NAV EX 1st QTR 2018 NavEx 1st Qtr 2018 - Draft 7a | Page 28

Clergy in Action
Continued from page 27
I arrived at noon on Wednesday, 14 February, in
time to attend the Roman Catholic Ash Wednesday
service and met the contract priest that provides
Roman Catholic services. Immediately following the
service Chaplain Lim had me accompany him to the
weekly Individual Command Attention Review and
Evaluation meeting in the Command Building since
I would be attending it on my own the following
week. At this meeting, chaired by the Executive
Officer, I got to meet most of the department heads,
the Staff JAG, Administration Officer, and other key
officials at the Training Center. This also gave me the
opportunity to explain the Auxiliary Clergy Support
program when I was introduced. When I finished,
one of the officers told me that a local Coast Guard
Auxiliarist (Ray Van Cleave, 113-05-05) handled all
the international travel arrangements for the Training
Center. During my time at the Training Center I got
the privilege of meeting my fellow Auxiliarist.
Following the meeting Chaplain Lim and I returned
to the Lighthouse Chapel and I got to meet the
receptionist/secretary/administrative assistant that I
had been talking to on the phone and emailing prior
to my arrival. She was a great help to me throughout
my time there. Chaplain Lim then took me on an
auto tour of this large Coast Guard installation that
occupies more than 800 acres of land, and includes
129 family housing units and 90 other buildings.
We ended the afternoon back in his office in the
Lighthouse Chapel where Chaplain Lim briefed me,
answered any of my questions and went over what I
should anticipate in my time there. As Chaplain Lim
departed at about 1630 that afternoon he handed
“the chaplain’s iPhone” to me, and I assumed his
duties.
The next morning, I paid a call on the Commanding
Officer, CAPT Paul Flynn, USCG, the Executive
Officer, and the Command Master Chief, introduced
myself and explained to them about the Auxiliary’s
new Clergy Support program, where USCG Auxiliary
Clergy Support personnel provided coverage to Coast
Guard commands during the absence or unavailability
of the active duty chaplain, for a variety of reasons,
such as their chaplain’s absence. Since there was
no active duty or reserved chaplain available for the
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first week of Chaplain Lim’s absence, as an Auxiliary
Clergy Support I could assume the chaplain’s duties,
including conducting the Lighthouse Chapel Non-
Denominational Christian Worship service.
During my week at the Training Center, I counseled
with training center students, attended a department
head meeting, ate in the dining hall with the students
and staff, visited the Chief Petty Officer Academy,
and of course, conducted services in the Lighthouse
Chapel on Sunday morning. The large chapel, with
room for 150 people and dedicated in May 1992, has
high visibility, since it is located at the center of the
TRACEN in what is known as Town Center.
In summary, my week serving at TRACEN Petaluma is
a prime example of why the Auxiliary Clergy Support
program was established. Whenever there are no
Coast Guard Chaplains (Navy Chaplains assigned
to the Coast Guard) available, the Auxiliary Clergy
Support program closes this shortfall and provides
the best religious ministry possible for Coast Guard
members and their families. It is one of many
programs in the Human Relations Directorate that
supports the Coast Guard directly.
As my week came to an end, I briefed the Navy
Reserve chaplain who relieved me as I had been
briefed by Chaplain Lim. I left with joy of having been
both appreciated and as serving as another example
of how the Coast Guard Auxiliary supports the active
duty Coast Guard.
As I prepared to depart the TRACEN at the end of
my week there, I introduced the Reserve Chaplain
who was relieving me to the Commanding Officer,
CAPT Paul Flynn, USCG. CAPT Flynn said it was a
pleasure having me as “a part of our crew.” I had
truly been a part of “Team Coast Guard!”
NAVIGATO