A record number of young men gathered last week for a discernment retreat focused on the “vocation within a vocation” of being both Catholic priests and U.S. Military chaplains.
According to a press release received by Zeale News, 38 prospective Catholic U.S. Military chaplains participated April 9-12 in a retreat at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California.
As part of an effort to address a shortage of Catholic priests serving on active duty, the Vocations Office of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) hosts two such retreats annually, one on the West Coast and one on the East Coast, the release noted.
Priests, including those with experience at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy, led the men in spiritual exercises that included spiritual counsel, group prayer, and discussion, the release said.
The retreat was directed by Father Paul-Anthony Halladay, retired U.S. Army chaplain and AMS director of vocations. Archbishop for the AMS, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, celebrated Mass and participated in the retreat’s prayer and reflection.
Fifteen of the prospective chaplains are considering a vocation in the U.S. Air Force, eight in the Navy, and seven in the Army. The remaining eight are still discerning which branch of service they would join if they are ordained.
Several other priests also delivered talks during the retreat, including one on the fatherhood of St. Joseph, emphasizing that military chaplains serve as spiritual fathers to those in uniform.
The release also noted that participants heard stories of two U.S. Military chaplains now under consideration for sainthood, including Servant of God Father Vincent R. Capodanno, who died in battle in Vietnam, and Venerable Father Emil Kapaun, who died in a Korean prisoner-of-war camp.
The release highlighted that the next AMS discernment retreat is scheduled for Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.