Alumnus Peter Bockrath (CA’24) Commissions into “Team Saint Paul”

One of the College’s newest graduates, Peter Bockrath (CA’24) has accepted a bold new challenge: to minister to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces as a member of Team Saint Paul, an evangelization group established by the Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D, Archbishop for the Military Services, U.S.A.

On September 13, His Excellency commissioned Mr. Bockrath and two fellow missionaries to the Team, which is tasked with helping servicemen and women grow in their faith amidst the challenges that can come with military life. “We currently have five missionaries, and Mr. Bockrath is one of our first two men,” says Archbishop Broglio, who in August presided over this fall’s Convocation at TAC-California. “I’m very excited he’s joining this initiative.”

For his first tour of duty, Mr. Bockrath will be stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where he and three other members of Team Saint Paul will live and engage with members of the U.S. Army. “I think that this role of missionary for the active-duty service members is really important because it allows us to provide a firsthand witness to the full, happy, and beautiful life that one can have through loving the heart of Jesus,” he says in a archdiocesan press release. “It is imperative that the Catholic Church gets this witness out to the people who are willing to serve, and especially those willing to give their lives for something bigger than themselves.”

Ever since the Archdiocese for Military Services, U.S.A., launched Team Saint Paul in 2022, its members have devoted their lives to sharing the truth of Christ’s love with young adults in the military, both at Fort Campbell and at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. They support the efforts of military chaplains, lead Bible studies and catechetical sessions, encourage seekers in their conversions, and build Christian fellowship with social and recreational activities. 

“Team Saint Paul is the most exciting initiative for the Archdiocese of Military Services because it allows people who are about the same age as our men and women in uniform to interact with them about the Faith,” says Archbishop Broglio. “This is an attempt to invite young people to practice their faith and bring the Gospel to others, which is consistent with the mandate Jesus Christ gave us to go out, preach the Gospel, and baptize all nations.”