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INFORMATION BULLETIN No 79 JUNE 2006
Pope Benedict XVI - on Military World Day of Peace 2006 Army Chaplains celebrating Easter and Anzac Day
Many of us have
faced the prospect of having another parish added to what we already have. For
some, it’s invigorating. For others, forget it. In dioceses such as Tasmania,
Townsville, Wilcannia-Forbes and others amalgamation is not realistic because of
distance. Any talk of a
‘shortage’ of priests doesn’t sit comfortably with some. Perhaps this is
because of the belief that there are other ways of dealing with the decline.
Perhaps, the fear of a self-fulfilling prophesy. Perhaps because of the belief
that ultimately ‘the Lord will provide’; whatever …. While our bishops
have great difficulty dealing with deployment demands facing them today, one of
their number has 22 parishes with only 5 priests. This is the story facing the
Army division of the Military Diocese and its Bishop, Max Davis. Numbers in the
Navy and Air Force are little better. This clearly is shortage! An added
problem--in addition to shortage--is the resulting erosion of its Sacramental
life along with the growing belief that any chaplain of any religion will do.
Try telling that to front-line Catholic soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan wanting
particularly penance or anointing. Here is something
of their story; also a few reflections on Easter & Anzac Day in Iraq. Feel
like a stint in the Military? If under 50 don’t be shy, talk to Bishop Max! With personal best wishes Frank
Devoy Executive Officer
MESSAGE FROM BISHOP MAX DAVIS, MILITARY BISHOP
I am grateful to
Fr Frank and the National Commiss-ion for providing this opportunity to urge
your prayers and practical support for my Diocese. Your prayers are
indispensable, but so too is your priestly presence in many corners of the
Military Diocese where the Defence Force Catholic community longs for the
Sacraments of the Church. The figures enclosed tell their own story quite
dramatically. In short, the
Military Diocese seeks a special kind of generosity from priests across the
country. I realise that most dioceses also face dramatic shortages. However,
there may well be a context in which some of you would enjoy the unique
opportunity to serve as a Chaplain/officer and your bishop is willing to release
you for a period of time. Our Defence Force is being deployed in front line
action today more than ever and needs Chaplains. Please take the trouble to
inquire.
+ Max Davis, Military Ordinary
POPE BENEDICT XVI - ON MILITARY WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2006
“I [cannot] fail to mention the many soldiers engaged in the delicate work of resolving conflicts and restoring the necessary conditions for peace. I wish to remind them of the words of the Second Vatican Council: "All those who enter the military in service to their country should look upon themselves as guardians of the security and freedom of their fellow-countrymen, and, in carrying out this duty properly, they too contribute to the establishment of peace' (Gaudium et Spes, no. 79). “On this
demanding front the Catholic Church's military ordinariates carry out their
pastoral activity: I encourage both the military Ordinaries and military
chaplains to be, in every situation and context, faithful heralds of the truth
of peace.” (No. 8) ARMY CHAPLAINS CELEBRATING EASTER AND ANZAC DAY IN IRAQ
This Easter I
visited some of our troops in Iraq where, even though they don’t have a priest
with them, they are still part of our Australian Catholic Church. Through the
ceremonies I tried to link them to the rest of the Church through celebrat-ing
the same Easter Mysteries, even though we did so in our own unique way. To wash the feet
of these men and women was, for me, a moment of re-committing myself to serve
those who are serving their country in the presence of danger. To hold up in the
darkness the newly lit Paschal Candle and proclaim “Light of Christ” was a
powerful reminder that our work for peace amongst a troubled people must be
founded on our commitment to the risen Christ. Attendance was
small, but several of them said how wonderful it was to have had the chance to
celebrate Mass and the Easter ceremonies according to their Catholic tradition
while they were deployed. Victoria
Barracks, Sydney . I have been an
Army Reserve Chaplain for 23 years. I was given the opportunity to go to the
Middle East to lead the ANZAC Day Service for the Australian Defence Force
Members. What was the best
part of the trip? It was the defence people I met, to listen to their story and
to be a support in their concerns and worries. Everyone saw me as a pastor, a
priest for them. They enjoyed the unique opportunity of having a Catholic
Chaplain around the place. It was only a
short trip but my priestly ministry was enriched by being part of people’s
spiritual journey. Ministry as a Catholic Army Chaplain is great as you are
connected to the soldiers in a very real way and are very much part of what they
do. My brief time as
a fulltime chaplain has renewed my commitment to be there for people in their
hopes and disappointments, their sorrows and joys and to know God loves them. Geraldton.
Western Australia CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS ON DEPLOYMENT IN DILI, EAST TIMOR
As this
newsletter goes to print, two priests in the Army (Frs Glynn Murphy, Enoggera,
and Matthew Donnelly, Townsville) and Air Force Deacon, Jim Curtain (RAAF,
Amberley), are deploying into Timor Leste with the ADF contingent. Consequently, we
have to find two priests who are able to celebrate Sunday Mass in those two ADF
Parishes for the Military people who remain. Getting supplies in very difficult,
as you would imagine. We pray for those
who are deployed and those who remain supporting them. Principal
Chaplain (RC) Army, Campbell. ACT
THE BARE STATISTICS - THE DRAMATIC STORY THEY TELL
FULL TIME ADF PARISHES
FROM "A TRADITION OF FAITH, TO FAITHFUL TO TRADITION", BISHOP MAX DAVIS, 2004
Since Federation
members of the Catholic Church have been rendered service in the Australian
Defence Forces (ADF). … It is not a matter of convenience, but rather a matter
of spiritual necessity, that Catholic members of the ADF be given every
opportunity for access to the Sacraments of the Church wherever they may be
serving but particularly and urgently in situations of physical and spiritual
danger. From the Australian perspective this focus is a tradition of Catholic
Chaplaincy that began before the landings at Gallipoli and has continued
unbroken through every action and involvement ever since. … This service
has been encouraged, supported and enhanced by the ADF and the Church acting
together to provide for their religious obligations and spiritual development in
this unique environment. From the Church’s perspective, priests and deacons
have been made available to provide those elements which are essential for this
development and the provision of authentic pastoral care …. The essential
spiritual needs and pastoral care of Catholic members centres on access to the
Sacra-ments and is most acute in the operational environ-ment. Closely aligned
with this essential purpose is the pastoral care of those involved in direct
operat-ional support and in training for operations .... With deep
sincerity Catholic Chaplains are committed to continue to work cooperatively
with chaplains of other denominations in provision of general pastoral care for
all personnel – with or without a claimed religions affiliation – to enhance
the mission of the ADF. Catholic Chaplains, supported by their Church, will
continue the long and valued tradition of providing the Sacraments and religious
ministry and pastoral care in the ADF as a priority.” POPE JOHN PAUL II TO THE ARMED FORCES, 6 MAY 1999, ITALY
Chaplains
have played an irreplaceable spiritual
and human role, sharing
the life and problems of the Armed Forces and
offering everyone the
light of the Gospel and divine grace. In this service, which is often humble and hidden, there have been wonderful priests who have honoured the
Church and the Armed Forces …. The
providential efforts for sound renewal spurred by the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council … found
a ready welcome among
Christian military people, creating
a new awareness of the Church and
a renewed commitment especially among the lay faithful. We have thus passed from a "Church service" offered to the Armed Forces, to a "Church of service" assembled among those in the military world who are called to exercise their baptismal priesthood by working for peaceful harmony among
men and women, in union with those who by the sacrifice of their lives have
given the supreme witness of love. With
the Apostolic Constitution Spirituali
militum curae of 1986, I wished to encourage this promising development by structuring
the Military Ordinariate Church as a particular, territorial and personal
Church, whose
very name expresses its theological nature, its
organizational structure and its specific features. It
is made up of baptized military personnel, their
families and relatives, as
well as their domestic staffs, and those who by law are employed in the service of the Armed Forces or are associated with them.
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