Commissioned to Serve
03 December 2008
Monsignor Canon Robert Corrigan was commissioned as a Chaplain in the Royal Army Chaplains Department during a service held in the Chapel of the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at Amport House in Hampshire.
Along with Monsignor Robert, the former Dean of Clifton Cathedral, two other Catholic priests were commissioned. Father Stephen Sharkey of the Diocese of Galloway in Scotland and Father Charles Gosnell of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
In total eight new Chaplains, from five different denominations were commissioned to serve in the Chaplains Department. During his homily the Deputy Chaplain General, Padre Jonathan Woodhouse, spoke with great understanding both of the challenges and opportunities which would face the new Chaplains in their ministry.
During the service the three Catholic Chaplains received their faculties for Ministry in the Department. Signed by Bishop Tom Burns, they were presented by the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Army Monsignor Stephen Alker MBE QHC KHS. Finally all the new Chaplains were welcomed into the Department by the Chaplain General, the Venerable Stephen Robbins.
Monsignor Robert said, “After almost three months of, sometimes, very intense training, the Commissioning Service was a real reminder that as Chaplains we are called to proclaim the Gospel and serve all members of the Army regardless of their belief in what are sometimes very difficult and challenging circumstances.
“The saying that ‘there are no atheists in a foxhole’ is sometimes bandied about too glibly. The reality is that, with the cycle of deployment, all serving men and women are faced with the reality of life and death in a very powerful way, as are their families and friends who wait at home for their safe return. As Chaplains we all pray that our presence and ministry will be a real support and witness for them.”
Monsignor Canon Robert Corrigan was commissioned as a Chaplain in the Royal Army Chaplains Department during a service held in the Chapel of the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at Amport House in Hampshire.
Along with Monsignor Robert, the former Dean of Clifton Cathedral, two other Catholic priests were commissioned. Father Stephen Sharkey of the Diocese of Galloway in Scotland and Father Charles Gosnell of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
In total eight new Chaplains, from five different denominations were commissioned to serve in the Chaplains Department. During his homily the Deputy Chaplain General, Padre Jonathan Woodhouse, spoke with great understanding both of the challenges and opportunities which would face the new Chaplains in their ministry.
During the service the three Catholic Chaplains received their faculties for Ministry in the Department. Signed by Bishop Tom Burns, they were presented by the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Army Monsignor Stephen Alker MBE QHC KHS. Finally all the new Chaplains were welcomed into the Department by the Chaplain General, the Venerable Stephen Robbins.
Monsignor Robert said, “After almost three months of, sometimes, very intense training, the Commissioning Service was a real reminder that as Chaplains we are called to proclaim the Gospel and serve all members of the Army regardless of their belief in what are sometimes very difficult and challenging circumstances.
“The saying that ‘there are no atheists in a foxhole’ is sometimes bandied about too glibly. The reality is that, with the cycle of deployment, all serving men and women are faced with the reality of life and death in a very powerful way, as are their families and friends who wait at home for their safe return. As Chaplains we all pray that our presence and ministry will be a real support and witness for them.”
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