Humble Catholic Chapel In Baghdad Serves As Center For Prayer, Community, Worship
Published: August 5, 2004
Father Michael Heninger, a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta now on assignment in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, is one of a small number of Catholic priests who serve in the U.S. military. Of the 1,200 chaplains in the Army, 100 are Catholic priests who serve the 25 percent of the enlisted personnel and nearly one-third of the officers who are Catholic.
Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his ministry while serving in the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Father Heninger is serving his second tour in Baghdad, Iraq, with the 1st Cavalry Division, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
Father Heninger, the son of Byrne and Marian Heninger of St. Michael Church, Gainesville, was granted a two-year extension of his assignment until July 1, 2007.
The following letter from Father Heninger shares the spiritual aspects of his tour of duty.
July 15, 2004
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings from your spiritual family in Iraq. Though thousands of miles separate us, we are a universal church and remain connected through our Lord Jesus Christ. Even here we realize the diversity, size and strength of our church as so many military and civilian Catholics come from around the world to help rebuild Iraq.
Toward that end we do accomplish civil affair missions such as focusing on community development and relations. Food is distributed as is clothing and school supplies. Engineers are busy rebuilding schools, hospitals, streets, sewers, etc. Countless multi-national force soldiers train the new Iraqi National Guard, patrol streets and fight those who only want to bring terror to the community.
In the midst of all the activity we know it is equally important to work on the spiritual front. Not only are we praying for our own renewed spirit but for the good of Iraq. So it is always powerful when the Catholic community gathers to celebrate the faith in and around Baghdad. Catholics in our Forward Operating Bases have long joined together to get spiritually fit by participating in the Masses and saying the Rosary. Now we also have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Thanks to several devoted Catholics back home we have received a beautiful angelic luna. Today was our first time for adoration. Imagine if you will, chant music filled the air ever so softly as incense floated skyward and the rising sun pierced the simple tinted windows of our humble wooden chapel as the birds sang like a choir in the surrounding trees. All of this as you looked up to the presence of Christ on the altar supported by a golden angel. One could not ask for a better start of a day than to be at the footsteps of Christ.
It is here before our Lord that we bring our worries, sorrows, anxiety, anger and sadness from the war but, more importantly, where we find our hope. Christ has won the war against evil. We must only stay close to him to succeed in the daily battles that remain until he comes again. I ask that as you spend time in your own prayers and in particular before the Blessed Sacrament that we remain united in praying for peace and the peacemakers.
May God bless you all,
Father Michael Heninger
1st Cavalry Division
Baghdad, Iraq
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