Prospective Catholic U.S. Military Chaplains Mull Vocation at Discernment Retreat

BALTIMORE, MD – November 3-9 is National Vocation Awareness week in the U.S. Catholic Church, a weeklong celebration of promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education. What better time to hold a retreat for young men discerning the “vocation within a vocation,” not only to priesthood but military chaplaincy?

This past weekend the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), did just that. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., hosted a record 30 prospective chaplains (pictured) for its annual Fall Discernment Retreat, directed by AMS Vocations Director Father Marcel Taillon, at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore whose seminarians and faculty assured a very warm welcome.

“I was inspired by the quantity of retreatants to be sure,” Father Taillon said, “but their maturity and spiritual depth were indeed evident and noteworthy. The future is hopeful.”

Participants in the Oct. 31-Nov. 3 retreat converged on Baltimore from more than two dozen dioceses and military installations throughout the United States, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Of the 30 discerners, 22 are already serving in the military but considering taking on the new role, Serving Those Who Serve, providing religious and moral support to fellow service members and their families.

The retreatants included 11 from the Army, four from the Navy, and seven from the Air Force, in addition to eight civilians. Those who discern a call will explore options for putting their military or other careers hold for at least five years of seminary formation, co-sponsored by the AMS and their home dioceses, and upon priestly ordination, another three years of civilian pastoral service meant to give them hands-on experience as spiritual shepherds before they join or re-join the military flock as chaplains.

During the four-day retreat participants prayed together, shared their personal experiences and aspirations in ongoing dialogue, heard talks from Archbishop Broglio, AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., Father Taillon, and other priests, and they enjoyed fellowship over meals and activities. Archbishop Broglio celebrated Mass on Friday evening. Msgr. Frontiero and Father Taillon celebrated Mass on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

In a series of talks:

Msgr. Frontiero spoke on the meaning of discernment;Father Gary R. Studniewski, CH (COL), USA (Ret.), gave a talk called “Witness of a Co-Sponsored Priest and Chaplain,” sharing his own personal experiences as an Army chaplain;Father Matthew Pawlikowski, CH (COL), USA (Ret.), shared “The Story of Father (Emil) Kapaun,” the famous Army chaplain who died a hero’s death in a North Korean POW camp and whose Cause for Canonization is now under review at the Vatican;Father David J. Hammond, CHC, LCDR, USN, a U.S. Navy Catholic chaplain recruiter, spoke on the life of a Navy chaplain;Father Taillon spoke on the charism of celibacy;Father Joseph Heisey, CH (LT), USA, gave his “Witness of a Newly Ordained Priest.”

Also participating in the retreat, and on hand to counsel discerners, were the Defense Department’s Catholic chaplain recruiters from all branches of service: Fathers Martin Novitzky, CH (CPT), USA; Jeffrey A. Paveglio, CH (CPT), USA; David J. Hammond, CHC, LCDR, USN; and Nicholas J. Reid, Ch Capt USAF.

The Baltimore gathering is one of two discernment retreats the AMS holds annually in the United States, one on either side of the country. The next will be held April 3-6, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, CA. 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 the AMS Vocations Office at vocations@milarch.org or (202) 719-3600.