Chaplains Archives - CONTACT magazine

The new ADF bible, supplied by the Bible Society Australia, at the launch ceremony at Russell Offices in Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

A new source of light for the ADF

19/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1101 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, WWI

Two large shells exploded near Lance Corporal Phillip Davies while he was digging in telephone cables at Messines Ridge during

Navy Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa leads a prayer for members of the TNI AL at a local mosque in Surabaya Indonesia during Exercise Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Sergeant Craig Barrett.

ADF People

Challenges personnel face during Ramadan

18/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 229 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

For Muslims in Defence, Ramadan presents a set of unique challenges. CAPTION: Navy Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa leads a prayer

Karen Curtis and her grandchildren with the World War 2 service medals of her great uncle Sergeant William O’Shea at the Timaru War Memorial in New Zealand, after the medals were returned by Chaplain Haydn Lea. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Medals land in safe hands

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 547 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, No. 25 Squadron, RNZAF, WWII

As New Zealander aviator Sergeant William O’Shea’s Wellington bomber barrelled through heavy flak over Germany, a cone of light tracked

'Land Pub 0.0.3 Chaplaincy in War' is launched by Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, centre, with Chaplain Sarah Gibson, left, and Director General Chaplaincy - Army Principle Chaplain Kerry Larwill at Russell Offices in Canberra.

Australian Army News

A first of its kind for chaplains

17/01/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1838 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, Chaplains, Chief of Army

Chaplains have supported Australian soldiers in battle since before the corps’ inception, yet chaplaincy as a wartime capability has not

Air Force Chaplain Flight Lieutenant Abdul Kader stands outside the Sultan Omar Saifuddin Mosque during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 in Brunei. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photos by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

ADF People

First Imam in the Royal Australian Air Force

04/10/202415/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 919 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

Flight Lieutenant Abdul Kader is the Royal Australian Air Force’s first ever Imam (chaplain of the Muslim faith), providing support

Delegates from the Pacific Defence Faith Forum enjoyed a week exploring how military chaplains across the South Pacific could support each other and work together. Story by Chaplain Andrew Nixon, RAN. Photo supplied by NZDF PAO.

ADF People Overseas

Inaugural faith forum inspires

03/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 928 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

Defence chaplains from across the South Pacific gathered in Auckland for the first Pacific Defence Faith Forum from June 9-13

Army Chaplain James Hall, of 6th Battalion, the Royal Australia Regiment, in the unit's social gaming hub at Gallipoli Barracks, with equipment donated by Veteran Gaming Australia. Story and photo by Corporal Michael Rogers.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Veterans

Gaming a useful tool for social connection

17/05/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1153 Views 0 Comments 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Chaplains, Veteran Gaming Australia, Virtual Reality (VR)

After being posted to Darwin, away from his family, Chaplain James Hall would play Xbox games online with his sons

A traditional ceremonial guardian doll and handwritten letter from the Ukrainian community in Australia sits on the desk of a Ukrainian soldier attending an Australian Army-led leadership course in England. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

ADF News UK

Letters from Australia lift Ukrainian spirits

17/04/202423/04/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1402 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of Ukraine, Chaplains, Operation Kudu

The room was quiet and the mood was subdued as an Australian Army chaplain stood before a classroom of Armed

Royal Australian Air Force officer, Wing Commander Chaplin Lindsay Carey at Fort Queenscliff in Victoria. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Warrant Officer Don Kenny.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Aiding healing from moral injury

26/01/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1329 Views 0 Comments Australia Day Honours, Chaplains, effects of PTSD

After Defence-approved research found about 62 per cent of air force veterans may have some type of moral injury, Chaplain

Navy Chaplain Bradley Galvin addresses HMAS Toowoomba ship’s company as they commemorate Remembrance Day in the East China Sea during a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Commander Kieran Davis. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Toowoomba united in remembrance

16/11/202317/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1045 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, HMAS Toowoomba, Last Post, Remembrance Day

The Last Post sounded aboard HMAS Toowoomba at 11am on November 11 for the 2023 Remembrance Day ceremony, led by

Sergeant Brodie Stewart, left, Chief Petty Officer Sarah Lindsay, Flight Lieutenant Abdul Khan and Chaplin Darren Cronshaw engage with community members at the Melbourne Grand Mosque. Story by By Flight Lieutenant Abdul Khan.

ADF People

ADF reaches out to the Muslim community

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 915 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

Every Friday at the Melbourne Grand Mosque, Muslims come together for the Jumu’ah prayer – a gathering of great cultural

Chaplain Stephen Briggs with Bob the 54-year-old cockatoo at HMAS Moreton’s Blessing of the Pets. Story by Lieutenant Rebecca Williamson.

ADF People

Blessing all creatures great and small

13/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1104 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, HMAS Moreton

Pets – close companions who love, share ups and downs and put a smile people’s faces – play an important

Chaplain Abdul Kader (left) and Chaplain Majidih Essa during a visit to Bangladesh as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by LAC Ryan Howell.

ADF People

Faith, friendship and family in Bangladesh

10/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 805 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

Navy Chaplain Majidih Essa recently had the honour of leading Friday prayers at Sheikh Mujib Mosque in Dhaka, the capital

Royal Australian Navy Chaplain Bradley Galvin, left, and Commanding Officer HMAS Toowoomba Commander Darin MacDonald during a blessing ceremony for the embarked MH-60R helicopter Valkyrie. Story and photos by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

News Royal Australian Navy

Blessing of the Valkyrie

06/10/202306/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1723 Views 1 Comment Chaplains, HMAS Toowoomba, MH-60R Seahawk

HMAS Toowoomba’s embarked aviation team, Flight 607 Valkyrie, received a blessing from the ship’s chaplain during recent preparations for regional

ADF guests watch watched the Nauti and Fetuvalu culture group perform at the Taulaga school games opening ceremony at the Nauti primary school in Tuvalu. Story and photos by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Hope and joy in spiritual connections

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1230 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Operation Solania, Tuvalu

When Australian Army Chaplain Cameron West heard he was deploying to Tuvalu, he researched the country, but that could only

Australian Army Chaplain Major Haydn Parsons serving communion to US Army personnel during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 at Camp Growl in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People

Faith in the field

15/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 915 Views 0 Comments 9 Force Support Battalion., Chaplains, Exercise Talisman Sabre

Chaplain Haydn Parsons was in a dark place when inspiration struck. CAPTION: Australian Army Chaplain Major Haydn Parsons serving communion to

ADF chaplains Rainer Schack, Andrew Robinson, Christopher Buckley-Wilkshire, Imam, Mogamat Majidih Essa and Commander Mark Graichen visit a Hindu temple with members of the Indonesian Navy in Surabaya, Indonesia, during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photos by Sergeant Craig Barrett.

News Royal Australian Navy

Success in the city of heroes

09/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1511 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, HMAS Anzac, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Indonesian Navy

From religious engagements to gender discussions, military-to-military talks and even a chilli-eating contest, the Indonesian leg of Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE)

RAN Chaplain Simote Finau addresses students of the Kolisi Tonga College, during Operation Solania. Story by Flight Lieutenant Glen Paul. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

ADF People

Chaplain values a Tongan homecoming

02/06/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1678 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Operation Solania, Samoa, Tonga

In a reunion that bridged generations, Royal Australia Navy Officer Chaplain Simote Finau recently returned to his childhood school in

Army Chaplain Luke Drury with Father Iona Tatau, Catholic Vicar General at the Nawra Diocesan priest's chapel, Teaoraereke, Kiribati. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Petty Officer Bradley Darvill.

ADF People

First tending gardens, now hearts and minds

05/04/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1523 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

Growing up in Hervey Bay, Chaplain Luke Drury never imagined becoming a pastor or joining the military. CAPTION: Army Chaplain

Chaplain Simon Edds meditates in the Spirit House at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

ADF People

Chaplain’s star-studded journey to Buddhism

15/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2348 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

From featuring in blockbuster movies alongside some of Hollywood’s A-listers to becoming the first Buddhist chaplain in the ADF, Chaplain

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