Deployed Chaplain provides Prayers

  • Published
  • By Chaplain James W. Longe
  • 439th Airlift Wing, Chaplain

It is said that most large problems require a simple solution. I believe this to be true, as did my grandparents. I’m completing a seven-month tour in northern Italy. As one can imagine, going from a stateside Reserve Wing to an overseas active-duty base has required a tremendous reality-shift!

What makes this base “active”? For starters, during the last six weeks, we have sent roughly ten percent of our military personnel to foreign installations within central Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Of course we don’t want or expect Airmen to grumble when given a “real world” opportunity to hone and highlight their expertise, yet grumble we sometimes do. Occasionally, we do worse. That’s when I have the opportunity to be a healing and positive force.

Contrary to views held by some, chaplains remain an essential thread within the fabric of our Armed Forces; this is where we have nobly served in the past, and this is where we need to nobly serve in the future. Chaplains ensure that no Uniformed or DoD personnel is denied their Constitutional right to sincerely practice their faith, and in return, together we ensure Chaplains are empowered by the same basic act of human dignity.

Very well, but what can a chaplain offer the average person during the ordinary events of life? Thanks be to God, many good things! For example: when invited, we can offer keys to the riddles of life. More concretely, on a daily basis, we offer fellowship to the lonely; strength to the weak; normalcy toward the deployed; hope to the disillusioned; wisdom to the curious; fun to the overworked; ear to the downcast; mouthpiece for the minority; protection for the wounded; correction for the misguided; and most important, friendship toward all . . . .

 What’s my particular role? As a Catholic priest, I journey with those who journey with me, on a daily basis, with all the powers, graces and sacraments of the Church. Since my arrival, I have created avenues for sacred remembrance of our deceased loved ones (November). I have led Advent days of reflection as well as joyous Christmas Masses (December). I have guided a spiritual pilgrimage to western France, after hosting visiting clergy (January). I celebrated Services on Ash Wednesday for hundreds, then shared simple bread and soup with a handful (February). I brought feisty teenagers into the Sacrament of Confirmation (March), before leading dynamic Easter Masses and touching adult and child baptisms (April). Finally, before my departure, I will ensure our 24 second-graders are fully prepared for their memorable First Holy Communion (Mother’s Day Weekend).

All this, of course, is in addition to my daily responsibilities as an Airman and Officer. So life remains good, and I remain grateful to God and the United States Air Force for making it so!