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Holy Joe’s Cafe
Q: It’s a long way from Seattle to Baghdad, so why are there so many coffeehouses in Iraq?
A: Holy Joe!
Three years ago, a church member from the First Congregational Church in Wallingford, CT was deployed to Sather AFB. He learned that the chaplain at the base was trying to start up a coffeehouse, and asked for the church for help. A team, led by Tom Jastermsky, launched the Holy Joe’s Cafe ministry on Pentecost Sunday 2006.... Read more here
Chaplain of the Year
Military chaplains have many reasons to serve their countries, but receiving awards usually isn’t one of them.... Read more here
Chaplains Help in Many Ways
The tradition of military chaplains in the U.S. dates back to the mid-1750s when George Washington wanted a minister for his troops. Today, military chaplains combine the roles of clergy and military officer in diverse, multicultural settings around the globe, serving both God and country. Chaplains share in the difficulties and rewards of military service and life.
Recently, Army Chaplain (Maj.) William Steen was online during a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable. He explained that Active and reserve chaplains play a critical role for deployed troops. “The work, family separation and the long hours all take their toll on our troops,” said Chaplain Steen.
Steen discussed how the military is helping soldiers, sailors, Airmen and Marines cope with the physical, mental and emotional stress while deployed in Iraq. “The wear and tear on the troops manifests itself in many ways,” Steen said. “We commonly refer to those things as combat stress. In this era of persistent conflict, as we are facing an unprecedented demand upon all our volunteer force, both service members and their families, their need for support and care is greater than it has ever been.”... Read more here
Do Chaplains Die from War?
MilitaryTimes.com posted this story from The Associated Press on Sunday, 21 June 2009.
“Army chaplain dies 5 years after bomb blast
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota priest who was gravely wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq five years ago has died.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Sunday confirmed the death of the Rev. Tim Vakoc, who died at a nursing home in suburban New Hope.
The cause of death has not been released, but a note posted on his CaringBridge Web site says he died about 8 p.m. Saturday surrounded by family and friends.... Read more here
