By Ann Augherton
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/13/03)
"This is the time when the training for war ends and the reality of war begins," said Major Eric Albertson, a diocesan priest who is serving as an Army chaplain with the Military Archdiocese.
"To be successful on the battlefield, soldiers know they must train. As they train their body and mind, they must also train their soul," Father Albertson said.
"Just as soldiers admit ‘there are no atheists in foxholes,’ so commanders recognize that spiritually fit soldiers are better fighters, and can bring a spirit of determination to the mission that is courageous and heroic," he said.
Father Albertson is currently a student at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His follow-on assignment will be with the 2nd Infantry Division, Korea.
According to Father Albertson, frequently the chaplain advises the commander on the spiritual readiness of the unit.
"Soldiers will have questions about their faith they may not have addressed earlier," he said, adding that because the chaplain trains with the soldiers and wears their uniform, they approach him with "the familiarity of a brother, while looking to him as a shepherd and spiritual guide. The chaplain is the gentle and constant reminder that religion is important, even amidst the sometimes wild life of a soldier."
Father Christian T. Connelly, a diocesan priest serving as Battalion Chaplain to the 3-321 Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Bragg, N.C., reminded his troops on Ash Wednesday that "they are indeed sacrificing much being away from family and friends during this period of great uncertainty.
"I reassured them that God is with them and that now is the time to anchor themselves deeply to our beloved faith," he said.
Father Connelly prays at every Mass for an increase to vocations among the priest-chaplains. "I am convinced that there are many vocations among our young soldiers who, having answered the call to serve our nation, will someday answer the call to serve our Church in uniform."
He believes that morale is very high among the soldiers. "They are professionals dedicated to protecting the freedoms we cherish as American citizens. Certainly, like any mother or father or sibling, they are going to deeply miss being with loved ones, but they are also prepared to face the challenges ahead."
Father Albertson said perhaps the greatest challenge of an Army chaplain is deployment into combat. "Many chaplains will spend an entire career of ministry in training, and even deployment, but not combat," he said. "As our War on Terror escalates to address the threat of a rogue nation, many units are staging for war, and their chaplains are with them."
This can be especially difficult for the chaplain, Father Albertson said, when a soldier becomes a casualty, "the chaplain feels the trauma at a profoundly deep level."
At Fort Bragg, Father Connelly is familiar with the Family Readiness Groups, staffed by volunteers to assist families when a crisis occurs. "These groups also serve as a rallying point for spouses while their husband or wife is deployed," he said.
Sharing the life of a soldier, Father Albertson pointed out that the chaplain experiences the same hardships and challenges. The chaplain understands the culture and the complexities of the modern battlefield, and is "able to position himself where he can provide the best pastoral care and ministry for soldiers.
"The chaplain has the privilege of being with the soldiers when he is needed most."
Copyright ©2003 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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