Newly ordained Alberta priest to return to Afghanistan

Published: 2005-12-09

EDMONTON, Alberta (CNS) -- A newly ordained Alberta priest has drawn a tough first assignment. Father David McLeod will return to Afghanistan for at least nine months in February to serve Canadian troops trying to maintain peace in the war-torn country. Father McLeod, a major in the Canadian Forces, recently returned from a six-week tour of Afghanistan covering for a priest on leave. He said counseling troops at difficult moments will be a part of his duty. "These young soldiers are facing life-and-death issues every day, in a way others face them later in life. We never know what is going to happen," he said. "When they become lonely or get homesick, a chaplain is usually the first person they will talk to." Father McLeod was ordained a priest Dec. 3 at Edmonton's St. Joseph's Basilica. He will be part of the Military Ordinariate of Canada, a diocese serving Canadian Catholic armed forces personnel.

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