Father Mike Dalton, World War II Chaplain Remembered

WWII Army Chaplain


From The Windsor Star


He was a soldier to the end. His threadbare army tunic hung on the wall, and his room was filled with religious icons, rosaries and holy pictures. And when you spoke to him, his words were about the men he knew on the battlefields of France when he rigged up a makeshift altar on the hood of his jeep and said mass for them.

The photos from the Second World War show these anxious men kneeling, their heads bowed, silent in the muddy fields just hours before they were sent into battle. And when age finally wore him down -- long after the war and years of serving parishes all over the London diocese including Windsor, Woodslee and Kingsville -- this old priest told me it wouldn't stop him from saying mass in his bed at the nursing home. It would never stop him from being a priest. And there was no way he would ever lose his faith in his religion or people. I'm speaking about an old friend, Rev. Mike Dalton, who passed away Monday afternoon at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in Courtland, Ont. He was 106, a month shy of his 107th birthday.

This son of a Goderich farmer is the most decorated padre who ever served in the Canadian Army. He marched at the front lines with his fellow soldiers, often carrying their weapons when they tired of battle. Besides the Military Cross for bravery, Father Dalton was the first Catholic priest to receive the Member of the British Empire. The day King George VI pinned the decoration on his tunic at Buckingham Palace, he dug deep into his pockets and handed the monarch a Catholic religious medal.

When I met Father Dalton in the mid-1990s, this legendary padre with the Essex Scottish, who landed at Normandy in 1944, complained of sitting in a wheelchair. His legs had given out on him. He prayed for God to give him back his strength, so he could stand up again and say mass. TWINKLE IN HIS EYES. Deep down, he knew better. He told me so.

The day I met him, Father Dalton wore the Roman collar, and had a twinkle in those slate-grey eyes and a wit and a humour that bubbled out in the stories he spun for me. He loved to talk. He loved people. He loved life. He loved God. He loved being a soldier. He loved being a priest. If there was anything he didn't like, it was losing those fathers and sons to war. He had sensed their inner fears. It didn't matter if the orders were to stay clear of the front lines -- he listened instead to his own heart, and drove his jeep to the brink of battle. And he would sit there in the open jeep -- its windshield festooned with flowers -- and hear the laboured, disturbed confessions of terrified soldiers. Or sometimes he would join a soldier on a road to a battle and try to ease their woes and lift their spirits.

Somehow Father Dalton believed he was invincible. He said he feared nothing. He figured he had a purpose, a reason to be. He felt lucky. He felt destined and blessed for some higher purpose. How else, he asked, do you explain how twice his truck was hit with shrapnel, and men died all around him? "I didn't have a scratch. I couldn't even get a cold," he said.

And sometimes he was so lost in the reverie of saying mass on the hood of his jeep that he would suddenly turn to give a blessing, "and there was no one there ... I was all alone. The soldiers had jumped for cover, and shrapnel was flying everywhere. I hadn't heard a thing."
Rev. Matthew George, a longtime friend of Father Dalton, in hearing of his death, said the biggest regret of this priest's life was discovering too late the botched Dieppe invasion. "He had been at a chaplain's meeting and when he found out, he wanted to be put ashore, but they wouldn't let him. "He cared about those men -- and never forgot them," said George.
It reminded me of what Dalton told me years ago when I asked why he joined the army. He said that when he served at St. Alphonsus in downtown Windsor, he realized those same kids who had made their First Communion in that church were now running off to war.
"I had to go with them," he said.

Now with his passing, I'm speculating the old padre is catching up to them, once again.

Prayer for Peace in Syria

God of Compassion,
Hear the cries of the people of Syria,
Bring healing to those suffering from the violence,
Bring comfort to those mourning the dead,
Strengthen Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees,
Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms,
And protect those committed to peace.

God of Hope,
Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies,
Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria,
And give us hope for a future of peace built on justice for all.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace and Light of the World,
Amen.

Petition: For the people of Syria, that God may strengthen the resolve of leaders to end the fighting and choose a future of peace.
We pray to the Lord…

Source: USCCB

"The Days of the Giants" by Father Dave Wells

One of the things I most look forward to in my ministry as a priest is bringing Communion to the homebound. As part of the routine, I’ll usually engage people in conversation as part of the visit. I like to hear their stories from the past, especially regarding their growing up in the faith. I am often awestruck by their devotion to the Lord, and the reverence for Christ and his Church that used to prevail in Catholic culture. I was struck a couple times this week by people who gave me great examples of devotion to the Mass.

One homebound woman described how in her childhood they would have to walk three miles to church every Sunday. They were very poor, so each child had only one pair of shoes. Every Sunday they would wake up, put on their Sunday best and head off to church. For the first two miles they would walk barefoot so as not to dirty their shoes. As they approached the church, they would put their shoes on, and they looked as clean and presentable as anyone else in the congregation. After hearing a story like that, I’m honored to be able to drive to her house and give her Holy Communion.

This week I visited another elderly gentleman who can barely move, even though he has use of a wheelchair. He’s actively dying of cancer, and his body is starting to break down. When I went to visit him, he was apologetic that he hadn’t been making it to Mass. I reassured him that in no way, shape or form was he required to be at Mass on Sunday. Rather, we should be required to bring him Communion as often as he desires.

These two examples of people so dedicated to the Mass and so well instructed in the Sunday obligation remind me of a phrase that an elderly priest often used with me. When I would describe to the priest how much freedom we had in the seminary and how much time we had off for breaks, he would look at me with a wry smile and say, “It ain’t like the days of the giants.” What he meant was that we have it easier nowadays, and that we’re a little bit softer; although he would say this jokingly, I can see so often, especially when I’m doing these Communion calls, that there is a lot of truth to that.

Hopefully, we’re raising up a new generation of boys and girls who will have as much love and devotion for Christ, the Church and the sacraments as those spiritual giants to whom I’m able to bring Communion. ⸠

Sole Sunday Extraordinary Form Mass in southern Maryland offered in Charles County town of Benedict

As of July this year Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Benedict is the sole location in southern Maryland that offers the extraordinary form liturgy, or traditional Latin Mass, every week on Sundays.  A low Mass is offered at 11 am every Sunday at the church located at 7185 Benedict Avenue, Benedict, Maryland 20612.

The extraordinary form liturgy is offered on holy days of obligation at 8 pm.  On the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, on August 15th, a Missa Cantata will be celebrated at 8 pm.

Follow the parish on Facebook at Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church. The parish website for Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church is available at this link for more information.

Archbishop Broglio Discusses Challenges for Catholics in the Armed Forces

The head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services reiterates his concern for greater conscience protection.

by JOAN FRAWLEY DESMOND 07/26/2013 Comments (1)

Archbishop Timothy Broglio

– milarch.org

Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services is the spiritual leader of 1.8 million Catholics.
During a July 25 interview with Register senior editor Joan Frawley Desmond, he discusses emerging challenges to the religious freedom of Catholics in uniform in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman.
Archbishop Broglio notes that Catholic chaplains may not be able to hold marriage retreats in the future, and he endorsed Louisiana Rep. John Fleming’s amendment that would strengthen conscience protections for military personnel.
Amid a serious shortage of Catholic chaplains — just 250 to serve Catholics on military bases at home and abroad — he notes that some evangelical groups are drawing Catholics into their churches.

Are Catholic chaplains and service members facing challenges to the practice of their faith right now?
The challenges are twofold. One is the preservation of their own freedom of conscience, which is well guaranteed by the First Amendment. I don’t think any Catholic chaplain will be asked to do anything against his conscience. But the military has ways to deal with those they want to reprimand, and that can come through promotions and assignments.
Second, some chaplains charged with the pastoral care of Catholics in the military are asking, “Are these orders I am asked to fulfill, with regard to people in same-gendered unions, a responsibility I must meet?” That is a more difficult question, and we are still wrestling with it so we can give good guidance.

In late April and early May, several statements were issued by the Department of Defense and the Air Force on the subject of religious proselytization, and critics argued that the Pentagon was suppressing religious speech. But on May 2, DOD issued a clarifying statement, “Service members can share their faith (evangelize) but must not force unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others of any faith or no faith to one's beliefs (proselytization).” Are you satisfied with that statement?
Basically, we are dealing with a situation in which publicity was created in order to call attention to a given organization, which had requested a meeting at the Pentagon. The clarification is there for anyone who might be concerned about previous statements.

How is proselytization defined?
You are asking them if they have been saved and inviting them to your services in a demanding way. Chaplains are officers and exert a certain influence

What issues could become problematic, now that the Defense of Marriage Act has been overturned?
A Catholic chaplain will certainly not be required to witness any ceremony contrary to his religious beliefs. Even if he is called to counsel two people in this situation, he could send them to someone who might be able to help them. Obviously, that is where we begin to get into issues where there may be difficulties.
Chaplains hold marriage retreats — “Strong Bonds” retreats. Probably Catholic priests will not be able to conduct retreats if there are same-gendered unions.

Last week, Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Conference’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, told The Washington Post, “I’m worried about the silencing of various voices in order to have a generic civil religion we can all agree on.” Is that a danger?
That is a danger. We have already seen that happen with various Protestant groups. If you go to a military base, you don’t see a marquee on the chapel announcing when the Methodists or Presbyterians are meeting. You will see “Traditional Protestant” service, “Gospel” service and, perhaps, “Contemporary Protestant” service. In a certain sense, the military has already amalgamated groups into something like generic Protestants.
We wouldn’t want to see that go any farther. Any attempt to melt the Catholic Church into a generic civil religion would effectively deny the freedom of conscience the First Amendment guarantees.
This has been tried in the past — if you look at Nazi Germany and some of the conniving attempts of Stalin.
A chaplain is on a base so he can provide for religious education and formation for his people. If they can’t do that, then we shouldn’t have chaplains in the military.

What is the role of a military chaplain, and how could that role change in the future?
He has a defined religious role, according to his faith tradition.
He is also a counselor. He is the one person on the base that any member of the military or a child or spouse can talk to — and he does not have to report what they talked about. That is confidential and is well defined in the military.
As a command chaplain, he has the responsibility to advise the commander about the tenor of morale on the installation. The chaplain can also go to the commander and present situations and needs. He has access. As an officer, he has responsibility for keeping himself fit and participating in the life of the community.

You have endorsed Rep. John Fleming’s amendment to strengthen religious freedom, which was included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act. The Senate Armed Services Committee passed a similar amendment on a bipartisan vote, though President Obama has vowed to veto Fleming’s amendment.
It is certainly needed, because we have to ensure that the rights guaranteed under the Constitution are reaffirmed and expressed positively as it applied to the military. The reaction it has provoked shows that is indeed necessary.
It will reiterate and reinforce the conscience rights of all believers, especially as there are attempts to cast aspersions on those beliefs by calling them “hate speech.”
In a certain sense, those who oppose conscience protections are the same ones who want to define what a religion is and is not, and that is exactly what the Constitution does not permit.

Recently, some voices in the debate over religious freedom have argued that the threat to conscience rights comes from aggressive evangelical groups that have sought to convert Catholic service members. They have asked the Pentagon to clamp down on such efforts to proselytize. Has the Archdiocese for the Military Services received such reports, and would you describe it as a serious problem?
It is a problem. We have had evidence. I have heard of people baptized as Catholics who were then later converted to other Protestant denominations because of this presence.
I don’t want to color this as a malicious thing. They are much more numerous than we are. Catholic priests are at a premium in the military. This is a concern of the archdiocese and one reason why we have tried to strengthen our catechetical outreach and help Catholics deepen their understanding and appreciation for the faith.
If there was a clear issue of proselytization, I would bring it to the attention of the chief of chaplains.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/archbishop-broglio-discusses-challenges-for-catholics-in-the-armed-forces/#ixzz2aGuhie8M

Pope Francis on the "Culture of Encounter": the Truth who is Christ, ever to be proclaimed

Called to promote the "Culture of Encounter"

"Unfortunately, in many places, generally in this economic humanism that prevails in the world, the culture of exclusion, of rejection, is spreading. There is no place for the elderly or for the unwanted child; there is no time for that poor person on the edge of the street. At times, it seems that for some people, human relations are regulated by two modern “dogmas”: efficiency and pragmatism. Dear Bishops, priests, religious and you, seminarians who are preparing for ministry: have the courage to go against the tide. Let us not reject this gift of God which is the one family of his children. Encountering and welcoming everyone, solidarity... this is a word that in this culture is being hidden away, as if it was a swear word... solidarity and fraternity: these are what make our society truly human.

"Be servants of communion and of the culture of encounter! Permit me to say that we must be almost obsessive in this matter. We do not want to be presumptuous, imposing “our truths”. What must guide us is the humble yet joyful certainty of those who have been found, touched and transformed by the Truth who is Christ, ever to be proclaimed (cf. Lk 24:13-35)."

- Pope Francis, Message to clergy, religious and seminarians in Rio

Full text: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-to-clergy-religious-seminarians-respond-to-go

Finding God by losing your religion?

I would not be too surprised to find that the people who "lose their religion" in order to "find God" are the same ones who redefine marriage in the name of "equality".

I overheard some oil baron types talking about religion and the Catholic Fath in an Anchorage hotel lobby so I stepped up and joined them.  After finding out I am a priest one of them was quick to share about a woman he knows who is so happy that she "lost her religion and found God".  A cute slogan, that, and very effective also in intimidating someone who may be moved to disagree.

If we are talking about paganism or non-revealed religions such an approach might work very well.  I suspect though, that nearly everyone who boasts of "losing their religion" would be just as forthright in also declaring themselves Christians.  In that case, the clever-sounding catch-phrase is too cute to be true: Christianity is a revealed religion, that is, not made up by us but taught and led only by the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is very clear that He intended to found a Church, so those who absolve themselves of the task of finding out which is the true Church,among the very many ecclesial bodies which today claim that name, are copping out.

Archbishop Chaput warned recently about the danger of adopting slogans like "marriage equality" that sound compassionate but serve only to mask a lie.  His counsel is good for all of us as we dedicate ourselves to the witness of the New Evangelization.