March 16: The World's Largest Archdiocese

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is March 16th, and our story is the world's largest archdiocese. It is, arguably, the largest Catholic diocese in the world. It spans not one state, but 50. Not one country, but more than 100. It is the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, AMS, and it was created on March 16, 1985.

In the centuries prior to that, the Catholic Church had found different ways to care for America's soldiers. From the American Revolution into the early 20th century, individual priests had offered their services to the armed forces, traveling with men into battle wherever battle took them.

Then, in 1917, the Catholic Church formalized the arrangement, first creating the Military Ordinariate of the United States of America, and later the Military Vicariate. At the helm of both the Ordinariate and the Vicariate were auxiliary bishops from New York, who divided their time between their diocese and their work with chaplains. New York was chosen because so many U.S. soldiers passed through the city before departing for Europe.

In the early 1980s, noting the strain such double duty put on his auxiliaries, Archbishop Terence Cardinal Cook of New York began advocating for a different arrangement. Pope John Paul II soon came up with one, creating the AMS in 1985 and naming Archbishop Joseph T. Ryan, previously of the Archdiocese of Anchorage, as its head. Today, the Archdiocese is served by approximately 200... active-duty priests, with more than 200 additional priests serving in Veterans Affairs VA hospitals, all on loan from their diocese or religious orders.

Those priests oversee the liturgy, sacramental life, and faith formation of America's armed forces, support personnel, and their families, in more than 220 installations in 29 countries. They also provide pastoral care to patients in 153 VA medical centers and federal employees serving outside the United States in more than 100 other countries. All told, 1.8 million men, women, and children around the world depend upon the work of the AMS and the generosity of Americans across the country who fund its ministry.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services exemplifies the Church's universality and pastoral care, reminding us that faith adapts to meet people where they are. The AMS shows that even amidst global complexity, the Church can remain a steadfast shepherd, attending to souls wherever they may be.

Reach out to support someone serving in the military, veterans, or their families. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, March 17th, for another story of faith and courage in America.