WASHINGTON, DC – The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), set new records Saturday evening for both attendance and giving at its 16th Annual Benefit. His Excellency, the Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, hosted a record 383 guests at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Northeast Washington. The guests, including active-duty and retired senior U.S. Military officers and their spouses, raised $513,000 for the Archdiocese, the largest amount ever collected in the history of the Annual Benefit. The funds will support the AMS ministry, Serving Those Who Serve.
The event opened with a 5:00 p.m. anticipated Sunday Mass in the Redemptor Hominis (Redeemer of Man) Church and concluded with a sit-down dinner in the atrium of the Shrine. At Mass, Archbishop Broglio recognized three members of the AMS family for distinguished service. He announced that the Holy See granted to AMS Chief Financial Officer William Biggs and retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and AMS supporter Susan L. Malone the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, and he recognized that Pope Francis numbered the Reverend Monsignor Robert R. Cannon, J.C.D. (cand.), former AMS Chancellor, a “Chaplain of His Holiness”.
Among the many supporters present were the Board and several Patrons of the Saint John XXIII Foundation, established to support and perpetuate the ministry of the AMS.
In his homily, Archbishop Broglio reflected on the duty of Catholics to “proclaim the Gospel”:
“We are charged to share what we have received. In fact, that is why we gather, because we believe that what we have learned is vital for all. Our faith is about heaven or hell. Consequently, we want to share the message of salvation so as to open ourselves to the gifts offered and in love to make sure that others also have the opportunity to say ‘yes’ to the invitation….
“…. We preach this message of salvation because we want to share the gift. That’s why we have Team Saint Paul, the Vocations Program, the Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW), and catechetical initiatives. All serve to make it possible for those served by this Archdiocese to participate in the life of the Church. I am so grateful to all of you who contribute to the realization of this mission. We know that Christ is OUR light, and He will return to give us the fullness of life. The conclusion will always be meeting the Lord who loves us and cares for us….
“…. We gather to encourage one another on the path to the fullness of life and to pray for each other. Those are acts of authentic charity which spur our preparation and increase our zeal to evangelize.”
Watch video of Archbishop Broglio’s homily.
Concelebrating the Mass with Archbishop Broglio were senior AMS clergy, including Auxiliary Bishops Neal J. Buckon, William (Bill) Muhm, Joseph L. Coffey, and Richard B. Higgins (Ret.). Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spencer could not participate this year because he was in Elizabeth, NJ, to concelebrate a funeral Mass for U.S. Army Chaplain Father James B. Collins III (1965-2024), who died on Nov. 5.
Also concelebrating the Annual Benefit Mass were the Rev. Msgr. Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia; Judicial Vicar, the Very Reverend Mark Rutherford, J.C.L., J.C.D. (cand.); Vocations Director Father Marcel Taillon, and retired and active-duty military chaplains. The Rev. Mr. Raymond Goins and the Rev. Mr. Michael Sampson served as Deacons of the Mass, and group of co-sponsored seminarians participated as ministers of the altar.
Col. Anthony Lieto, USA, and Midshipman Alejandro Lozano, USN, served as lectors. Lieutenant Commander and Mrs. Craig Mauss, USN, bore gifts to the altar.
It’s not too late to make a gift to the 16th Annual Benefit for the AMS. Donations continue to be gratefully accepted at milarch.org/annual-benefit.
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