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Just as when it came time for Mary to give birth to the Lord, there was no room in the inn; two of our military chapels had to suspend the weekend liturgies temporarily during the extensive recovery operations following the hurricanes and tornados this past fall.
continued on page 12
Logistics
Meeting the Pastoral Needs in the Eastern Vicariate after Flooding and Hurricanes
Creative Pastoral Logistics
continued from page 13
Congratulations to Eagle Scouts from McConnell Air Force Base chapel! L to R: Andrew Poss, Nathan Poss, (Bishop Spencer), Elise Toth, Bradley Poss and Derek Poss.
The devastation at Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Georgia, is an example of chapel members coming together to assist and support each other. Under the pastoral care of Father Dairo Diaz, this Catholic community continued to find creative ways and resources that enabled them to worship off base during the ten days that their chapel was uninhabitable due to Hurricane Helene.
In Tampa, at McDill AFB, Father Martin Okoro and his chapel community also had to suspend weekend worship. Hurricane Milton generated flooding challenges to the area surrounding the chapel. Again, very creative pastoral care led to logistics which enabled the faithful to fulfill their Sunday obligations, and the Catholic community has returned to worship in the chapel.
During these past months of Fall, in addition to numerous pastoral visits and Confirmation Masses, I also had the joy to be engaged in chapel activities, programs, religious education classes, along with supporting Scouting programs. Very unique at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, under the pastoral care of Father Mike Nolan and Coordinator of Religious Education Kathy Larkins, a strong Catholic Scouting program complements the chapel programs. V
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/prayer-pope-francis
PRAYING FOR THE DEAD
By Bishop Bill Muhm
Bishop Bill Muhm blesses the grave of SSGT Robert M. Rogers, USA at Margraten American Cemetery, Netherlands. 16
The Catholic Church always prays for the dead. The Eucharistic Prayer within each Mass includes a prayer for all who have died. Each day, Vespers (or Evening Prayer) is prayed by millions of Catholics all over the world. Vespers includes formal intercessions, which always conclude with a prayer for the dead.
AMS priests, service members and families, and those who serve the U.S. government overseas and their families are no longer canonical subjects of the AMS after they retire from active service or die. However, the AMS continues to pray for them. Archbishop Broglio celebrates a Memorial Mass each May to pray for the souls of those
who died in our nation’s wars. Each evening at the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center, the clergy who pray vespers together pray by name for deceased military priest chaplains whose death anniversaries occur on that date.
As you might know, there are 15 American cemeteries overseas. They contain many bodies of many U.S. servicemembers who died in combat in that country. In these cemeteries, thousands of crosses or stars of David are aligned in neat, precise rows. Each grave marker is inscribed with information about the specific service member who is (or was) buried at that site. As the AMS Auxiliary Bishop
Praying for the fallen at the annual AMS Memorial Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. continued on page 18
PRAYING
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
assigned to Europe and Asia, part of my ministry is to pray for those service members who are (or were) buried in American Cemeteries in Europe and Asia. I have had the opportunity to visit American Cemeteries in several countries.
A Navy friend who came from Keasbey, New Jersey asked me to visit and bless the grave of a U.S. soldier who also came from Keasbey and who died in action during Operation Market Garden in WWII. The soldier is now buried at Margraten American Cemetery in the Netherlands. I was able to visit the soldier’s grave and pray for him. By an amazing “coincidence,” I happened to visit on the day before the 80th anniversary of the soldier’s death. But I’m sure it was not a coincidence. The Lord providentially blesses and guides those who serve our country and those who minister to them. Thank you for your prayers and support for all of us at AMS. V
AMS Vicar General Monsignor Anthony Frontiero (left) prays Vespers with AMS Judicial Vicar Father Mark Rutherford (center) and former AMS Director of Vocations Father Marcel Taillon (right) in the Archbishop’s chapel at the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center.
Young adults at SEEK in Salt Lake City, UT, attend a luncheon and panel discussion about the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, the chaplaincy, and being Catholic in the US military.
The Archdiocese Hosts Young Adults at SEEK 2025
By Elizabeth A. Tomlin
Hundreds of AMS young adults attended SEEK conferences in Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City in January. SEEK is an annual young adult conference sponsored by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), which gathers tens of thousands of people for worship, fellowship, and learning.
Archbishop Broglio addressed young adults from the AMS and those interested in learning about practicing the Catholic faith in the US military during SEEK in D.C.. The Archbishop commented, “It is always energizing to spend time with young men and women on fire for their faith.”
AMS Vocation Director Father Paul Halladay, former AMS Vocation Director Father Marcel Taillon, and Dr. Mark Moitoza, along with AMS priests attended SEEK in Salt Lake City and offered a Q&A panel during a luncheon for several hundred military-affiliated attendees.
continued on page 26
COOPERATION WITHOUT COMP ROMISE
By Bishop Joseph Coffey
During my almost 20 years on active-duty as a Navy chaplain, I enjoyed working with fellow Catholic priest-chaplains as well as chaplains from many different faith groups. We always cooperated without compromise. As chaplains, we strived to provide for our own, facilitate for others, and care for all. In my position as Vicar for Veterans Affairs for the AMS, I make pastoral visits to over 150 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC).
Recently Father Juan Escamez, the priest assigned to the Bruce W. Carter VAMC in Miami, Florida, invited me to make a pastoral visit and attend a ceremony recognizing the work of VA chaplains. Father Escamez who came
Bishop Coffey and Father Juan Escamez with staff members from the VAMC in Miami, Florida
COMP ROMISE
from Spain and attended seminary in Los Angeles. He is bilingual in English and Spanish, which is very helpful in the Miami VAMC setting. Father Escamez has many volunteers who assist him. He is gifted with tremendous energy and enthusiasm.
Each year the Medical Center celebrates the chaplains and their good work. The Medical Center leadership highlighted the work of chaplains as spiritual leaders and their work that extends beyond their religious roles. Posters of ball caps adorned the hospital walls depicting the various “hats” of chaplains in pastoral counseling; mediation; ethics consultation; suicide prevention; grief counseling; moral injury healing, and family support.
The highlight of the week was the Catholic Mass where I was the homilist and Father Escamez concelebrated. The organist and cantor provided beautiful music, and the large chapel was almost completely filled with veterans, doctors, nurses, staff, and volunteers. After the Mass, the chief chaplain thanked Father Escamez, the Protestant chaplains, and the volunteers by giving them certificates of appreciation. The Mass was followed by a delicious lunch of Cuban and American food served to what seemed to be half of the hospital’s veterans and staff. It was a wonderful pastoral visit, and I am very grateful for Father Escamez’s dedicated service. V
Bruce W. Carter VAMC, Miami, FL
Father
Paul-Anthony Halladay, CH (MAJ) USA (Ret.), Named Vocation Director
By Taylor Henry
The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA has a new Vocation Director, Father Paul-Anthony Halladay, CH (MAJ), USA (Ret.).
Father Halladay, a priest of the Archdiocese of Mobile, and a retired U.S. Army chaplain, succeeds interim director Father Marcel Taillon, who recently completed a successful eight-month run in the position pending a search for a permanent successor. Father Taillon has since returned to the Diocese of Providence.
Father Halladay’s appointment was announced in January 2025 by Archbishop Broglio, who stated,
“It is very positive that Father Halladay has accepted the role of Vocation Director for the AMS. His years of experience as an Army Chaplain, his familiarity with this Archdiocese, and his great priestly virtue will help him as he succeeds Father Taillon to whom the AMS owes a debt of gratitude. I have known Father Halladay since his days as a seminarian at the North American College—where he and I played tennis with another great chaplain, the late Monsignor Charles Elmer. I am also very grateful to Archbishop (Thomas J.) Rodi of Mobile who released Father Paul-Anthony for this ministry.”
After retiring from the U.S. Army in September 2024, Father Halladay served for a brief time as Associate Director of the Propaedeutic Program at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. But God had other plans for the retired Army chaplain. Father Halladay received a surprise inquiry from the Very Reverend Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, offering him the position of Vocation Director.
Upon accepting the offer Father Halladay said:
“To say that the request from Monsingor Frontiero to be the new Vocation Director for AMS took me by complete surprise, cannot accurately convey what I was truly thinking in the moment. However, the Lord has a consistent track record of completely surprising me when it comes to where He is calling me to serve Him. Recognizing that consistency in this instance, along with the encouragement of the former Vocation Director, and my good friend, Father Marcel Taillon, and the generosity of Father Mark Doherty, the Rector of Saint Patrick’s Seminary, where I had started to work only in October, all of it indicated that Vocation Director for the AMS was genuinely where I was being called to serve.”
As AMS Vocation Director, Father Halladay will be in charge of shepherding young men expressing an interest in the priesthood and U.S. Military chaplaincy through the process of discernment and formation. “I look very much forward to serving the AMS and the young men we have in discernment for the Priesthood and Military Chaplaincy,” he said. Young men interested in discerning a call to Catholic priesthood and U.S. Military chaplaincy may reach out to Father Halladay at vocations@milarch.org. V
THE HARVEST CONTINUES...
NAME: Jonathan Hoole
(ARCH) DIOCESE: Syracuse, NY
ARMED FORCES BRANCH: Navy
RANK: Ensign
EDUCATION/DEGREES: Mohawk Valley Community College: Associate’s in Adolescent Education. Saint John’s University/Cathedral Seminary House of Formation: Bachelor’s in Philosophy. Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary: Currently enrolled.
HIGH SCHOOL: Utica Academy of Science Charter School
HOBBIES:
Playing guitar, ice skating, roller blading, and hiking
TEAM SPORTS: Soccer
WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD?
Around 13 or 14 but more seriously during my first year of college.
WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? University of Notre Dame’s Vision retreat that I attended during high school.
HOW DID THE LORD MOVE YOU TO BECOME CO-SPONSORED BY AMS?
A Polish priest I knew from my home parish became a U.S. citizen and joined the Army shortly after and that started to get me to think about becoming a chaplain too.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I enjoy acting, especially improvisation.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE, WHY?
Jesus washing of the feet of his disciples. Jesus even washed the feet of Judas who would betray him and Saint Peter who would deny him! This shows the extreme love we are to have for others, and the love Christ has for us.
HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY?
I have come to know Jesus personally through Eucharistic Adoration. What better way to get to know Jesus than to spend time with Him physically!
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SPIRITUAL EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES THAT HELPED YOU DEVELOP AND SHARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH?
Notre Dame Vision was a big factor in developing my faith life. Preparing for evangelization trips to college campuses twice a year helps me to cultivate my knowledge of Christ and his Church.
HAVE ANY SAINTS OR CHURCH LEADERS PARTICULARLY INSPIRED YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY?
Father Willie Doyle, S.J. and his writings on the priesthood inspire me in my discernment.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND/OR ACADEMIC AND/OR MILITARY BACKGROUND BEFORE APPLYING TO BE A SEMINARIAN APPLICANT?
I worked retail while I was in college, and I was studying Adolescent Education to become a history teacher, but it seems like God has other plans!
WHAT WAS THE NEXT TO LAST BOOK YOU READ OR WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
I am currently reading The Life of Saint Gemma Galgani by Venerable Father Germanus, C.P.
WHO ARE YOUR HEROES OR PEOPLE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY ADMIRE?
My heroes are the deacons, priests, bishops, and religious who strive for holiness every day. They each give me examples to look up to and show how I too can imitate Christ in my future vocation.
Father Halladay observed, “There were questions answered about vocations and service as chaplains in the military, and even a very good explanation of why the Church provides priests as chaplains when the primary role of the military is to defend our nation with violence when necessary.” Father Halladay remarked that he enjoyed the “energy and without a doubt the enormous witness of faith as tens of thousands gathered daily for Mass and prayer.”
Patrick Doyal, an “Army brat” who was formed in the faith at military chapels and confirmed by Archbishop Broglio while his family was stationed in Washington, D.C., now serves as a FOCUS Missionary in Denver, Colorado. After attending the AMS luncheon and panel discussion at SEEK Salt Lake City, Patrick shared, “What stuck with me is that we need more priests.” He further stated, “The priests did a great job explaining their roles as military chaplains and priests of the Archdiocese.”
The AMS anticipates a similiar AMS gathering at SEEK 2026 in Columbus, OH, one of three locations during the first week of January. V
L-R Former AMS Vocation Director Father Marcel Taillon; Father David Hammond, CHC, LCDR, USN; Father Nicholas Reid, Capt, USAF; Father Peter Pomposello, CH (MAJ), USA; and AMS cosponsored seminarian Lieutenant Dominic Counihan, USA.
Save the Dates
Chrism Mass
8 April 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Crypt Church
- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 400 Michigan Avenue NE - Washington, D.C. 20017
Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW)
Regional Retreats - Register at www.mccw.org
Northeastern
24-27 April 2025
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center West Hartford, CT
Warriors to Lourdes
13-19 May 2025
Lourdes, France
Western
25-27 April 2025
Franciscan Retreat Center Colorado Springs, Colorado
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the AMS. Archbishop Broglio will accompany pilgrims. For more information, visit warriorstolourdes.com
31st Annual Memorial Mass
Sunday, 18 May 2025, 4:30 p.m.
Upper Church - Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Washington, D.C. 20017
Archbishop Broglio will be the principal celebrant and homilist.
AMS Priest Convocations
18-22 August 2025 San Diego, CA
1-5 September 2025 Washington, D.C.
15-19 September 2025 San Antonio, TX
14-17 October 2025 Rome, Italy
Labor Day Weekend for Co-Sponsored Seminarians
27-29 August 2025
Washington, D.C.
Archbishop Broglio will participate.
THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Geared Toward Mission
By Mark Moitoza, Th.D.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, has facilitated marriage enrichment retreats over the past seven years. The most recent was held at Centro ‘Ad Gentes,’ a retreat center of the Society of the Divine Word, in Nemi, Italy. These retreats invite couples in the military to pause and reflect upon the gift of their marriage. Such encounters permit spouses to recall that marriage is a sacrament geared toward mission.
During a general audience on 6 May 2015, Pope Francis said,
“The decision to ‘wed in the Lord’ also entails a missionary dimension, which means having at heart the willingness to be a medium for God’s blessing and for the Lord’s grace to all. Indeed, Christian spouses participate as spouses in the mission of the Church. […] The Church, in order to offer all the gifts of faith, hope and love, needs the courageous fidelity of spouses to the grace of their sacrament! The People of God need their daily journey in faith, in love and in hope, with all the joys and the toils that this journey entails in a marriage and a family.”
Recalling that one’s marriage is a gift, not only to each another, but also to the community is vital. Each marriage witnesses to the love of Christ as the couple “develops a ‘marital spirituality’ which nurtures and sustains the unique path to holiness that they travel in married life,” as the Holy Father wrote in Amoris Laetitia, 313-324.
A recent publication from the Dicastery of Laity, Family, and Life, outlines a process of accompaniment for couples preparing for marriage: Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life: Pastoral Guideline for local Churches, 2022. Extensive reflection on how the Church prepares couples for marriage, accompanies couples in their early years, and extends pastoral care over time, increases understanding of the grace of the Sacrament of Marriage, which is geared toward mission.
Marriage is a vocation that embraces a person’s entire life. Each vocation deserves preparation, discernment, and accompaniment. Pastoral guidelines encourage the Church to move beyond an episodic approach of sacramental preparation toward an accompaniment of both human and spiritual growth over time. More concretely, phases and rites of passage help the Church to discover enriching ways to promote healthy formation, reflection, discussion, dialogue, liturgy, community, prayer, and celebration.
The goal of the marriage catechumenate is to develop marriage preparation that fosters a ‘life to live.’ Deeper attention toward the gift of marriage, long before proximate and final preparation occurs, will gain needed attention in the coming years.
Additionally, couples will be invited to accompany newlyweds in the early years of their marriage to provide encouragement, prayer, and a good example. Keep married couples and these developing pathways for the marriage catechumenate in your prayers. May all married couples grow in wisdom as they rely on the grace of the Risen Christ to discern living out their mission together. V
Archbishop Broglio along with retreat particpants after Mass during the recent Marriage Enrichment retreat at Centro Ad Gentes, a retreat house operated by the Society of the Divine Word in Nemi, Italy,
Retired NBA Player Gordon Hawyard Received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church
By Taylor Henry
While participating in the Synod on Synodality in Rome, Archbishop Timothy Broglio received a former NBA player, Mr. Gordon Hayward, into the Catholic Church. Hayward, the 34-year-old, sixfoot-seven forward, who retired from professional basketball in August 2024 after a 14-year career with the Utah Jazz, the Boston Celtics, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, made a Profession of Faith and received the sacraments of confirmation and First Holy Communion. Archbishop Broglio administered the sacraments to the married father of four from Brownsville, Indiana, on 1 October 2024, during Holy Mass at the Basilica of Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls.
Saint Sebastian, a Roman army officer martyred in the third century under Emperor Diocletian, is the patron saint of athletes and soldiers. A sarcophagus in a side chapel of the Basilica holds his remains. Mr. Hayward chose Sebastian as his confirmation name following a period of discernment through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) at the instruction of Father Marcel Taillon, who served as Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) until December 2024. Father Taillon, a priest of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, became acquainted with Mr. Hayward through their mutual friend, Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla.
Archbishop Broglio happily agreed to receive the former NBA player into the Church. Mr. Hayward, his wife Robyn, and their two oldest daughters traveled from their home in Charlotte, NC, to the Eternal City just for the occasion.
Father Taillon concelebrated the Mass. Also participating were prospective U.S. Army Chaplain and co-sponsored seminarian Bill Waters, prospective U.S. Navy Chaplain and co-sponsored seminarian Jakob Pohlman, and Mr. Hayward’s OCIA sponsor, Maxwell Van Vliet. Seminarians from the Pontifical North American College provided sacred music for the solemn Mass. V
Left to right: Bill Waters (Co-Sponsored Seminarian), Father Marcel Taillon, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Gordon Hayward, Maxwell Van Vliet, and Jakob Pohlman (Co-Sponsored Seminarian) at the sarcophagus of St. Sebastian on Oct. 1, 2024, in Rome.
Archbishop Broglio celebrates Mass at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine for the AMS’s 16th Annual Benefit.
Archdiocese Sets New Records for Attendance and Proceeds at 16th Annual Benefit
By Taylor Henry
Thanks to the generosity of many benefactors, theArchdiocese for the Military Services, USA, set a new record for both attendance and giving at its16th Annual Benefit. Archbishop Broglio hosted a record 383 guests at theSaint John Paul II National Shrinein Northeast Washington. The guests raised $513,000 for the Archdiocese, the largest amount ever collected in the history of the Annual Benefit. The funds will support the AMS mission of “Serving Those Who Serve”.
The event opened with a 5:00 p.m. anticipated Sunday Mass in the Redemptor Hominis (Redeemer of Man) Church at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine and concluded with a formal dinner in the atrium of the Shrine. At Mass, Archbishop Broglio recognized three members of the AMS family for distinguished service. He announced that the Holy See granted to AMS Chief Financial OfficerWilliam Biggsand retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and AMS supporterSusan L. MalonethePontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, and he recognized that Pope Francis numbered the Reverend MonsignorRobert R. Cannon, J.C.D. (cand.), former AMS Chancellor, a “Chaplain to His Holiness.”
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The Reverend Monsignor Robert Cannon, who was recently named a Chaplain to his Holiness, offers grace before the meal during the AMS Annual Benefit.
16th Annual Benefit
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Among the many supporters present were theBoard of Directorsand severalpatrons of the Saint John XXIII Foundation, established to support and nourish the faith of Catholics in the U.S. Armed Forces and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
In hishomily, Archbishop Broglio reflected on the duty of Catholics to proclaim the Gospel:
“We are charged to share what we have received. In fact, that is why we gather, because we believe that what we have learned is vital for all. Our faith is about heaven or hell. Consequently, we want to share the message of salvation so as to open ourselves to the gifts offered and in love to make sure that others also have the opportunity to say ‘yes’ to the invitation….
“…. We preach this message of salvation because we want to share the gift. That’s why we haveTeam Saint Paul, the Vocations Program, the Military Council of Catholic Women, and catechetical initiatives. All serve to make it possible for those served by this Archdiocese to participate in the life of the Church. I am so grateful to all of you who contribute to the realization of this mission. We know that Christ is our light, and He will return to give us the fullness of life. The conclusion will always be meeting the Lord who loves us and cares for us….
“…. We gather to encourage one another on the path to the fullness of life and to pray for each other. Those are acts of authentic charity which spur our preparation and increase our zeal to evangelize.”
Concelebrating the Mass with Archbishop Broglio were senior AMS clergy, including Auxiliary BishopsNeal J. Buckon,William (Bill) Muhm,Joseph L. Coffey, and Richard B. Higgins (Ret.). Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spencer could not participate this year because he was in Elizabeth, NJ, to concelebrate a funeral Mass for U.S. Army Chaplain FatherJames B. Collins III(1965-2024), who died on 5 November 2024.
Archbishop Broglio greets Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, USA, ret., and Mrs. Peggy Ruggiero during the AMS Annual Benefit.
Also concelebrating the Annual Benefit Mass were the Reverend MonsignorAnthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia; Judicial Vicar, the Very ReverendMark Rutherford, J.C.L., J.C.D. (cand.); former Vocations Director FatherMarcel Taillon, and retired as well as active-duty military chaplains. The Reverend Mr.Raymond Goinsand the Reverend Mr.Michael Sampson served as deacons of the Mass, and a group of co-sponsored seminariansparticipated as ministers of the altar.
The 17th Annual Benefit for the AMS will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, beginning with the Celebration of Holy Mass at 5:00 p.m. (EST) at theSaint John Paul II National Shrine, 3900 Harewood Road NE, Washington, D.C., 20017. V
Team Saint Paul –Relying on the Generosity of Others!
By Juliana Gahr, Team Saint Paul
When I talk with friends and family back home on the east coast, the one word that always comes up in my conversations is generosity. As a new member of Team Saint Paul on mission to serve young adults in the military, I am in awe of the generosity of others and how the Lord provides abundantly in every season of life. He cannot be outdone in generosity.
My teammate, Jurate Reventas, is in her second year serving with Team Saint Paul. We both expressed the desire to rent a house in California to provide a space for the Airmen at Travis Air Force Base to be in community with one another. Although we did not have furniture and only had a few household goods, we decided to throw a party the day after we moved into the house. After the 11:00 a.m. Mass on base, many Airmen came up and asked if they could bring anything, whether food for the party, or a piece
of furniture. By the end of the evening, we went from an empty house, to watching a movie on our new rug, with our new TV, and end table next to our new dining room set! By the following week, we received everything we needed for our home, from couches, to beds, to a set of knives.
The Lord provided for us through the young adults and the surrounding community. The benefits of generosity were not just through giving and receiving material goods, but also through the open hearts of the community we serve, who help paint a greater picture about what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ.
Serving on Team Saint Paul means relying on the generosity of others. From friends and family members to mutual connections, we provide for the community we serve through the generous financial support of others. Through investing in
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Young Airmen at Travis Air Force Base gather for a community evening with Team Saint Paul.
Team Saint Paul
renting a house, it became apparent that I did not fundraise a salary only to support myself, but to provide for the needs of our Airmen at Travis.
Having a house signifies so much more than just a space to live. It allows us to bring people in and love them right where they are. Through the support of others, we have a space to be present and give our lives in service through our time, energy, and love. To build up the kingdom in support of one another is what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ. The Gospel of Luke reminds us that the time and gifts we give to
others generously will come back to us tenfold, overflowing in abundance.
To whom much is given, much is expected. I trust the Lord will continue to outdo Himself in generosity through our mission here while we continue to be receptive to the movements of the Holy Spirit. Serving those who serve at Travis Air Force Base in California is a true blessing, and we are excited for all that is still to come! V
Team Saint Paul and friends after Mass at the Saint Michael Community with Father Jeff Henry.
The Catholic Military Life and We Hold These Treasures podcasts highlight topics of interest to the faithful of the Archdiocese. Catholic Military Life focuses on people and current events in the Archdiocese, and We Hold These Treasures often features upcoming events, and new books and resources to accompany the faithful in the life of discipleship. These podcasts are free offerings available on all major podcast platforms.
www.milarch.org/podcast/we-hold-these-treasures/ A podcast for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. the Archdiocese for the A for USA.
Winter 2024 | 39
The Catching Force of Stewardship
By Jean and Tony Zander
If you are reading this edition of Salute, it is likely that you have at least heard of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. However, from our family’s experience, the average American Catholic in the pews has little familiarity with the Archdiocese or its wide-ranging, worldwide pastoral mission.
That certainly was the case for my husband Tony and me. When our youngest child, Kevin, was admitted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in early 2010, we were concerned that there would be no access to Mass, Catholic devotions, or community. We had no knowledge of the farreaching presence and impact of the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA. During a Winter 2010 visit, we were relieved to learn that a significant percentage of the Corps of Cadets is Catholic and that there is a very active Catholic chapel and community there.
Since then, over the short 14 years of our military experience, we have asked, “How can we change that unfamiliarity? How are we called to participate in the mission of the AMS, whose ministries have been significant in the life of our Army officer son and our family?”
The answer is rooted in our call as Catholics to live a life of stewardship grounded in gratitude to God for all His gifts by living in ongoing conversion and commitment. Stewardship is a way of life, often expressed practically in terms of “time, talent, and treasure” and extending into a total way of life.
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Tony and Jean Zander, pictured with Archbishop Broglio, are the parents of Major Kevin Zander, a 2014 West Point graduate. Major Zander has served as a Medevac helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division in Korea, Afghanistan, and Germany. He and his wife Emily are currently stationed at West Point, where he serves as a Mechanical Engineering faculty member. They are active members of the local Catholic community. Jean and Tony are parishioners at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Catching Force of Stewardship
How can we live that out daily? I like to think of it in terms of what St. Teresa of Kolkata (“Mother Teresa”) and her sisters prayed each day, derived from the original prayer by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman:
“…Let us preach without preaching, not by words but by our example by the catching force –the sympathetic influence of what we do, the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you.”
The catching force, manifested by simple efforts of kindness, welcoming, and being present, is not necessarily easy or without effort. It calls upon our personal gifts and creativity and a willingness to sacrifice as we are led to do so, open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and grateful for the opportunity to bring to bear the fullness of our hearts.
In real life, for us, that has taken several forms over the years. Tony and I began by reaching out to new West Point families locally, particularly Catholics, to explain the ministries at the Academy. We give parents a little welcome packet, some generously supplied by the Archdiocese and the Knights of Columbus, including a prayer book, a rosary, prayer cards for extended family members, and our contact information. Most were surprised and reassured to hear of the very strong Catholic community there. As we “grew” in our experience of the military, we began to reach out to Army families not associated with West Point and in other military branches, starting among those in our own parish. Some are quite isolated in their experiences, and we treasure the chances we have had to walk beside them.
We’ve had two opportunities to speak before local groups – one at a nearby parish and one with the Indianapolis Serra Club to priests and laity. We emphasized our son’s personal experiences, the far-reaching mission of the Archdiocese, the strong commitment of clergy and laity alike, and the
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need to pray faithfully for vocations to the priesthood. After the Serra Club presentation, we were approached by several priests for additional information and discussion. They remarked that they “never knew” much about the Archdiocese for the Military Services and were very enthusiastic about what they had learned. While they were beyond the age for the military chaplaincy, they now have the seed planted for other young men with whom they are in contact.
Quite frankly, it’s a little embarrassing to put this on paper because it’s relatively simple and, as the kids would say, “a no-brainer!” But I think that’s exactly what Mother Teresa and Cardinal Newman were striving for in praying for “the catching force.” So, I encourage you also to pray and seek to learn more about how you can contribute to each of your environments to advance the AMS's pastoral mission.
Then may we, through God’s grace, help to fulfill the words of Psalm 19: “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, their works to the end of the world.” V
"How are we called to participate in the mission of the AMS, whose ministries have been significant in the life of our Army officer son and our family?”
MEN’S RETREAT IN EUROPE PROVIDES REFLECTIONS OF THE INFLUENCE OF SAINT JOSEPH
By Taylor Henry
Catholic men stationed with the U.S. Military in Germany—ever vigilant to threats against national security and world peace—took a spiritual breather in February for a weekend of prayer, fellowship, and worship at the Schoenstatt Retreat Centeron the peaceful banks of the Rhine River. In that western central Germany setting, BishopWilliam (Bill) Muhm welcomed 58 active-duty personnel, contractors, and sons to the annual AMS European Men’s Retreat for those who serve.
The participants converged on the historic Marian pilgrimage site at Vallendar from installations throughout Germany, including U.S. Army Garrisons (USAG) Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, and Kaiserslautern, and Ramstein Air Base. In the three days of prayer, reflection, and fraternity, the men focused on the inspiring example and powerful intercession of Saint Joseph, foster father to the Lord
Jesus. They took part in Mass, prayed the rosary, spent quiet time with Christ in Eucharistic Adoration, went to confession, heard speakers, and held small group discussions focused specifically on how Saint Joseph’s example and intercession help those serving the in US military.
Retreat sponsor David PuzichaDunn, a retired US Army soldier, Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and Wiesbaden-based liturgical songwriter, who now holds a management position at theU.S. Defense Commissary Agency(DeCA), said the gathering of nearly five dozen was the largest group he has seen in his 15 years coordinating in the yearly retreat. Bishop Muhm commented, “It was inspiring to see dozens of busy men take time out of their hectic schedules for spiritual growth.
Bishop Muhm, himself a retired U.S. Navy chaplain, currently based in Germany, spoke
U.S. Military-affiliated Catholics at European Men’s Retreat on 8 February 2025, in Vallendar, Germany.
on the inspiring example and powerful intercession of our Savior’s father on earth. He observed that:“Fatherhood is not only biological, it is spiritual. That is why Catholics call our priests, ‘father.’ Joseph was and is father to the Lord Jesus and to all Christians.”
Father Emeka C. Okwuosa, Ch, Capt, USAF, and Joseph Deichert, Ch, Col, USAF (Ret.), shared their own reflections on St. Joseph. Also participating at the retreat were Fathers John Vianney Ijeoma, CH (COL), USA; Stephen C. McDermott, CH (MAJ), USA; and Alexander B. Scott, CH (CPT), USA.
The dates for next year’s European Men’s Retreat at Schoenstatt are set for Feb. 6-8, 2026. For registration opportunities, keep an eye on the AMS website, www.milarch.org, andsubscribeto e-TTENTION, the electronic newsletter of theArchdiocese. V
Building a Culture of Life
By Elizabeth A. Tomlin
In January, Cadets from the U.S. Military Academy and Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy joined Archbishop Broglio and staff members of the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center. They marched from the National Mall to the U.S. Supreme Court, in solidarity with thousands promoting the dignity of life from conception to natural death. The National March for Life voices the truth that human life, uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, must be protected, and cherished.
Pro-life is an Expansive Gospel Imperative
The March for Life particularly addresses the protection of the unborn; yet, being pro-life is wider than preventing abortion. The interconnectedness of humanity requires protecting the unborn and supporting parents as they choose life, protecting the sick, disabled, or aged from euthanasia, being “mindful of the poor” (Gal 2:10), and promoting the dignity and human rights of vulnerable populations such as immigrants. As Pope Francis wrote in his Letter to the Bishops of the United States of America, our Lord gives particular dignity to the plight of migrants, for he too, is “God who is always close, incarnate, migrant and refugee.”1
Archbishop Broglio, U.S. Military Academy Cadets, and U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen participate in the 2025 National March for Life in Washington, D.C.
To be pro-life is to love God and neighbor for it is enacting what Jesus preached, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:37-40).
Let Us Not Confuse Pro-Life with Politics
In the weeks following the presidential inauguration, the President issued a series of Executive Orders that affect pro-life issues. In a statement published
through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on 22 January 2025, Archbishop Broglio, as President of the Bishops’ Conference, stated:
I wishto reiterate that the Catholic Church is not aligned with any political party, and neither is the bishops’ conference. No matter who occupies the White House or holds the majority on Capitol Hill, the Church’s teachings remain unchanged. It is our hope that the leadership of our Country will reconsider those actions which disregard not only the human dignity of a few, but of us all.
Commenting on the executive orders, Archbishop noted: Some provisions contained in the Executive Orders, such as those focused on the treatment of immigrants and refugees, foreign aid, expansion of the death penalty, and the environment, are deeply troubling and will have negative consequences, many of which will harm the most vulnerable among us.2
Finally, following the President’s Executive Order which canceled Department of Defense funding for travel to obtain abortion, the Archbishop wrote:
The very good news that President Trump has signed an Executive Order to return to enforcement of the Hyde Amendment in the military is welcomed by all who strive to protect unborn children.I have long been concerned about the use of tax-payers’ contributions to finance the taking of innocent life and also the violation of conscience for senior officers who were required to approve such funding. I hope that the authorization for abortion in the medical centers of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will also be cancelled soon.I am grateful for the President’s decision. 3
Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the Bishops of the United States of America
Pope Francis recently penned a letter to encourage the U.S. bishops as they continue to promote the dignity of human life. In his letter Pope Francis reminded that “an authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified
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Winter 2024 | 47
Building a Culture of Life
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treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized.”4 Pope Francis continued his letter by emphasizing our existence in interconnected relationship to one another precisely because this reality reflects Christ’s embodied love for humanity:
Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups. In other words: the human person is not a mere individual, relatively expansive, with some philanthropic feelings! The human person is a subject with dignity who, through the constitutive relationship with all, especially with the poorest, can gradually mature in his identity and vocation. The true ordo amoristhat must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the “Good Samaritan” (cf.Lk 10:25-37), that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.5
Little Ways to be Pro-Life in this Archdiocese
Participants in the March for Life contributed to a visible, additive statement that galvanizes the spirits of those who promote life and human dignity. The importance of this march cannot be underestimated. Being pro-life on a military installation, at a military chapel, in your family, or even in your own heart, may involve actions which are visible to only a few yet have a lasting impact on lives.
I am reminded of a time when my Army family was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. A new Army family PCSed to our community. The mom and her children were staying in temporary housing awaiting the dad’s arrival from Europe, their household goods, and their quarters on post. This family’s reality was one of displacement. The soldier’s wife was pregnant and went into preterm labor. Thankfully the mom and baby girl were healthy, and the baby spent time in the NICU as she put on weight and her lungs developed.
When news of the baby’s arrival reached the Fort Bliss Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC), the women sprang into action. Nearly instantly, the family was gifted baby items, childcare, and home cooked meals galore. This care continued until the baby was home from the hospital and the family was reunited and settled in their new home.
The Fort Bliss CWOC loved this family in a pro-life way, which required an incarnate, outpouring of emotional support, entailed financial generosity to help the parents care for their children, and demanded solidarity in practical ways like offering childcare. The Fort Bliss CWOC made a life-changing impact on a family and model how to be pro-life within this Archdiocese. Small acts of love advance the pro-life movement.
A Prayer for Life to Break Our Hearts Open
A culture of life understands the dignity of each person, particularly the least, and it gives thanks to God for life at all times. At the beginning of her Magnificat, Mary sings praise to God for the unexpected life growing in her womb:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
What might happen in our communities, in our families, or even in the privacy of our own hearts, if we collectively prayed this first stanza of Mary’s Magnificat for every life, especially the most vulnerable? It would break open our hearts to love each person better. It would create in our hearts a culture of life. V
1 Letter of the Holy Father to the Bishops of the United States of America, 10 February 2025. https:// www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2025/documents/20250210-lettera-vescovi-usa.html
2 Statement by Archbishop Broglio on Executive Orders Signed by the President. https://www. usccb.org/news/2025/statement-archbishop-broglio-executive-orders-signed-president
3 Archbishop Broglio Welcomes Termination of Tax Funded Abortion Travel for Service Members, 31 January 2025. https://www.milarch.org/archbishop-broglio-welcomes-termination-of-tax-fundedabortion-travel-for-service-members/.
4 Letter of the Holy Father to the Bishops of the United States of America, 10 February 2025, para. 5.
5 Letter of the Holy Father to the Bishops of the United States of America, 10 February 2025.
HIGHER MISSION: Military, Police Recommit to Faith during Jubilee
Catholic News Service, reprinted with permission, Cindy Wooden.
ROME (CNS) – A group of U.S. pilgrims who crossed the threshold of the Holy Door at the Basilica of St. Mary Major on 6 February have traveled the world on the orders of superiors, but no one ordered them to make this trip and that made a huge difference, they said...
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HIGHER MISSION
"I always wanted to travel; that is part of why I joined the Air Force," said Senior Airman Justin Jimenez, who is stationed at Beale Air Force Base in California. "It is not too much to drop everything and go, but this is different. It's sacred."
The airman was part of a pilgrimage sponsored by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, to take part in the 8-9 February Jubilee of the Armed Services, Police and Security Personnel.
The Holy Name Society of the New York Police Department also organized a pilgrimage for the Jubilee, bringing active-duty and retired officers and their family members.
NYPD Capt. Ben Bellingeri and his wife, Rae, were married in November and decided to make the pilgrimage the first part of their honeymoon. Both were, as Rae said, "baptized as babies, but confirmed as adults." Ben said the pilgrimage is part of their effort "to intertwine" their re-found faith into their marriage.
The NYPD and military archdiocese groups made up the bulk of the 100 U.S. pilgrims expected to join some 13,000 members of the military and police forces from around the world for the Holy Year celebration.
Both U.S. groups had Mass in the grotto of St. Peter's Basilica 8 February and joined other Jubilee participants in passing through the basilica's Holy Door.
Just a few hours after landing in Rome 6 February, most of the military group was attending Mass at St. Mary Major, although a few members of the pilgrimage were missing because their flights from Japan had been delayed.
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, head of the Archdiocese, led the pilgrimage and celebrated the Mass.
The Archbishop, like the men and women he provides spiritual care to, travels frequently and far.
"We are constantly on the move to accomplish a job or to complete a mission or to fill in some place," he said, but the Holy Year trip "is really a broadening, a wider image of life as a pilgrimage."
The Jubilee is an opportunity "to accomplish a mission given by 'the' superior who calls us to the fullness of life," the archbishop told Catholic News Service. "It is envisioning our experience, whatever our vocation is, in that context of being a part of the mission given to us by Jesus Christ."
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U.S. Air Force Lt. Kenzie Gaspard, who is stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, attends the welcome ceremony for the Jubilee of the Armed Services, Police and Security Personnel in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo 8 February 2025.
HIGHER MISSION
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Retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Sompaul Vorapanich receives communion from Archbishop Broglio during the Mass on 6 February 2025 at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Sompaul Vorapanich, director of the Knights of Columbus' Warriors to Lourdes Pilgrimage, said he had always wanted to make a pilgrimage to Rome and with his experience leading military to Lourdes, he thought joining the Jubilee pilgrimage of the Archdiocese for the Military Services was the perfect way to do that.
Senior Airman Alex Strazalka from Travis Air Force Base in California said, "Going on pilgrimage is different from work-related travel because this is a gift. No one is being ordered to go. All of the people here are proud to be Catholic, like I am."
But, he said, "I never thought in a million years I would be here. I was born Catholic and made my first Communion in second grade and that was it." But when he was stationed at Travis, "something drew me back to the church, and I felt at home after that long gap from second grade until I was 21."
Airman Jimenez described himself as "a cradle Catholic who fell away from the faith for four or five years" but has become interested in growing in his faith. The Jubilee trip is the first retreat or pilgrimage he has ever done.
Juliana Gahr is a member of the Archdiocese's Team Saint Paul, an initiative to train and station missionaries to build the faith among their peers at U.S. military installations. Gahr works with other young adults serving in the Air Force at Travis.
She said she sees a "beautiful" connection between the virtues espoused by members of the military and by the Catholic faith: "service, mission and sacrifice."
Monsignor Robert Romano, an NYPD chaplain, said the four dozen people in his group all had different reasons for making the pilgrimage, but he hopes they grow "in prayer, in understanding God's plan for their lives and in recognizing his love for them."
The theme of the Holy Year is "Pilgrims of Hope," and NYPD Sgt. Catherine Kunst said she sees signs of hope in her work at the police academy.
"Many of the recruits who come through still see it as a calling, not a job. The fact that in these times, you still see people who want to serve in this profession gives me hope," she said 7 February after passing through the Holy Door at Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Capt. Angeline Ozuna Reyes said she is about to retire from the NYPD, and with holy years taking place only every 25 years, she wanted the "once in a lifetime chance" to make the pilgrimage with people she works with.
Her hope, she said, is that "the Lord would send his holy angels to protect us, our fellow officers and the people we serve -- because that's why we do what we do." V
Archdiocese For The Military Services, USA P.O. Box 4469 Washington, D.C. 20017-0469
“Serving Those Who Serve”
“We long for lasting peace and we take our small steps to humanize our society, to preach the truth in love, and to care for those who need our help. Our faith helps us to see Christ in those who look to us in their need.” –
