Confronting one's own mortality on a daily basis can be overwhelming,
but deployed servicemen take comfort and strength from prayers offered
on the home front, according to Army chaplain Father Brian Kane.
Fr. Brian Kane, a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, is
presently deployed for the second time in Iraq. He is Chaplain for the
67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and oversees four battalion unit
ministry teams which serve over 1,400 soldiers across the country.
“It is humbling for me to serve such a dedicated group of men and
women every day,” he told CNA in a Thursday e-mail interview. “To put on
the uniform, to stand and salute when the National Anthem is being
played, to fold the flag after it has been draped on the casket of a
fallen soldier, these are all privileges of those who serve.”
Deployed troops share the same spiritual needs as those at home, but
the unique characteristics of life in a combat zone add other stresses.
“Soldiers are faced with their own mortality each day,” he commented.
Even though many are not in imminent danger, bases still receive
indirect fire in rocket attacks and convoys are attacked with IEDs.
Circumstances often force soldiers to consider “where they stand in
their faith and what their relationship with God looks like,” Fr. Kane
said.
At the same time, they are away from spouses and other family
members who encourage them in religious practice. Both a shortage of
priests and busy work schedules keep Catholic soldiers from Mass.
The chaplain recalled his first deployment in Iraq during the U.S.
offensive, when it was “very difficult” for him to minister to service
members who were wounded or killed.
“To be able to stand at the bedside of a young man who is close to
his last breath and console him with the sacrament of the sick, or to
lean over and hear the confession of a soldier who has lost an arm or
leg is a pertinent reminder to me of why we have priests deployed in a
combat zone.”
Fr. Kane also recounted his helicopter landing at a small base one
Christmas Eve. He was met by two young Marines who wanted to go to
Confession before Christmas Mass, but were afraid the long line already
formed at the chapel would prevent them.
“I was able to hear their confessions as we walked to the chapel,” he
reported, adding that he also heard all the confessions of those
standing in line.
In addition to Catholic Bible studies and RCIA classes, Catholic
chaplains try to help soldiers grow in their faith throughout their
deployment by providing Mass and Confession when a priest is available.
Asked how those at home can support deployed service members, Fr. Kane replied:
“Our greatest help comes from the prayers of everyone at home.
Knowing we are surrounded by a mantle of prayer encourages us to keep
going in the face of difficulty. Prayer is very powerful.
“I have seen firsthand how a soldier's prayers as well as the prayers
of others have saved them from injury or even death. When we hear from
home that prayers are being offered for us it is a comfort and strength.
“Each person here knows that today could be their last,” the chaplain
continued. “They know they did not have to volunteer to serve, yet they
do. Our country should be proud of the men and women who make up the
armed forces.”
He noted that the military is a 100 percent volunteer organization
and many soldiers have deployed, despite being able to retire after 20
years of service.
“Instead they choose to go into harm’s way to serve the country they love, many deploying two and three times.”
Prayer, care packages and letters from groups at home, and e-mail and
phone calls from families “remind us that we have not been forgotten,”
he continued. This support “helps make each day here more worthwhile.”
Fr. Kane said his return from his first deployment was also memorable
because of the support civilians showed for returning military.
“I don't think there was a dry eye on my bus when we watched people
line the streets, wave flags and greet us as we got off the bus. Police
cars, fire trucks and motorcycles escorted us to the place where all our
families were waiting for us.
“I am stopped all the time when wearing my uniform in public by
people who want to shake my hand or stop to say ‘thank you for your
service’,” the priest said.
“Soldiers may not know what else to say
other than thanks, but those encounters are memorable and mean a lot.”
SIC: CNA/INT'L