By Diane Gasper-O’Brien
The Register
Father Brian McCaffrey will see a childhood dream come true this summer.
A priest of the Salina Diocese since 2021, Fr. Brian will head to Rhode Island later this summer for training to become a chaplain for the U.S. Navy.
Fr. Brian, who grew up in Manhattan, said he had a couple of uncles and a great uncle who served in the Navy.
“They would tell me stories” about their experience, he said, “and it fired up my imagination.”
That was when Fr. Brian was in middle school, and not long thereafter, he felt the calling to the seminary.
“I had no idea you could be a priest in the military and a diocese, too,” he said, “but once I was in seminary, I learned you could do both.”
After graduating from the University of Kansas, Fr. Brian continued on his journey and was ordained a priest in 2021.
Knowing the need for priests in the diocese, he never thought much about researching the life of a military chaplain.
“But the desire never left,” Fr. Brian said. “Then one day about three years ago, on my heart I felt the conviction that I need to look into this.”
He discussed the option with Bishop Jerry Vincke, and “that led to a two-year discernment process with me and the bishop. Eventually, we felt this was legitimate to pursue.”
After his ordination, Fr. Brian served as chaplain for two different high schools while serving in a local parish in each city – first at St. Mary’s Parish and Sacred Heart Jr./Sr. High School in Salina and then at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and Thomas More Prep-Marian Jr./Sr. High School in Hays. He also served as assistant vocations director for the diocese.
Now, he looks forward to his new mission.
“It’ll be men and women of the Navy in a much different scene,” he said. “But high school teenagers are young adults, and the Navy is made up of young adults.”
“And,” he added, “the duties of a chaplain don’t change too much. We provide spiritual support, talk to people, counsel people, provide sacraments, just be present to the people.”
He was present in a big way for students, said TMP-M Principal Chad Meitner.
“He is a gifted homilist and is very good at building relationships with kids,” Meitner said. “Those two things help him build trust – living by word and by action. His homilies were such good messages to our kids, and to all of us.”
It was a common sight to see Fr. Brian at a variety of TMP-M events the past two years.
“He sacrificed a lot of his own time to be part of their extracurricular activities,” Meitner said.
Fr. Brian will leave Hays later this month and visit family in July before reporting to Newport, R.I., in August for three months of training, five weeks of officers’ school and seven weeks of chaplain training.
He will remain a priest for the Diocese of Salina and could return to a parish any time after his three-year military term. Following his training, Fr. Brian could be stationed on any naval base in the world, on a ship or with the U.S. Marines.
“I really enjoyed my time here and in Salina,” he said, “but I’m excited for what’s next.”
Meitner said he and the students and staff at TMP-M will definitely miss Fr. Brian and will keep him in their prayers as he begins his new journey.
Meitner also is looking forward to working with the school’s next chaplain, Fr. Luke Friess, who was ordained June 12.
“Fr. Brian was an amazing chaplain for two years,” Meitner said, “and we feel very fortunate to get Fr. Luke.”