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WASHINGTON, DC — Labor Day Weekend is always a time of celebration for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Each year, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio hosts a three-day gathering of future U.S. Military chaplains at the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center in the Nation’s Capital. This year, more than 30 prospective chaplains from seminaries throughout the United States took part in the Aug. 30-Sept. 1 weekend of prayer, fraternity, and dialogue. Under the spiritual guidance of AMS Vocations Director Father Marcel Taillon, all are enrolled in the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, a vocations partnership between the AMS and participating dioceses and religious communities nationwide. After priestly ordination and a period of pastoral service in his home diocese or community, each hopes to go on active duty as a chaplain in one of the service branches.
Commenting on the importance of the annual gathering, Father Taillon said, “The Labor Day Gathering is so important as deep bonds of fraternity are deepened and nurtured. AMS has a particular charism among seminarians and dioceses in that our men are experiencing a call within call to serve God and country. This time together only enhances the clarity of this particular vocation.”
Archbishop Broglio welcomed the co-sponsored seminarians to Washington at Friday vespers in the main chapel of the pastoral center, followed by a dinner. The Archbishop celebrated Mass on Saturday and Sunday mornings—Saturday, in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Sunday, in the base chapel at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), followed by brunch with members of the St. Michael’s Catholic Community on base.
The most eventful day was Saturday, when the seminarians attended morning briefings from Archbishop Broglio and Father Taillon. They participated in breakout sessions with Catholic chaplain recruiters. They enjoyed a barbecue lunch served by the Knights of Columbus of the DC jurisdiction. On Saturday afternoon, the chaplain hopefuls visited the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, where they prayed a Holy Hour, went to confession, and toured the museum, viewing relics associated with the canonized pope.
On Saturday afternoon, Archbishop Broglio and Father Taillon led the group downtown. There, they prayed the rosary at the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, which honors former U.S. Military members bearing permanent scars of service, including moral injury, post-traumatic stress, physical impairment, and other afflictions. The busy day wound down with a convivial gathering.
During his Saturday morning homily, Archbishop noted: “For the co-sponsored deacons and seminarians this annual gathering at the Pastoral Center and in Washington is a time to rejoice in the many talents that have been given, to deepen our appreciation of the variety of co-workers who will be ours in the vineyard, and to celebrate God’s call and our response. It is a moment of prayer for our men and women in harm’s way and those in the Veterans’ Affairs Medical Centers. We redouble our prayers for those who struggle in trying times: Ukraine, Syria, the Holy Land, and many parts of Africa.”
The AMS established the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program in the 1980s to encourage military service commitments from candidates for priesthood. Enrollment has grown from seven in 2008 to 36 now, producing 15 new ordinations this year alone: seven of them were ordained priests, another eight, transitional deacons, on track for priestly ordination next year. This growth is welcome news for the U.S. Military, which seeks more Catholic chaplains to fill a longstanding shortage.
Meanwhile, the AMS seeks prayerful support for the continued success of the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program. In her arrangement with partner dioceses and religious communities, the AMS pays half of each chaplain candidate’s seminary expenses year after year, a recurring bill amounting to more than $5 million in just over the next five years, and counting. The AMS receives no funding from the Military or the Government and gratefully welcomes gifts at www.milarch.org/donate.
Young men interested in discerning a priestly vocation, and the vocation within a vocation to serve those who serve in the U.S. Military, can find more information at milarch.org/vocations, or may contact Father Taillon at vocations@milarch.org or (202) 719-3600.
