Washington DC – May 2003. At the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., the knights and the dames of the American Delegation of the Constantinian Order participated in the celebration of the annual Mass for Memorial Day which was celebrated by His Excellency Archbishop Edwin O’Brien, Military Ordinary for the United States of America.
On this occasion the Constantinian Order and the United States Military Chaplaincy announced a joint project which aims to help address the spiritual demands and problems within the United States Armed Forces. The initative, organised by Constantinian knight, Jeffrey Ludwig, includes a programme to attract priests into the military service and to care for veterans.
10,000 posters have been printed and distributed by the Order with the motto” Father We Need You” addressed to those priests who might be considering serving as an army chaplain. About 100,000 informational brochures explaining the spiritual needs of the US Armed Forces have been printed and distributed. A 30-minute documentary has been produced and distributed to all American military bases, entitled “Fight of Faith, the Trainee”.
The documentary describes a typical day in the life of a military chaplain, illustrating the need for spiritual assistance among young Catholics who undertake military service.