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THANK YOU, FATHER-CHAPLAIN!!!

 

You brought the Eucharist to the battlefield to give us strength and courage

 

Prayer for Military Chaplains
Heavenly Father, bless and protect Military Chaplains and fill them
with the joy and courage of their vocation as personal ministers of
Christ in preaching your word and nourishing us with the Sacraments.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Reverend Major Joseph C. Vella, Retired, United States Air Force Chaplain Service

We wish to honor, in particular, Reverend Major Joseph C. Vella, Retired, United States Air Force Chaplain Service. Father Vella was born on May 18, 1942 at St. Mary's Parish, Zebbug Gozo, Malta. After High School, he continued his studies at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Gozo and was ordained a priest on May 11, 1968.

He began his Pastoral ministry at Queen of Angels Parish, Sunnyside, New York in September 1968. He was assigned to St. Joseph's Parish in Astoria, New York the following year, September 1, 1969, where he stayed for 10 years.

In September 1979, he went into active duty in the U.S. Air Force as Chaplain. His services in the USAF were at K.I. Sawyer AFB in North Michigan, Kevlaric Air Base in Iceland, Homestead AFB in South Florida, Ankara Turkey, Whiteman AFB in Missouri, Weisbaden AB and Ramstein AFB in Germany, Norton AFB in California, Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota, and Vance AFB in Oklahoma. He also had short training tours in Korea and Saudi Arabia. Father Vella retired from the Air Force in September 1999.

After a sabbatical for 3 months in Rome, he returned to the Diocese of Brooklyn in September, 2000. His first short assignment was in Saint Elizabeth in Ozone Park. In January 2001 he moved to Our Lady of the Cenacle in Richmond Hill. He was there until he was assigned to St. Mark Parish on July 1, 2006.

 

This page of Honor was launched to honor Military Chaplains of the Armed Forces by: Department of New York Catholic War Veterans of the USA www.nycatholicwarvets.org