Father William E. Calhoun, a teacher at St. Joseph’s High School, will become an Air Force chaplain.

He will leave the archdiocese July 10 for temporary duty at Maxwell Air Force Base at Montgomery before being assigned to Mather Air Force Base in California.

“I want to be of assistance to our young men who are fighting to uphold the American ideals of freedom and democracy,” Father Calhoun said. When he became aware of the need for chaplains, the priest chose the Air Force because “I was more acquainted with the branch of the service.” Before entering the seminary, Father Calhoun spent four years in the Air Force.

“My work in the archdiocese has been extremely fulfilling and I have loved the work.” The priest said.” I am not severing my ties with the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The archbishop has merely released me from duties here for a specified period of time.”

Reflecting upon his three years of teaching, Father Calhoun said, “The young people I have taught in high school have taught me more about what it means to be human and loving—and an educator—than all my previous schooling. We have known each other personally and socially in the school environment and our lives have been changed.”

Father Calhoun noted changes in the role of priests since Vatican II. He said, “The situation is going to redefine the role of priests. Personally, I think we should strive as much as possible to conform to the Biblical foundation of the idea of the priesthood: ‘a man taken from among men to mediate between God and man.’”

“There is a distinction between the sacred and the secular—the distinction might take on a new form,” he said, ‘but the priest has to keep balance between the two; never losing the Biblical perspective that he is a man uniquely chosen to assist other men in attaining salvation.”

Though changes may develop in response to the needs of contemporary society, Father Calhoun said, “I don’t think the concept of the priesthood has to be so totally redefined that priest become welfare workers.”

During his three-year assignment in the Air Force, Father Calhoun will administer to the needs of military personnel and plans to resume his work in the archdiocese upon his return.