Chaplains Archives - CONTACT magazine

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.

First Imam in the Royal Australian Air Force

04/10/202415/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 629 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 715 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 1013 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 1231 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 1146 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 920 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 707 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 917 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 687 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 1563 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 1031 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 784 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 1329 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 1453 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 1347 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 2106 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

Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth is sworn in as Navy’s first Rabbi-Chaplain at a ceremony in Sydney. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People

Ex NY ambo becomes first RAN Rabbi

10/02/202319/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1507 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

A former New York ambulance driver and US Navy reservist is set to become the Royal Australian Navy’s first Rabbi-Chaplain.

Navy's Imam, Chaplain Majidih Essa. Story by Senior Chaplain Andrew Thorburn. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Jacqueline Forrester

ADF People

Faith in bridges of respect

07/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 871 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, HMAS Adelaide, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

Navy’s first Muslim chaplain visited the Maldives, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia to build relationships with regional partners during Indo-Pacific Endeavour

RAAF Flight Lieutenant Jayden Hasemann, left, and Leading Aircraftman Jack Atkins play basketball with students at Sokehs Roie Soledi Peidie Elementary School. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

ADF News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Aviators join in the fun at Micronesian school

18/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1973 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Chaplains, Micronesia, Operation Solania

In between flying aerial maritime surveillance sorties, Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel deployed on Operation Solania 22-4 have engaged with local

Lyric from the Nunukul Yuggera Dance Troupe leads the members and guests in a traditional dance at the opening of the Amberley Indigenous Cultural Precinct. Story by Flying Officer Greg Hinks. Photo by Corporal Brett Sherriff.

News Royal Australian Air Force

A place for a yarn at Amberley

29/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1489 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Indigenous, RAAF Amberley

A new space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all cultures, to meet, reflect, and tell

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