Soldier talks about transporting consecrated hosts in war zones

Published: 2005-12-27

LANSDALE, Pa. (CNS) -- While 32-year-old U.S. Army Capt. Joseph Burkhardt conducted sensitive operations in war zones throughout Iraq, the mission closest to his heart was bringing the Eucharist to his fellow soldiers. Burkhardt, an Army Ranger, carried dozens of consecrated hosts to be distributed to Catholic soldiers in battle. Because of a shortage of priests in the military, he was trained as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion to allow military personnel to receive Communion on Sundays. "There were times when I was in harm's way," he said, adding that there was never any fear that anything would happen to the hosts. "To have the host that close to you is something that was quite moving," he said. "To have that presence near you all the time is pretty amazing, especially for that many months." Burkhardt, a 1991 graduate of Lansdale Catholic High School, spoke to The Catholic Standard & Times, archdiocesan newspaper of Philadelphia, the same day he addressed students at his alma mater.

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