Catholic Military Life

The United States Air Force, like all other branches of the U.S. Military, is facing a desperate shortage of Catholic priests on active duty. Right now, only 55 priests are on active duty in the Air Force, serving a population of more than 78,000 Catholic airmen. That's one priest for every 1,425 airmen, not counting their families, and those Catholics are spread all over the United States and at bases overseas. It is the challenging task of Father Thomas S. Foley, Ch Capt USAF, to help make up the difference. Father Foley is an Air Force chaplain recruiter who travels the nation in search of qualified chaplain candidates to join the Air Force. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, he talks about the many difficulties and rewards of his work, and how he keeps the faith against long odds.