About Our Community
Building a welcoming place that seeks to encounter Christ
Our Mission
The St Michael the Archangel Military Catholic Community seeks to share Jesus’ love with all whom we encounter, especially the poor, the marginalized, the divorced, the down-and-out, those who hurt others because of their own past hurts, and all in need of spiritual healing, to build the kingdom of God through true Christian discipleship.
Who we serve…
Our primary mission is the pastoral care of active duty service members and their families.
Our Catholic community is part of the Religious Support program of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Religious Support Office. We are under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Our primary mission is the pastoral care of active duty Catholics serving in the Armed Forces and their families, through liturgical celebrations, religious education, and auxiliary programs across the JBLM chapels.
We value military retirees and DoD civilians who are often integral to sustaining community life. While all are welcome to attend services and community activities. Retireees and DoD civilians are not properly speaking subjects of the AMS and thus access to some services may be limited, particularly those involving sacraments of initiation or marriage.
More on Canonical Jurisdiction
As a military Catholic community we operate under the Canonical jurisdiction of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. In accordance with the rules of the AMS and the Code of Canon Law only active duty service members and their dependents are considered ‘canonical subjects’ proper. Retired military persons and their dependents are not included under our jurisdiction of the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, and hence are not our subjects. Military retirees and their family members belong to the proper civilian territorial parish and diocese in which they actually reside or hold domicile. While we welcome the participation of retired service members and their families, it must be understood such participation comes with canonical jurisdictional limitations. For this reason military Retirees, their dependents , or DoD or Govt civilians or those otherwise having domicile in the territorial diocese attending “on post” cannot assert a “canonical” right to sacramental, educational or pastoral programs as they are rightfully subjects of the local territorial diocese. Those desiring to participate in sacramental preparation programs or receive sacraments need to seek permission of the pastor of the local diocese in which they reside.
Our Mission, Vision & Strategy
Mission
Love God. Love Others. Make Disciples. To spread the Gospel with joy, create opportunities for people to encounter the Love of God in Jesus, and help them grow in maturity as disciples of Christ.
Vision
Be a welcoming commuinity and school of prayer that transforms lives and grows disciples among disconnected Catholics in the JBLM community and influencing others to do the same.
Strategy
We focus on the enhancing the Sunday assembly for Holy Mass, strengthening programs for on-going education in the faith, strengthening programs for on-going education in the faith, and promoting vocations