Catholic Military Life

Seminarian Patrick DiLoreto discovered his military calling before he did his priestly vocation. Through the ROTC program at the University of Northern Colorado, he joined the Colorado National Guard at the end of his freshman year in 2012, inspired in part by the influence of an older brother who served in the U.S. Army and deployed to Afghanistan while Mr. DiLoreto was still in high school. But it was not until he made a spiritual retreat his junior year in college that he discerned a call to priesthood and military chaplaincy. Now, Mr. DiLoreto is on track to be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Colorado Springs in 2023 with plans to go on active duty as an Army chaplain. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Mr. DiLoreto reflects on his priestly calling and how he hopes to make a difference serving those who serve.