Category Archives: Chaplain

Fort Campbell Breaks Ground on $8.4M Chapel

An effort by local businesses and military leaders has garnered the sprawling Fort Campbell military facility the finances it requires to build a new chapel.  A group of 55 local business leaders and public officials

explained to lawmakers that at that time, Fort Campbell was at only 31 percent of the military requirement for chapels. The existing chapels — aging World War II-era “temporary” structures — often had inadequate capacity for Eagle Remembrance ceremonies to honor fallen comrades.

The large facility will allow assemblies of over 1,200 and provide space for a variety of religious services.  The local paper editorializes:  Read more

Military Archbishop Opposes DADT Repeal…on Constitutional Grounds

Military Archbishop Timothy Broglio has previously expressed his opposition to the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  In a recent article, however, he articulated his opposition not strictly on religious grounds, but on Constitutional ones:

The archbishop explained that while individuals may have a legal right to declare their sexual preferences, they have no comparable “right” to serve in the military at the same time.

Rather, he said, the military reserves to itself the right to deny individuals that privilege —  just as soldiers may forfeit the privilege of military service in many other ways, through their speech and behavior.  Read more

Chaplains Create New Service for Congregation

An interesting, if somewhat prosaic, article at Army.mil discusses two Army Chaplains creating a new Sunday night service at Fort Jackson, SC (home of the new joint Chaplaincy center).  Notably, the article highlights the motivations of Chaplains who are trying to serve the needs of the troops:

[Chaplain (Maj) Daniel] Middlebrooks explained that one of the goals was to add to the worship options on post by starting a Sunday evening service aimed at those who may not be able to attend service on Sunday mornings, as well as those who would like to participate in a second service that day…

“I’ve talked to my Soldiers, and overwhelmingly, there is a great majority that would prefer to come on a Sunday evening after Read more

Top Marine Chaplain Visits Lejeune

A Marine Corps article noted the visit to Camp Lejeune by Chaplain (Rear Admiral) Margaret Kibben, the 18th Chaplain of the Marine Corps and Deputy Chief of Navy Chaplains.

The article at times emphasized the fact Chaplain Kibben is the first female Chaplain of the Marine Corps, and at others de-emphasized her gender.

Although gender was not a deciding factor in the decision to appoint Kibben to her current positions, Giampa said women serving in senior leadership roles sends a strong message to future leaders – both men and women.

“There’s nothing you can’t achieve,” said Giampa. Read more

Chaplain Blesses Local Animals

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James Brisson of Fort Bragg recently held a “Blessing of the Pets” for his congregation.

According to the Catholic religion, the blessing of animals tradition began with St. Francis’ love for animals and the environment making him a friend and protector to them. Even though world wide this widely-practiced ceremony continues to grow with owners bringing cows, horses, and various other pets, to blessings, Fort Bragg honored dogs and birds with it’s first-ever intimate ceremony.

US military Chaplains supporting the troops…and, their pets.

Chaplain Speaks Out on God and Suicide

The US Army has faced a growing tragedy in the number of suicides in its ranks.  It has amassed a veritable plethora of programs in an attempt to stem the rising tide that kills Soldiers at an alarming rate.

Chaplain (Col) Chester Egert writes an astute piece at Army.mil, noting there are “common threads” in “acts of self-destruction.”

Chaplain Egert notes that while the Army has a variety of programs to fight suicide — he counts more than 600 — there may be an omission in the emphasis on the internal issue of self-worth and intrinsic human value.  Read more

Priest to be First Bishop in Combat

Army Chaplain (LtCol) F. Richard Spencer is a former combat Army officer who has continued to experience combat as a Chaplain, having deployed to Iraq with the US Army.

Spencer has now been appointed a bishop of the Archdiocese for US Military Services, the Catholic oversight body for all Catholic Chaplains in the US military.  He is transitioning to the Army reserves, but still expects to be the first bishop to enter a warzone when he returns to combat areas during the high-demand holidays.  Read more

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