Participating in Church at USAFA

AFA2020

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I was curious if any of your children, friends, or current cadets on this forum participate in attending church weekly. If so, what do you enjoy most about it? Is it something you're able to do every Sunday? Also, is there organizations for your specific faith at USAFA? I'm a Catholic and I love practicing my faith. If I receive an appointment, attending Mass would be something I'd like to continue doing. I did see at the Cadet Chapel that Catholic Mass is at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
 
Our son attended Mass at the chapel. There are also many Catholic groups that you can be a part of on campus. Some cadets choose a church off campus and they are allowed to attend Mass at those churches. Usually church members of the off-campus parishes will come to USAFA to pick up cadets who wish to attend. You'll get information about how to arrange all of this once you get there.

Stealth_81
 
Speaking only to USNA, we have had several of our sponsor family participate in the Catholic Midshipmen Club, an extra-curricular activity. They took a great trip to Rome for 2015 spring break. Mids who want to attend services and practice their faiths have ample opportunity to do so. I am sure it is the same at USAFA. Military chaplains tend to the spiritual needs of mids, cadets, staff, faculty, family, regardless of faith group, offering services, activities and counseling.
 
Military chaplains tend to the spiritual needs of mids, cadets, staff, faculty, family, regardless of faith group, offering services, activities and counseling.

In my experience, Military Chaplains are fantastic.

I can't speak to the USAFA or any other SA but I confident the responses you get will be just like the first two offered. But over my active duty USMC time, I attended Mass onboard ships, on-base, in the field and even one incredible Palm Sunday service in the desert. The availability of religious services while on active duty is dependent upon the situation, mission, location, etc but the Chaplains go out of their way to tend to the spiritual needs of their flock.
 
In true inter-faith spirit, if a Muslim chaplain is unavailable, the Jewish chaplains at USNA tend to the dietary needs and concerns of Muslim midshipmen during major holidays and fasts, ensuring leadership, food services staff and others are educated. Ditto military chaplains are special people, no matter their faith group.

I think OP has been well-answered, but it's hard to resist singing the praises of military chaplains. They always have the best jokes too.
 
I am and always have been a non-theistic humanist. When I was a plebe, the Catholic chaplain I talked to about separating and about...well, life...was one of the most humble, compassionate, helpful, funny, easygoing, thoughtful padres I ever talked to (even growing up as a secular Catholic!). Even at that time, late 80s/early 90s, I distinctly remember the Jewish chaplain helping a Muslim company-mate find halal meats and places to pray on Fridays. Truly great people.
 
Very happy to hear all the thumbs up about the chaplains and the faith community at USAFA! Fencersmother, that is so sweet and awsome!
 
Yes, she is a great lady and they expect their first child this spring! (Let me tell you about my grandchildren... I'll start a new thread!)

I should not have said "current" wife, as if there is another waiting in the wings. ;^)
 
Yes, she is a great lady and they expect their first child this spring! (Let me tell you about my grandchildren... I'll start a new thread!)

I should not have said "current" wife, as if there is another waiting in the wings. ;^)

No worries! I totally understood it as the way you intended! :)

Congrats on their baby! So exciting!!!!
 
My DD attends Mass and also goes on the occasional retreat -- highly recommended, especially during the doolie year. My DD said it helped her a lot.


Wow, that really gives me something to look forward to! Are these retreats the usual 3-day, or slightly different? If your DD went during the school year, was it something that her professors and squadron leader were understanding about?
 
Wow, that really gives me something to look forward to! Are these retreats the usual 3-day, or slightly different? If your DD went during the school year, was it something that her professors and squadron leader were understanding about?

The retreats are over a weekend and, if I remember correctly, before finals. They are sanctioned, so there's no problem with attending. Its really up to the cadet to manage their time and homework. My DD would get as much homework/studying done as she could. She may have brought some to do on the bus ride into the mountains to the retreat.

Learning how to manage your time will be the biggest factor of your success. If you prioritize properly and get your work done in a timely manner, you'll do just fine.
 
Said it 1000 times here: time management (and the ability to touch-type) is the best skill you can learn. (Besides the daily Rosary; but again, that's another thread) :)
 
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