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Afghanistan: Making Christ known to soldiers serving in war zone


Fr Smith leads soldiers at prayer

Fr Smith leads soldiers at prayer

Young British soldiers serving in Afghanistan are finding out more about their Catholic faith - with a little help from Aid to the Church in Need. In response to a request from British Army chaplain Father David Smith, Aid to the Church in Need provided books about the Catholic faith and prayer cards to help with the pastoral care of 400 service personnel.

Fr Smith, who serves in Helmand Province with the Second Battalion of the Mercian Regiment, described how he arrived in Afghanistan and found that many in the armed forces wanted to know more about their faith. When he contacted Aid to the Church in Need, the charity responded by sending prayer cards and copies of YouCat, the Catholic Church's new youth catechism, which the organisation helped to produce.

These resources have meant the chaplain can hold catechism classes every Friday night followed by the Rosary and Benediction.

In a message to Aid to the Church in Need, Father Smith, who is the only Catholic chaplain at Camp Bastion, the UK's main operating base in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, said: "There's a real hunger to know more about the Catholic religion."

Pointing out that most UK soldiers complete their military service and return to civilian life before the age of 25, he said: "Many of these young people have been short-changed by the Catholic education system and have left Catholic school not even knowing what the Blessed Sacrament is.

"It's no wonder so many of them lapse from the practice of their faith. So I decided to try and do something about it."

Fr Smith described how all three armed forces - Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force - have Catholic chaplains working alongside service personnel. He said: "The Sacraments are celebrated, catechesis is given and help and support is offered to our young people doing a very demanding job in the service of their country. No more so than in Afghanistan at the moment."

The chaplain celebrates Mass every day and three times on a Sunday. In addition to looking after the Catholic soldiers, Fr Smith provides pastoral care for the large number of foreign civilian contractors who are working alongside the military.

He expressed his gratitude to the charity for its help with his pastoral work, saying: "Thank you Aid to the Church in Need for your support for our young soldiers who are serving their country under such difficult circumstances."

Fr Smith also asked Aid to the Church in Need's friends and benefactors to pray for military chaplains and service personnel.

Source: ACN

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