Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Careers, Workplace and Religion
U.S. Military Chaplain Hopefuls Turn Out in Record Numbers

U.S. Military Chaplain Hopefuls Turn Out in Record Numbers

Last updated on: April 21, 2026 at 7:28 pm by William Hemsworth

0 Comments

U.S. Military Chaplain Hopefuls Turn Out in Record Numbers 2026-04-21T19:28:53-07:00 William Hemsworth

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

MENLO PARK, CA – A record-high 38 prospective Catholic U.S. Military chaplains gathered at St. Patrick’s Seminary this past weekend for the annual spring discernment retreat for young men discerning a possible “vocation within a vocation” as both Catholic priests and military chaplains. The Vocations Office of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), holds two of these retreats each year—one in the spring on the West Coast and another in the fall on the East Coast—as part of its ongoing strategy to relieve a shortage of Catholic priests on active duty.

This year’s spring retreat, held April 9-12, was organized and directed by AMS Director of Vocations, Father Paul-Anthony Halladay, CH (MAJ), USA (Ret.), himself a retired veteran U.S. Army chaplain. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, took part in the four days of prayer, reflection, and dialogue, and he celebrated Holy Mass for those gathered.

Photo Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Military Services

Of the 38, 15 are considering a vocation as chaplains in the U.S. Air Force, eight in the Navy, and seven in the Army. Another eight are still discerning which branch of service they hope to join if ordained as priests. A team of priests gave talks, took part in group prayer and discussion, and provided spiritual guidance and counsel to the chaplain hopefuls. The team included priests from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and chaplain recruiters serving the three chaplain corps of the different service branches.

In talks, Father Halladay focused on the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, a vocations partnership between the AMS and cooperating U.S. dioceses and religious communities willing to release a participating seminarian for military service after priestly ordination. Father Halladay further explained military procedures for chaplain candidacy. Father John Guyol, S.J., explored the process of discernment itself. Father Gary Thomas spoke on the spiritual fatherhood of Saint Joseph. Father David Hammond, CHC, LCDR, USN, shared insights on how military chaplains are spiritual fathers to those who serve. A panel of seminarians discussed the various steps on the vocational journey and reflected on their experience of seminary life. The inspirational stories of two U.S. Military chaplains now under consideration for sainthood were also shared. Father Rodrigo Ulloa, M.M., spoke on the life and heroic death in battle of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, Servant of God, in Vietnam, and Father Matthew Pawlikowski, CH (COL), USA (Ret.) shared how Venerable Father Emil Kapaun died a hero’s death in a Korean Prisoner-of-War camp.

The AMS will hold this year’s Fall Discernment Retreat from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2026, at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD. Young men interested in participating may contact Father Halladay at [email protected] or (202) 719-3600.

General Christian

Careers, Workplace and Religion

Religion News

Uncategorized

archbishop broglio

archdiocese for military services

catholic

Previous Post

April 11, 2026

Two Types of Merit in the Christian Life

Next Post

April 27, 2026 Sacred Heart Re-Releases Catholic Anxiety Guide

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Excellent presentation. I have found that what matters most is the "posture" of the heart ..."

John

A Matter Of The Heart

"I agree with you 100%. The bishops have instructed everyone to receive on the hand ..."

aggiegirl2000

A Matter Of The Heart

"After seeing exactly how screwed up Christian Conservatives are, worshipping a man that is immorral. ..."

Prax

You Are With Jesus Or With ..."

"Jesus or Beelzebul? I'll take curtain three, thank you. I don't DO Fear religions."

Kyllein MacKellerann

You Are With Jesus Or With ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz