Our Mission
CatholicMil.org serves those who serve, offering U.S. Armed Forces personnel spiritual truths of military life in light of the Catholic Faith. Paragraph 2310 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states

"Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honorably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace."

1. to spiritually edify military families who have an immediate member currently serving active duty;
2. to promote priestly vocations to the military chaplaincy
3. to work towards the canonization of Fr. Vincent Robert Capodanno, the heroic military chaplain who was killed in action administering Last Rites to the wounded and dying on the battlefields of Vietnam

CatholicMil magnifies the Church’s teaching that military service is “a true vocation”, “a high calling”, “a sacred duty”. Through education, we work towards the restoration of christocentric patriotism, which rests in the order of charity, as love of country- even unto death- and flows from love of God. CatholicMil has distributed over $1.5 million dollars worth of Catholic materials to chaplains and troops through the Free to Chaplains program and the Free Catholic Care Packages for individual service members. CatholicMil encourages those entering the priesthood to consider the military chaplaincy, petitions all vocations directories to include the Archdiocese for Military Services USA, directs inquiries into the chaplaincy to the Archdiocese for Military Services, and encourages those discerning the call to priesthood, in particularly within the military chaplaincy. Five years after its inception and at the invitation of Fr. Daniel Lawrence Mode, CatholicMil continues the process begun through his work and research which uncovered the heroice life and sacrifice of Navy Reserve chaplain Fr. Vincent Robert Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR; and works and prays for the day the Church officially declares “the Grunt Padre” a saint.

How We Started
Recognizing the precious few resources available to those serving in today's US military, the idea for CatholicMil.org was first conceived in 1998. A pilgrimage to the Holy Land that same year facilitated discerning and establishing an organizational entity for the spiritual edification of military personnel and by mid 1999 and into 2000 a small band of military families banded together. With Jeff Cavins' introduction of AF Reserve Chaplain Fr. John Paul Echert to CatholicMil founder Judy McCloskey, an entity slowly emerged. In 2000, then AMS Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien responded with his blessing and prayerful support of CatholicMil. With  the terrorist attack of 9-11, efforts increased to launch the initial web presence under construction. The Phase I website launched Christmas Eve 2001. Now in our ninth year as a non-profit corporation, Team CatholicMil continues to support active duty and reserve US military personnel and chaplains stationed around the world. Acknowledging "war is hell", CatholicMil likewise affirm the warriors home is Heaven. CatholicMil provides US military families spiritual edification through the teachings of the Catholic Church,specifically paragraph 2310 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the writings of Fulton J. Sheen and St. Jose Marie Escriva, the lives of saints in time of war, and the exemplary life and heroic sacrifice of Servant of God Fr. Vincent R. Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR. 

Board of Directors

MR ALAN NAPLETON: Founder and President of the Catholic Marketing Network and Basilica Press, Alan has extensive background in marketing and management. As a past partner in one of the countries largest real estate and management firms he had bottom line responsibility for a portfolio of real estate assets in excess of 100 million dollars. Since 1988 he has been involved in many activities of the Catholic Church including past President of CCC of America, a media company that produces and distributes children's animated films and a former Managing Director for N.E.A., New Evangelization of America.  

USAFR CHAPLAIN FR JOHN PAUL ECHERT: Chaplain John Paul Echert is a priest of the Archdiocese of St.Paul-Minneapolis and currently serves as Catholic chaplain for the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard. He is professor of Sacred Scripture at the Saint Paul Seminary and University of St. Thomas--both of the Twin Cities--and serves as the Scripture forum expert for EWTN. He has also served as a military chaplain for the AFRC and was prior service active duty as an electronics and communications technician in the 1970's. His total service in various Air Force capacities spans nineteen years.

MRS. JUDY L. MCCLOSKEY: The daughter of a WWII Army Timberwolf veteran who liberated the Nazi concentration camp Nordhausen, wife of a career US Navy SWO, and mother of six, Mrs. Judy L. McCloskey is the founder of CatholicMil.org. The message that military service is a high Christian calling and a true vocation (CCC 2310, 2239), "next in dignity to the priesthood" and exemplified in the life of Servant of God Fr. Vincent Robert Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR is shared with others as a means to strengthen military families and to priestly vocations to the military chaplaincy.

MR. HARRY W. CROCKER, III: He is the author of Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church, A 2,000-Year History; and Don't Tread on Me: A 400 Year History of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting. Harry Crocker also served as co-host of EWTN's "Great Moment's in Church History" with Fr. C. John McCloskey and currently works at a conservative publishing house in Washington DC.

CatholicMil's Board of Advisors is listed here.

How to Help

• Pray for this work and financially support it. Donations can be mailed to: CatholicMil.org, PO Box 1757, Front Royal, VA 22630.
• Host an event using CatholicMil materials such as In God We Trust or FrontLine Families with Captain and Mrs Guy Gruters, both aired on EWTN. Email for more information: info@CatholicMil.org
• Order Fr. Capodanno holy cards for distribution within your community.
• Invite a speaker, plan a conference
• Remember CatholicMil in your last will and testament
• Bring a CatholicMil presences to your military base, COB, FOB, installation or academy

CatholicMil.Org is a non-profit 501.c.3 corporation.