Co-Sponsored Seminarians Celebrate Labor Day Weekend in Nation’s Capital

WASHINGTON, DC – "It's always a highlight of the year for me to come here,” said the Reverend Mr. Paul Keenan of the Diocese of Lansing, MI. The transitional Catholic deacon commented as he and more than two dozen other prospective Catholic U.S. Military chaplains huddled at the annual Labor Day weekend gathering for chaplain hopefuls. The Sept. 3-6 convocation, hosted by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., took place at the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center in Washington, DC, home base for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The Rev. Mr. Keenan is in priestly formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He hopes one day to become a Navy chaplain. This was his fourth Labor Day gathering since he began his discernment years ago. “It's what keeps us feeling connected to the AMS and what gives us a sense of community with one another as seminarians.”

This year, 28 prospective chaplains from seminaries and military installations throughout the United States took part in the three days of prayer, fraternity, and dialogue. Under the spiritual guidance of AMS Vocation Director Father Paul-Anthony Halladay, CH (MAJ), USA (Ret.), all are currently enrolled in the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program (CSP), a vocations partnership between the AMS and participating dioceses and religious communities nationwide. The CSP is a major pipeline for new chaplains, whose bishops commit to release them for military service following three years of pastoral assignments in their home dioceses.Of those taking part in this year’s gathering, 10 plan to serve in the Army, six in the Navy, and 12 in the Air Force. Some arrived in the Nation’s Capital a day or two early to participate in the Thursday night Memorial Mass for Servant of God and Vietnam War hero, Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM, CHC, LT, USN (1929-67).

For many, the yearly convocation is a rare time of face-to-face engagement with fellow chaplain candidates spread far and wide. Second Lieutenants Dominic Counihan of the Army and Holden Giefer of the Air Force face similar circumstances. Both are the only military chaplain candidates in their respective seminaries—Lt. Counihan at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Lt. Giefer at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.  “The best way to explain this weekend,” Lt. Counihan said, “is that Fifth Station of the Cross: Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus carry the Cross. Coming here with all the burdens, all the stress, all the added responsibility of military training alongside seminary. I think being with brothers in that state, letting them carry my cross and helping them carry theirs--the affirmation and encouragement--is deeply impactful and much needed."Lt. Giefer noted, “it's just a great opportunity to be reminded of the other men who are stepping into the ministry of chaplaincy and what it means not to be alone in that. To be accompanied by such great men who are pursuing such an important role within the military and within the Church."

The weekend began on Thursday, Sept. 3, with orientation for eight incoming co-sponsored seminarians.  On Friday afternoon, Archbishop Broglio welcomed the entire group in the pastoral center’s main chapel, where all prayed vespers, followed by 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 Andrews before brunch with members of the Saint Andrew Catholic Community on base. 

The most eventful day was Saturday, when the chaplain hopefuls attended morning briefings from Archbishop Broglio and Father Halladay. They engaged in breakout sessions with Catholic chaplain recruiters. They enjoyed a barbecue lunch served by the Knights of Columbus (K of C) of the DC jurisdiction. On Saturday afternoon, the chaplain hopefuls toured the U.S. Capitol before walking to Saint Peter’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill for a Holy Hour, praying a rosary along the way for the Nation and world peace, before returning to the pastoral center for vespers and dinner.  

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 29 now, encouraging five ordinations so far this year alone, including three new priests and two new transitional deacons, with another diaconal ordination set for October. 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 unfunded expenses over the next five years alone. The AMS receives no funding from the Military or the Government and gratefully welcomes gifts at 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 Halladay at vocations@milarch.org or (202) 719-3600.