Maryknoll’s Military Chaplains

While Maryknoll’s focus is on overseas mission, from time to time its members are granted the ability to pursue unique assignments. One example of such an assignment would be serving as one of the many Chaplains in the United States Armed Forces. There have been quite a few Maryknoll Chaplains over the years, serving in all branches of the Armed Forces. This Memorial Day, I would like to remember the Maryknollers who have served the spiritual needs of our soldiers.

Much like my post about Maryknoll’s Sister Doctors, I will highlight four Chaplains with interesting stories to tell. I will detail their years of service and many achievements as a Chaplain. At the end, I will list all the other Maryknollers who have served as a Military Chaplain over the years. Let us get started with our first feature!

Shortly after his return, Fr. Bordenet received permission to enter the Chaplains Service. He decided to enlist in the US Navy alongside fellow Maryknoller Father J. Joseph Daly. He is among the few Maryknoll Chaplains that experienced active combat, as he accompanied the Marines in the Island Hoping Campaign. Notably, he participated in the landings at the Eniwetok Atoll and on Guam. 

Fr. Bordenet served faithfully with the Marines until the end of the war, when he was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Lieutenant. After leaving the Military, he was named Rector of the Mountain View Junior Seminary, helping returning GIs get adjusted to seminary life.

After a year as Chaplain in Greenland, Fr. McGahren received permission to enlist in the US Air Force. He served in a number of assignments both overseas and in the United States, including time spent in Vietnam. Fr. McGahren received an award for his Dedication and Service to the men of the Da Nang AF Base in Vietnam, specifically those of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, known as “The Gunfighters”.

Throughout his service, Fr. McGahren received many decorations including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Vietnam Honor Medal. He attained the rank of Colonel in 1978, and finally retired from the Air Force in 1985. After retirement Fr. McGahren, returned to mission in Japan for a few years before going on to serve in Maryknoll’s Development Houses.

Fr. Steed spent most of his early Chaplain career serving in the Pacific, primarily in the Philippines. He was present during a dynamic time in the Philippines, experiencing troubles with US-Philippines relations, political instability, Islamic Insurgency, and a simultaneous Volcanic Eruption and Typhoon. In 1991, Fr. Steed was assigned to be a Chaplain for a group of twenty ships operating in the Western Pacific. This assignment would lead to him participating in the US involvement in Somalia. 

After 1993, Fr. Steed spent the next 12 years traveling to bases around the world, retiring in 2004. Over his many years of service, Fr. Steed earned many awards, including the Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), National Defense Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Ribbon (with 3 stars), the Fleet Marine Force Ribbon and the Meritorious Service Medal. Fr. Steed followed his service with a short mission to Namibia, fully retiring in May 2005. 

Fr. Weinlader spent a total of 14 years as a US Navy Chaplain, serving much of his time at Marine Bases across the world. He was also a Chaplain aboard the Kitty Hawk-class Aircraft Carriers USS America and USS Constellation. In 1991, Fr. Weinlader served as a Marine Corps Chaplain during the First Gulf War, stationed at a field hospital on the Kuwaiti Border.

His final assignment was Command Chaplain at the Naval Station in San Diego, California. He served there until illness necessitated his retirement in 1995. Fr. Weinlader’s next mission came in 2004, when he started a soup kitchen in Namibia.