Military bases are like missionary diocese for U.S. archbishop

Published: 2007-04-13

FRIEDBERG, Germany (CNS) -- Like spring in many dioceses, spring in the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services is confirmation season. Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien packed his bags in late March and was to spend the next two months confirming the children of military personnel -- and a few soldiers and sailors -- stationed in Germany, Belgium, Italy and England. Almost all the members of the armed services with whom he would come into contact had been deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, and many would be going back. "I find impressive the humility of military people," the archbishop said April 11 after celebrating Mass and sharing lunch with soldiers who had returned from Iraq in late February and early March. "They know how fragile life is," the archbishop said. "They don't boast. They don't act like heroes. They act surprised when someone thanks them." One young soldier, his foot still in a cast from an injury in Iraq, played his guitar during the meal, then had an intense heart-to-heart with the archbishop about perhaps becoming a Catholic.

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