Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 25: Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA


Something I have learned through this year's Lentorama is that the military in a number of countries have their own military diocese or archdiocese. The American one dates back to 1917, when an ordinate (an organization whose members fall into a specific category, such as those serving in the military) was formed. For most of its existence it was a position held by the Archbishop of New York, but was cleaved off into its own archdiocese in 1986.

In addition to the military, the archdiocese also covers all Americans in government service abroad and all the employees and patients of the Veterans Health Administration. Interestingly, the priests of the archdiocese are not formally attached to it, but are still considered part of the diocese or order they were in at the time they started service with the military/government.

One question their website doesn't appear to answer - are there camouflage vestments? Googling the phrase "camouflage vestment" did turn up Catholic priests wearing camo garb (not full vestments but things like a camo stole). From what I can tell as long as the camo color matches whatever the appropriate color is for the mass the pattern doesn't matter.