Military chaplains bless parishes and are blessed by them

The Anglican Church of Canada has a long history of supporting members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families sending priests to serve in the military as chaplains. None of Canada’s military engagements, from the 18th century to current operations around the world, have been without Anglican clergy in uniform supporting military members. Military chaplaincy is a vital and vibrant ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Diocese of Ottawa, in particular, has a close connection to Anglican military chaplains. Christ Church Cathedral serves not only as the cathedral for our diocese, but it also serves as the cathedral for the Anglican Military Ordinariate. Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa is very much the spiritual home of Anglican military chaplains, so that no matter where Anglican chaplains are posted across Canada, or wherever they may be deployed around the globe, they know that they are part of a community that prays for them and those whom they serve.

National Defence Headquarters, centred in the National Capital Region (NCR), is home to much of the administrative infrastructure of the Canadian Armed Forces, and with such a large footprint of military members, there is a need to have a commensurate number of military chaplains posted here to support their work. Chaplains posted to the NCR serve in a variety of roles, whether as unit chaplains, in staff positions, or in senior leadership roles. Many Anglican chaplains seek out opportunities to assist in local parishes in the Diocese of Ottawa. While only a small number of us are canonically resident in the diocese of Ottawa, Anglican chaplains posted to Ottawa seek permission of Bishop Shane Parker to function within the diocese. We see this not only as an opportunity to be of service to a Diocese which supports us in our ministry within the Canadian Armed Forces, but also as a way of being connected in a meaningful way to Anglican liturgy and parish life.

As Anglican chaplains we serve in a multi-faith pluralistic environment, but we need to be rooted in our own tradition in order to serve authentically, and it is through the exercise of this Anglican ministry that we are fed spiritually in order to care for others. Having the opportunity to assist in parishes within the Diocese of Ottawa provides an invaluable gift to us, and we are enormously grateful to both the Bishop and to our clergy colleagues within the diocese who invite us to celebrate, preach, and engage in the full spectrum of ministry within parish life.

My own personal experience of assisting in local parishes is enormously rewarding. For several years I have assisted at Christ Church Bells Corners thanks to the generosity of both the bishop and the incumbents of the parish.

I have been able to celebrate, preach, lead in study, offer pastoral care, and support the wider ministry of this wonderful parish. This has given me a parish home and at the same time it has provided additional clergy support to a busy suburban parish. I have also had opportunities to take services in other parishes when clergy have been on holiday, unexpectedly called away, or have wanted to have a guest preacher on Remembrance Sunday, or another occasion. My ministry within the Canadian Armed Forces is enriched by being close to what is going on in a local parish, and by extension the Diocese and wider Anglican Church. I believe that I am also able to reflect the reality of military service and life for military families to the parish and Diocese.

Anglican chaplains who serve in local parishes are able to enhance the ministry of that parish and serve also as a bridge for current serving Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families who seek out a parish home here in the diocese.

Related reading:

Military chaplains keep Cathedral connected to the Military Ordinariate

Chaplains strengthen ties between Parish of the Valley and Garrison Petawawa