HISTORY OF THE MISSION OF THE AMS Message from the TheArchdiocese for the CHAPLAINCY Archbishop The Archdiocese for the Military Services, , USA In the history of our country, priests have USA (AMS) was established by Blessed Vatican II reminded all of us that Military Services served the American armed forces with distinction John Paul II in 1985 as the only organization every baptized Catholic is responsible and valor. Since the creation of the AMS in 1985, responsible for providing the Church’s full for the transmission of our faith to AMSDISCERNMENT AND APPLICATION and previously through the military vicariate, priests range of pastoral ministries and spiritual the next generation. We fulfill that PROCEDURES: were released from U.S. and religious services to Catholics in the U.S. armed forces. mission by our daily witness of a communities whose and superiors recognized As the Nation’s only archdiocese without geographical lived faith in action, our involvement Step 1: their collegial responsibility to “Serving Those Who Prayerfully seek the advice of your local boundaries, the AMS endorses and grants faculties to in catechetical programs, our sincere prayers, and or Catholic military . If you are a Serve”. The heroic deeds of Catholic military priests for on-site ministry at more than 220 U.S. military our encouragement of vocations to the priesthood, seminarian, discuss your interest and discernment called to battle in defense of the Nation installations in 29 countries and 153 VA Medical Centers religious life, or consecrated service. regarding the military chaplaincy with your formation comprise one of the most glorious chapters in throughout the U.S. Therefore, we are all vocation promoters! In the directors and or religious . Follow their American Church history. The long list of those directions. Archdiocese for the Military Services we fulfill that who gave their lives in service to God and Country CURRENT SITUATION role principally by encouraging young people to stands as a shining tribute. Step 2: With their permission contact the AMS consider a specific vocation and by the Co-Sponsored As aging Catholic priests reach the military’s mandatory Director of Vocations. You will then be asked to While a Catholic remains Seminarian Program. retirement age of 62 faster than they can be replaced, our complete a survey which provides personal, academic, incardinated in his home or religious ecclesiastical, and military information about yourself. Nation’s armed forces are in growing need of younger men Almighty God has blessed this Archdiocese with at community, the Archbishop grants him endorsement On the basis of information gathered, specific guidance least a 10% annual contribution to priestly and faculties to function as a military priest-chaplain. answering God’s call. The number of active-duty chaplains will be offered to you by the AMS Office of Vocations. has fallen from more than 400 in 2001 to fewer than 250 today. in the USA. That statement provokes both pride and While Catholics make up about 25% of the U.S. armed commitment. The commitment obliges us to continue Director of Vocations forces, Catholic priests currently account for only 8% of the fostering of vocations and the support of the fine Phone: 202-719-3600 Email: [email protected] military chaplains. young men studying in the . www.milarch.org/vocations The Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program was set up between Thank you in advance for meeting the commitment. the AMS and cooperating U.S. dioceses and religious Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus, Step 3: Attend one of the two annual vocation communities to replenish the ranks of Catholic priests both discernment retreats sponsored by the AMS. This in the U.S. military and throughout the Church by supporting retreat will give you the opportunity to meet with vocations drawn largely from the armed forces. the AMS Director of Vocations and military priest- chaplains from the different branches of service to Timothy P. Broglio An annual vocations survey found that nearly 10% of newly learn more about the rewards and challenges of serving Archbishop for the Military Services, USA ordained U.S. priests have previous military experience and both God and your country. about 20% come from military families, making the AMS Step 4: the largest single source of American priestly vocations. No If a mutual decision has been made between AMS wonder! Both the military and the priesthood require many you and your bishop or religious superior giving you “The Archdiocese for the Military Services of the same virtues, including valor, discipline and permission to be a co-sponsored seminarian chaplain introduced me to good men...priests and commitment to service. candidate, you will then be invited to apply for the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program on our website at: seminarians...who were discerning or had The Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program enables men, who www.milarch.org/vocations. discerned the call to military priesthood show evidence of a vocation to priestly ministry in the military, to receive financial support for seminary from both the AMS as well as a host of generous military men and their local dioceses or religious communities. Once the Archdiocese for the and women who have extended nothing new priest is ordained and has completed three (3) years of Military Services, USA but support and encouragement.” priestly pastoral service in his diocese or community, he will be eligible to serve on active duty as a military chaplain. –– Michael Hofer, Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, Co-Sponsored Seminarian, Air Force Chaplain Candidate. www.milarch.org/vocations The Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program MILITARY CHAPLAIN’S VOCATION MILITARY TRAINING Military chaplaincy is a “vocation within a vocation.” It The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA Co-Sponsored Program Seminarians entering major seminary are expected to is a priestly ministry to people in military service to their Co-sponsored Seminarians enter the military chaplain candidate program during country. Pope Benedict XVI told an October 25, 2011 their theological training. Seminarians are free to choose international meeting of Military Ordinaries that, any one of the three military service branches in which to serve (Army; Navy, which includes ministry to all of “The work of evangelization in the military world the Sea Services; or Air Force). Upon entrance into the

chaplain candidate program the seminarian will be calls for assumption of responsibilities, so that, in commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant or Ensign in his this ambit, there is always a new, convinced and Rev. Mr. William Appel Gary Bass Anthony Bittar Ryan Boyle Bristol Rev. Mr. Jason Burchell chosen branch of service. As a chaplain candidate, “I encourage both the military Ordinaries and military chaplains to be, in every joyful proclamation of Jesus Christ, the only hope of Covington Monterey Denver St. Petersburg Brooklyn Arlington the seminarian will be granted opportunities to engage Navy Navy Army situation and context, faithful heralds of the truth of peace.” Air Force Navy Navy life and peace for humanity.” – Pope Benedict XVI in military training or pastoral ministry under the supervision of a senior military chaplain on a military As a sacramental , the military priest-chaplain installation or naval vessel. brings Christ and the healing presence of the Church to The chaplain candidate program gives the seminarian a women and men serving in an endless range of stressful, taste of what ministry as a military chaplain would be like dangerous, and often life-threatening circumstances. He by providing him essential training, which informs his must be prepared to transfer from homeland ministry to discernment. Through the program, the military provides ministry in a war zone on a moment’s notice and act as Justin Charlebois Rev. Mr. Chris Christensen John Crutchfield Daniel Czajak Callan Davis Christopher Dorsey Miguel Flores-Perez Thomas Gallagher Vincent Gilmore James Hickman James Hinkle seminarians with the discipline and leadership skills to comforter to service members and their families in a way Albany Arlington Helena Syracuse Boston Orlando Austin Arlington Indianapolis Richmond Arlington meet the physical and mental demands of military few others will ever experience. Air Force Navy Army Army Air Force Army Army Army Air Force Army Navy chaplaincy, while enhancing their formation experience Providing for the spiritual and sacramental needs of men in the seminary and ministry as Catholic priests. and women in uniform is an essential task, and Catholic Upon to the priesthood, all co-sponsored military priest-chaplains are in higher demand now chaplain candidates are expected to serve as chaplains than ever before. Christ needs men to answer the call to in the Reserve until entrance into active duty. The AMS the chaplaincy for the good of the Church, the country, requires all newly ordained priests to serve at least three and the world. (3) years in their home diocese or religious community SEMINARY TRAINING Michael Hofer Sean Koehr Anthony Lezcano Lorenz Madarang Kenneth Malley Rev. Mr. Angel Marrero John Michael Metz Richard Monteverde Morgan Jonathan Norton Philip O’Neill before joining the military full time. Rapid City Arlington Seattle Colorado Springs of Parma Baltimore Atlanta Orlando Colorado Springs Fort Wayne-South Bend Hartford For men currently in the armed forces, after initial Air Force Navy Navy Air Force Air Force Army Army Army Air Force Navy Air Force WHO IS ELIGIBLE? screening by the AMS, the military service member will Any single Catholic young man who is a US citizen with be put in contact with a local diocese or religious community college experience who shows signs of having a vocation participating in the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program. to priestly ministry, can meet the academic requirements The candidate must satisfy the vocational, psychological, for seminary training, and qualifies for military service is academic, and spiritual evaluations of the local diocese eligible to apply. or community. This normally requires personal interviews with the local vocation director and members of an A candidate must be able to enter active duty before age 42. Juan Rosete Samuel Schneider Alexander Scott Kevin Seymore Rev. Mr. Paul Shovelain Callan Sweeney Jacob Valle Rev. Mr. Steven Walker Adam Woodward Christopher Yakkel Adjustments on the entry age may be made for those admissions board. Upon acceptance, the candidate Springfield-Cape Girardeau Superior Washington Harrisburg St.Paul-Minneapolis Austin Peoria Arlington Monterey AMS will attend a seminary chosen by the Army Navy Army Army Army Army Air Force Navy Air Force Air Force with military service as long as the total number of local bishop or religious superior. years of military service can equal twenty years or more. Co-sponsored priests If you are currently a seminarian, you must first discuss your interest in the military chaplaincy with your formation director and bishop or religious superior; follow his directions.

Father Stephen Cotter Father Luke Dundon Father Stuart King Father David Reamsnyder Father Nicholas Reid Father Christopher Rhodes Father Michael Taylor Father Brian Wood Father Andrew Young Baltimore Arlington Houma-Thibodaux Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter Jefferson City Louisville Albany Lubbock Sioux Falls Army Navy Air Force Navy Army Army Army Air Force Navy