A record 38 young men gathered this spring to discern a call to Catholic military chaplaincy for the United States — a sign of hope for what's been called “the biggest diocese with the fewest priests.”
The US Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) is responsible for the sacramental needs of some 1.8 million Catholic service members, their families, and patients in VA medical centers worldwide — but as of 2020, there were only 204 active-duty Catholic priests serving them.
The need is great for more priests in this one-of-a-kind “diocese without borders.” The good news? Young men are hearing God’s call, and in record numbers.
A recent discernment retreat for prospective Catholic US military chaplains included a record high of 38 young men discerning a possible “vocation within a vocation” as both Catholic priests and military chaplains.
How men discern a call to military chaplaincy
The Vocations Office of AMS holds two of these discernment retreats each year — one in the spring on the West Coast, and another in the fall on the East Coast — as part of its ongoing strategy to relieve the shortage of Catholic priests on active duty.
This year’s spring retreat was held April 9-12 at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. AMS Director of Vocations Father Paul-Anthony Halladay, CH (MAJ), USA (Ret.), himself a retired veteran U.S. Army chaplain, organized and directed it.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, also took part in the four days of prayer, reflection, and dialogue, and celebrated Holy Mass for those gathered.
How military chaplain assignments work
Military chaplains have an unusual status. They serve on loan from their diocese of incardination or religious order/society and are released for a term of military service. Chaplains never become members of the AMS. Instead, they always remain subject to their home bishop/religious superiors.
During the retreat, Father Halladay focused on the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, a vocations partnership between the AMS and cooperating U.S. dioceses and religious communities willing to release a participating seminarian for military service after priestly ordination.
Of the 38 young men who participated, 15 are considering a vocation as chaplains in the U.S. Air Force, eight in the Navy, and seven in the Army. Another eight are still discerning which branch of service they hope to join if ordained as priests.
The team of priests who gave talks, took part in group prayer and discussion, and provided spiritual guidance included priests from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and chaplain recruiters serving the three chaplain corps of the different service branches.
The military chaplain hopefuls heard the inspirational stories of two U.S. Military chaplains now under consideration for sainthood, Father Vincent Capodanno and Venerable Father Emil Kapaun. They also learned about military procedures for chaplain candidacy, the process of discernment, the spiritual fatherhood of St. Joseph, and how military chaplains are spiritual fathers to those who serve.
The AMS Fall Discernment Retreat runs October 29–November 1 at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Men interested in attending can contact Father Halladay here.
