Catholic Military Life

For this edition, Catholic Military Life--the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), travels to France to chat with Warriors to Lourdes pilgrims and U.S. Army veterans Adam and Tiffany Farabaugh. Adam, a medically retired sergeant, and Tiffany, a former active-duty soldier and now a major in the Army Reserve, have both served in war zones and came to the famous Marian shrine for healing. This is their story.

We've all seen those heart-warming photos of military men and women returning home from a long deployment to be greeted by big hugs with their children. But what about the military couple who for whatever reason can't have a child? In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Capt. Kimberly Colby of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve shares how she and her husband Mark, formerly of the U.S. Navy, are tapping their spirituality to deal with infertility, and where other military couples facing the same dilemma can find support.

This year U.S. Catholics have an opportunity to contribute to a special collection at Sunday Mass for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the AMS, the AMS Chancellor, Father Robert R. Cannon, Ch, Col, USAF (Ret.), whose home Diocese of Venice, FL, takes up the collection the weekend of May 14-15, 2022, shares what's at stake for the exercise of Catholic faith in the U.S. Military.

As one of senior clergy on staff at the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), the Judicial Vicar, Father Mark Rutherford, J.C.L., recently experienced first-hand the impact of a growing shortage of Catholic U.S. Military chaplains. In the week leading up to Easter, he filled in for a recently deployed priest at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the AMS, Father Rutherford shares his experience of providing pastoral care to a flock without their local shepherd.

Russia's attempt to take over Ukraine strikes a familiar note with Father Vincent Woo, a priest of the Diocese of Hong Kong who is currently serving in the Tribunal of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, while purusing a doctorate in canon law. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese, Father Woo shares his experience of the Chinese takeover of his native Hong Kong, what that bodes for religious freedom in the former British colony, and why Americans including those in the U.S. Military should care.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) offers military families as well as the general public a way to help Ukrainians withstand the ongoing Russian invasion. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Ms. Megan Gilbert, CRS Communications Officer, shares what CRS is doing to provide humanitarian relief and how you can help.

Among freedoms Ukraine is fighting the Russians for is the freedom to exercise religion. U.S. and NATO troops stand ready to join the fight if called upon. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Ukranian Catholic Archbishop Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia shares what's a stake.

February 2022 marks the 79th anniversary of the heroic deaths of the Four Chaplains, ministers of different faiths who gave up their life vests to fellow soldiers on board the SS Dorchester as it sank in the North Atlantic after a German submarine torpedoed the troop transport ship with more than 900 aboard. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Rev. Andrew Calandriello recounts the experience of that fateful night as told him by his father, who was on the Dorchester when mahem broke out, killing more than three of four on board.

The buildup of Russian forces around Ukraine has made life tense for Europe-based U.S. troops. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Auxiliary Bishop William (Bill) Muhm, Vicar for Europe and Asia, visits from his home base in Germany, talks about the impact on Catholics who serve, and shares his experiences of ongoing regular international travel in time of COVID.

The Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW) is inviting Catholic women with a connection to the U.S. Armed Forces to take part in its Forum 2022 April 21-24 in Tampa, FL. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, MCCW President Kim Miller and Forum Director Aly Tugaoen tell us what's in store for those who participate.

As Vocations Director of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), Father S. Matthew Gray has his work cut out for him. He is responsible for shepherding young men discerning a vocation to the Catholic priesthood and U.S. Military chaplaincy at a time when active-duty priests are in extreme short supply. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the AMS, Father Gray shares his vision for how to plug the gap.

The Knights of Columbus recently published the 6th edition of Armed With the Faith, an almost indestructible prayer book for active-duty personnel to carry wherever they go, even in the heat of battle. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, nurse Megan Gabauer shares how the prayer book helps bring healing to wounded or ill warriors.

In June 2021, retired U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Patrick E. Kelly, Esq., was installed as Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus (K of C). In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), Mr. Kelly joins us by telephone from K of C headquarters in New Haven, CT, to share his vision for a vast, growing international fraternity that each year generously raises tens of millions of dollars for the Catholic Church, including strong support for the AMS and its Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program.

Unlike other Catholic U.S. dioceses, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), spans the globe, shepherding U.S. Military members wherever they go. Noone knows better than Ms. Victoria Kaczmarek, whose job it is to support the year-round travel of Archbishop Timothy Broglio's four auxiliary bishops. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the AMS, Ms. Kaczmarek shares the joys and challenges of helping the bishops get where they need to go, across state lines and national boundaries.

Father Richard Erikson, Ch, Brig Gen, USAF (Ret), recently teamed up with Country and Western singer/songwriter Jay Clementi to compose a song about U.S. Military chaplains. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Father Erikson joins us to listen to the song, "Born to Bless the Fallen," and tell how the song came about.

Father Daniel J. Swartz, CHC, LT, USN, was with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at the Kabul airport on Aug. 26 when a suicide bomber attacked, killing 13 American military members and many civilians who were trying to flee Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Father Swartz tells his story.

The homecoming of Father Emil Kapaun, Servant of God, to the Diocese of Wichita, KS, last month was greeted with the hero's welcome he deserved, 70 years after his death in a North Korean Prisoner-of-War Camp. Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spencer of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), was among those present and shares his experience in this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the AMS.

Like other branches of the U.S. Military, the Air Force is in sore need of more Catholic priests to go on active duty as chaplains. Father Robbie Deka, Ch, Capt, USAF, is a chaplain recruiter for the Air Force. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Father Deka explains how serious the shortage is, and what he's doing to plug the gap.

The Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), will resume their annual Warriors to Lourdes Pilgrimage in May of 2022 following a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The dates for the upcoming Pilgrimage are May 10-16, 2022. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the AMS, Colonel Chuck Gallina, USMC (Ret.), explains who qualifies for the all-expenses paid trip to the famous Grotto and its healing spring waters.

The Aug. 26, 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport hit close to home for Father Daniel Lorimer, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, KS, and former U.S. Army chaplain. From February to October 2014, Father Lorimer served in Afghanistan, hopscotching by helicopter between Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to bring the sacraments to U.S. servicemen and women on the front lines. In the Aug. 30 edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Father Lorimer shares his experiences and thoughts on the 20-year war's violent end.