While playing for a baseball league in Vineland, Sam Pace recalls seeing a team called the Jewish War Veterans.
“Being a practicing Catholic as a 16-year-old, I wondered if there was an organization called the Catholic War Veterans,” he said. “Fast-forward 42 years, and I finally found out.”
Pace discovered Immaculate Conception Memorial Post 1578 of the Catholic War Veterans – the only post of the national organization in the Diocese of Camden – in 2012, and later joined. Today, he serves as the post’s commander.
The Bridgeton post has a number of WWII veterans and has grown in size in recent years, including five members in their 20s, and the post’s first female member. “We are a diverse group of veterans – with all branches of the military and all ranks,” Pace said.
This year, the Bridgeton-based post will mark its diamond jubilee, and members will celebrate 75 years of service to Catholic veterans with a Mass and reception at 11 a.m. May 17 in Immaculate Conception Church, Holy Cross Parish, 312 N. Pearl St. It will be followed by a reception and light luncheon.
Father Matthew Weber, pastor of Holy Cross Parish and chaplain for Post 1578, said that post members are proud to celebrate this diamond jubilee “since it unites service members and veterans from the 1940s and each subsequent decade until the 2020s. Our organization brings together men and women who share a common service and faith tradition, but might not have come together because of age differences.”
The jubilee Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Joseph L. Coffey of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
“As the vicar for Veterans Affairs for the Military Archdiocese, I also serve as the Bishop Protector for the Catholic War Veterans. It is a duty that I take very seriously, and I am extremely proud to serve all of our veterans and their families,” said Bishop Coffey, who served for 28 years in the United States Navy in the Chaplain Corps.
“It is extremely important that Catholic War Veterans posts like the one we have in the Diocese of Camden … continue to serve – no longer in uniform, but side by side – with other veterans for veterans in the communities where they live,” he said.
Bishop Coffey shared his experiences as a Navy chaplain, and about the role that chaplains have played in the Armed Forces.
“I have met many veterans from the earliest days in their boot camp experience, to serving onboard aircraft carriers, to the battlefields of Helmand Province in Afghanistan. I have prayed with many veterans, men and women,” he said. “In the earliest days of our nation, chaplains have served in the military to lead worship services, and ensure that the religious preferences of the service members would be protected.”
Father Weber said he is proud to be involved with the Bridgeton post and efforts to support Catholic veterans in South Jersey. “We want to honor our brothers and sisters who are veterans,” he said. “We also want to remember those who have passed on, especially those who have paid the supreme sacrifice during war and conflict.”
He said members are working to continue to reach more veterans – especially those who served in the past two decades.
“We hope that the aspect of the Catholic faith will give them strength and meaning today,” he said. “We know that many younger people have fallen away from organized religion and have lost faith. We hope that our organization can connect with younger people who are serving in the Armed Forces or who are veterans.”
He emphasized that the organization is open to anyone currently serving in the Armed Forces, U.S. Reserves or National Guard, as well as veterans, whether they have served in conflict or during peace time.
“The organization wishes to build bonds through military service and our Catholic faith,” he said. “The CWVs is also a charitable organization that focuses upon supporting veteran causes and organizations or collaborating with other veteran organizations.”
Faithful who have not served in the military can also spread the word about the post to those who have, and can support various fundraisers and initiatives, he said.
Those interested in attending the May 17 Mass and reception should RSVP to Sam Pace at 609-364-4610 or pace.cs@comcast.net, or Steve Martin at 856-889-4592 or sjm_13@comcast.net.
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