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Archbishop hosts confirmation at Warren

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brandon Valle
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Archbishop Timothy Broglio visited the 90th Missile Wing Feb. 19 - 20 for a pastoral visit and confirmation Mass.

"I'm here to see how the Catholic community is doing [at F.E. Warren], celebrate the sacrament of confirmation with Airmen from the community, and meet with the wing leadership to see if the Archdiocese [of the Military Services] can serve them better," Broglio said.

Broglio is the archbishop of the Military Services and the head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, which was created by Pope John Paul II to provide the Catholic Church's full range of pastoral ministries and spiritual services to those in the United States Armed Forces.

The visit to Warren has been an extension of Broglio's visits to the military academies of each branch. Broglio visits a handful of bases that are in close proximity to the academies.

"I felt that it made no sense to send out someone else when I could personally visit the bases that are close to the academies and I can see for myself how they are doing," Broglio said. "I have been visiting Warren since 2009."

The main purpose of the visit is a confirmation Mass.

"The high point of my trip is the confirmation," Broglio said. "It is always a privilege to meet the young people going through the confirmation."

Confirmation is considered one of the seven sacraments and signifies the initiation into adulthood, he said.

Of the seven sacraments, the most common are baptism, communion, confirmation and marriage.

Broglio held a confirmation ceremony Feb. 19 for three individuals: Olivia Cantu, Jacob Calderon and Garret Kelley.

Broglio followed up the next day with office calls to Col. Tracey Hayes, 90th MW commander, and Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein, 20th Air Force commander, to better understand the concerns the wing faces.