God's Gifts: Priest ministers to men and women of armed forces

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted Oct.10, 2002

For the last 11 years a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City, Father Miles Barrett, has served the church as a Naval chaplain.

"It is a chance to serve God and the people of God where they are at," he said.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1982, he served at parishes in the diocese - Sioux City Cathedral, Spencer, Fort Dodge, Algona, Sanborn and Hartley - for about 11 years prior to becoming a full-time military chaplain. He joined the Navy in 1986 and attended Navy chaplain school in the summer of 1987. At that point, Bishop Lawrence D. Soens allowed him to become a reservist.

Father Barrett's first full-time military assignment in December of 1991 was at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii with the Marines. Navy chaplains also ministers to the Marines. This was a three-year tour.

"You get the same training as the chaplain that they get so you are not a burden to them," explained the native of Sioux City. "You have all the same gear as they have - other than a weapon." Chaplains have a religious program specialist at their side who will drive the vehicle and carry a weapon.

While the chaplains are non-combatants, they must have knowledge of the weapons so they do not get in the way and possibly endanger lives.

"You go to the field with them because that's where they are at and you live with them the way that they live," explained Father Barrett, a graduate of Heelan High School and Briar Cliff College in Sioux City. "Because you don't want to be a burden to them, a chaplain must stay physically in shape."

One of the major benefits of training with the others is that the chaplain has time to get to know them and be there when stressful situations occur. In Marine tradition, the first ones to eat are those out of boot camp so out in the field Father Barrett would serve food to see every face and make known his presence.

He used everyday situations for teaching moments. For instance, if one Marine would speak of financial problems after having his third child the priest would use that as an opportunity to talk about Natural Family Planning.

"I would do Masses everyday and on weekends would do about 12 because they are spread out. I would go to them," said Father Barrett. He pointed out that when priests are not available, lay ministers lead prayer services.

Along with leading services and providing counseling, one of the major functions of the chaplains is to deliver messages of the Red Cross. The chaplains relay good news such as their wives had a baby and the bad news like their father died of a heart attack.

During his tour in Hawaii, the battalion he served went on several training exercises to such places as Thailand and California. They would practice shooting and then pack up and move quickly, often doing this in the dark.

"They may do this all night, for as much as 36 hours. They train the way they fight and fight the way they train," he said. They lived as if they were in a combat situation.

After his tour in Hawaii, his next assignment was on an aircraft carrier - U.S.S. Kitty Hawk CV63, from 1994 to 1996. He ministered to about 5,000 on the carrier and to others ship within about an 85-mile area, traveling via helicopter to them in order to celebrate Mass on a weekly basis. Like something out of an action film, Father Barrett would sometimes have to be lowered down to the ship by a cable.

"I loved it," he said. "It's very fun."

The chaplain also was able to fly with planes that were catapulted off of the carrier and then were caught by the rubberband-like arresting gear.

Along with providing a sacramental ministry and counseling, he pointed out that every night he offered a one-minute prayer that was broadcast throughout the carrier. Father Barrett offered blessings and prayers of thanks for specific tasks that were done well in the day. This would bring recognition to people who normally wouldn't receive it.

His next tour, from 1996 to 1998, was at Okinawa, Japan. Like the tour in Hawaii, on this tour he would go on training exercises with the battalion usually for about six weeks to such places a Northern Korea and mainland Japan.

Especially in Japan, many of the Marines were involved in community service. They would visit children in schools or cleanup parts of the town.

Father Barrett brought many of his toys - musical instruments and computers - to Japan. Conversations about the faith would spring up during free music lessons or as they checked out the computers.

In 1998, the Navy sent him to study ethics. He was then appointed chairman of the NNMC Ethics Committee at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. Father Barrett trained doctors and nurses on ethics, facilitated assorted workshops/conferences on ethics while having traditional hospital chaplain duties including grief counseling.

He recently passed through Iowa to visit family on his way to the next assignment on the West Coast. Father Barrett will serve on the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard LHD that is home ported in San Diego.

While Catholics making up about 34 percent of the Navy and Marines, less than 20 percent of the chaplains are priests. Of the 900 chaplains, only about 160 are priests. The military is hurting for priest chaplains. He encourages prayers for vocations.

"The Marines really do want the spiritual component nourished," said Father Barrett. "They realize the power of holistic spirituality as a mission multiplier. It expands their capability and they will be much more focused on what they are doing."

Along with ministering to their needs while they are in the armed forces, he pointed out that thousands leave the military every year. If their faith is properly nourished while in the service, they have better chance of continuing to practice the faith when they leave. Through the years a few men have left military life to pursue a priestly vocation.

Because the men and women of the armed forces are quite aware of their own awesome power, he pointed out that they are usually the last ones who want to go to war. But should it happen, they are trained and ready.

If he stays healthy and the bishop approves, he would like to stay in the Navy for another 10 years. After that, he will be to serve as Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo deems best.