Archbishop visits Travis

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Archbishop Timothy Broglio visited Travis Feb. 1 through Monday to meet the installation leadership, Airmen and civilians and learn about the dynamic and diverse mission as well as the spiritual and wellness programs that support the Airmen.

Broglio, archbishop of the Military Services, is the head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, 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 Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services provides the Roman Catholic Church's pastoral and spiritual services to those serving in the military or other federal services overseas.

Broglio is assisted by four auxiliary bishops and together they oversee Catholic priests serving as military chaplains throughout the world.

Broglio started his visit by meeting with members of the Travis Chaplain Corps at both First Street Chapel and Twin Peaks Chapel. There, he helped with the Mass services, visited religious education classes and lead a confirmation.

"This is an opportunity for him to understand what we do and know that we are taking care of our Airmen," said Col. Robert Cannon, 60th Air Mobility Wing chaplain.

Broglio finished his visit Monday by sitting down with wing leadership for a mission brief, visited the air-traffic control tower and toured a KC-10 Extender static display before finishing with a tour of sections of David Grant USAF Medical Center and Mass at the DGMC chapel before heading to Beale Air Force Base.

During the mission brief Broglio expressed concerns for stress on Airmen and Chaplains.

"Right now, the military is asking us to do more with less," he said. "Chaplains have to balance being out in the unit but be are expected to be in the Chapel as well. It's challenging."

Cannon and Col. Kevin Connolly, 60th Medical Group commander, added how DGMC takes up a lot of chaplains' time between taking care of sick patients and the Airmen working there.

"Caregivers need care, too," Broglio said about Travis' medical Airmen.

Broglio's other concern is Airmen's religious rights.

"There's a fine line between living faith and promoting it," he said.

During the tour of base, Airmen were able to showcase Travis and brief Broglio about the mission. They covered the new runway, the wind turbines and the radar issues and how Airmen overcame it, the refueling mission and the KC-10's capabilities as well as the medical advances at DGMC.

"I'm impressed with the mission here," Broglio said. "It is much broader than I could've imagined."