Catholics, Iraq

Catholic Faith on the Frontlines in Iraq

BAQUBAH, Iraq (April 14, 2006) — Soldiers are good at getting by with what they have, especially in a combat zone. When resources are scarce, they have the ability to adapt and overcome hardship. This also holds true for some soldiers of the Catholic faith.

When Catholic chaplains are stretched thin across the theater of operations, and they aren't there to hold regularly scheduled services, Sgt. 1^st Class Brian Wojciechowski and Chief Warrant Officer William Christman of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4^th Infantry Division, hold Catholic services at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, about 30 miles northeast of Baghdad.

Wojciechowski and Christman are both Eucharistic Ministers. Although they are not ordained priests, they still hold services here so soldiers of the Catholic faith can worship.

"Because there are not enough priests joining the military, the Army has had an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist program for seven or eight years now," said Wojciechowski, who hails from Milwaukee. "It is nice to be able to help out and fulfill somebody's needs."

Not everyone is comfortable with speaking in front of a large crowd, but these Eucharistic Ministers overcome their "butterflies."

"It makes me a bit nervous, but it is both rewarding and overcoming to be able to do this for the troops," said Christman, native of Pompeii, Fla. "I am not a priest trained in any way, so I hope to inspire people who are at the same level as me."

In a modest chapel, surrounded by 12-foot-tall cement blast barriers that are painted with stained glass murals, 15 soldiers of the Catholic faith sat together on a Sunday afternoon and fellowshipped together.

During the service, many were reminded they were in a combat environment when a Blackhawk helicopter darted over the chapel. A few moments later, the sound of a track vehicle lumbering past the chapel could be heard.

The mass concluded with the hymn "We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe," and the soldiers returned to their duties in the combat zone on this 5^th Sunday of Lent.

"It really does bring me a lot of joy to be able to do this for the soldiers," said Wojciechowski.