The Most Reverend Timothy Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA (AMS), recently expressed his gratitude (pdf) for the Diocese of Raleigh’s donation of $86,202.08, made possible by the generosity of the faithful who participated in the annual collection to support the AMS.
The AMS provides pastoral care for the 1.8 million Catholics serving in the United States Armed Forces, their family members, students at the Military Academies, patients in VA medical centers and US governmental personnel serving abroad.
It is the only agency responsible for endorsing and granting faculties to Catholic chaplains and deacons in service to those populations. The AMS is a church entity. It is not a part of the Armed Forces and is not funded by the federal government. It is a “home” mission diocese that depends almost entirely on financial support from individual donors, including personal donations from its military and VA chaplains, gifts from military communities, gifts from dioceses, charitable bequests, and grants.
“The single greatest faith resource for those serving in the military is the Military Chaplain. Therefore, donations to the AMS are crucial, so that Military Chaplains may travel to their duty stations in order to fulfill their ministry to the people of God,” said Father Mark Betti, Pastor of St. Brendan the Navigator in Shallotte, NC, and a Navy veteran. Fr. Betti, who was enlisted after discerning a calling to the priesthood but prior to his active pursuit of his vocation, attended weekday and Sunday Masses celebrated by a Military Chaplain while serving on an aircraft carrier.
The archdiocese relies on private donations to minister to the Catholic military men and women, and their families -- parishioners and families who reside within the geographic boundaries our diocese -- while they serve our country, attend one of the U.S. Military Academies, or are cared for during injury or illness in a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
If you would like more information about ways to support the Archdiocese for the Military Services, please visit: https://www.milarch.org/ways-to-support/.