Archbishop Timothy Broglio, a Cleveland native, shared information and insights on his dual role as archbishop for the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops during the July 6 First Friday Club of Cleveland lunch program.
The archbishop, who is based in Washington, D.C., traveled back to his hometown and spoke to a full house.
He was introduced by Father Joseph Brankatelli, a former Army chaplain who is back in the diocese serving in parish ministry once again. Father Brankatelli is parochial vicar at St. Clare Parish in Lyndhurst.
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Archbishop Broglio told the group the first thing George Washington asked for was military chaplains. However, because of the makeup of the country in the late 1700s, there were no Catholic chaplains. The first time Catholic priests were deployed as chaplains was during the Mexican-American War in 1846. During the Civil War, chaplains served with the various state troops which posed some problems because they needed faculties (privileges) from each diocese they were in.
The archdiocese – also known as AMS -- was established in 1985. “I am the fourth archbishop and the first who did not wear a uniform,” he said.
AMS provides services to Catholics in the armed forces at more than 220 installations in 29 countries, patients in 153 V.A. Medical Centers and federal employes serving outside the U.S. boundaries in more than 100 countries. Assisting the archbishop are four auxiliaries who are assigned to various quadrants of the country and the world. They also provide pastoral care for the military academies.
“I spend about 200 days on the road,” the archbishop said, noting the auxiliaries do the same. “We try to visit each military installation during the year,” he added.
When asked his favorite thing about the position, he replied in one word: “The people.”
The archbishop also noted proudly that the military is one of the greatest sources of ordination vocations. Most newly ordained priests are either veterans or they came from a military family. AMS has a co-sponsored seminarian program.
Pivoting to the USCCB, Archbishop Broglio provided an overview of the organization and its history. He said bishops’ conferences can trace their roots to meetings of the apostles to decide important issues in the early Church. One such issue was whether or not a person had to be Jewish before they could become a Christian (Catholic). They discussed it, prayed about it and decided no, it wasn’t necessary to be Jewish in order to become Christian.
He outlined the various functions and how the USCCB evolved over the years. “There was a long history of bishops meeting to discuss things,” he said.
The archbishop explained that the USCCB is not a parliament-type organization that enters into the lives of the faithful. Instead, it oversees major issues of magisterium or religious doctrine.
The president, who is elected for a three-year term, must be an active diocesan bishop. The organization also oversees Catholic Relief Services.
Most USCCB work is done in committee, Archbishop Broglio said, noting there are 19 committees and 16 subcommittees.
Ohio has several bishops with ties to the USCCB, including four from Cleveland who have had major roles with the organization. “You’ve done your part,” he said.
The U.S., Canadian and South American bishops also meet every few years to discuss issues involving their faithful.
Patrick McCarthy, First Friday Club president, presented the archbishop with a reminder of home – a Cleveland Guardians baseball cap and a water bottle donated by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland.