Father Darren Balkey blesses Ensign Veronica Hine Aug. 15 at Naval Station Newport in Newport, R.I. Father Balkey is an ensign and chaplain candidate in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Hine, a Catholic and 2021 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, serves aboard Coast Guard Cutter SYCAMORE, a seagoing buoy tender homeported at Naval Station Newport. (Photo by Erin Donlon)CHARLOTTE — Help support the men who are called – like Charlotte’s own Father Darren Balkey – to serve those serving our country: This weekend, parishioners can donate to a special collection benefiting the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
The special collection, held once every three years, was held at Masses Aug. 27-28.
The Archdiocese for the Military Services ministers to more than 1.8 million people in 134 countries – providing pastoral care to Catholic families stationed worldwide in the U.S. military as well as Catholic patients in Veterans Administration hospitals.
Father Balkey knows firsthand the importance of this special collection. He’s one of the Diocese of Charlotte’s newest priests, ordained last June, and is also inspired to go beyond parish ministry to become a military chaplain.
“We as the church of Charlotte have a ‘parish worth’ of Catholics in uniform. They serve around the globe as soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and coastguardsmen,” Father Balkey said. “The Catholic Church cares for these souls and those of their families through the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.”
Currently serving at St. Leo Catholic Church in Winston-Salem, Father Balkey will work in the Charlotte diocese for three years, then serve as a Navy chaplain for five years – with opportunities to continue serving in the active military, transfer to the Reserve, or return to a civilian parish assignment .
He will be among fewer than 200 Catholic chaplains in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, and one of only 29 priests who minister to tens of thousands of Catholic sailors, marines and coastguardsmen and their families spread around the world.
The Archdiocese pays to sustain these chaplains, who serve on loan from their archdioceses and religious orders, and receives no government or military funding, and also is prohibited from taking up regular collections at Sunday Mass.
“It relies entirely upon our support as faithful and generous Catholics. It takes money to provide spiritual support for those who defend our freedoms,” said Father Balkey, 30, who previously worked as a camp counselor for troubled youth and as an emergency medical technician.
Contributions to the Archdiocese support the ministry of Catholic U.S. military and VA chaplains and a range of programs and offices including Vocations, Evangelization, Religious Education, Sacramental Records, a Tribunal, and Veterans Affairs.
Father Balkey notes that donations help ensure servicemembers and their families have sacramental records; provide retreats and evangelization to servicemembers; fund marriage preparation for engaged couples; and contribute to the education of seminarians who will one day serve as military chaplains.
Resources also assist Archbishop Timothy Broglio and his four auxiliary bishops’ travel to shepherd a flock spread across the globe.
“As your fellow Catholic and as a future chaplain to our military members and their families, I ask you to join me in supporting the AMS collection,” Father Balkey appeals. “May God bless you, and may God bless America.”
Learn more about what chaplains do at www.milarch.org.
— SueAnn Howell