At the Recruitment Center of the Canadian Armed Forces in Montreal took place on May 9, 2019, the ceremony of enlistment as a chaplain priest in reserve (aumonier) in rank of captain of Rev. Fr. Traian Petre Constantin.
Captain Nancy Harnois, the officer who presided the ceremony of special solemnity, explained the role and importance of the military chaplain (aumonier) in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Particularly present at this event were His Grace Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, with the blessing of which Rev. Fr. Traian began the demarche, and Major Michel Rivard - Deputy Military Pastoral Officer in charge of the military priests of Canada's 34th Brigade.
On this occasion there was also a brief meeting between the two senior officials who discussed the necessity and the different aspects of the spiritual assistance within the army.
His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian spoke of the fact that the spiritual assistance of the soldiers in their special conditions is an important factor in the maintenance of both physical and spiritual health, as well as the spiritual and human benefit that they can have from the military chaplains’ discussions and guidance. The presence of the military chaplains in the Canadian Armed Forces would have a double benefit - the spiritual counseling of the soldiers and the responsabilisation of the priests as to the need of order and the human and spiritual hierarchy in any work they wish to succeed.
Major Rivard expressed the joy of seeing among the Canadian Army Romanian priests and congratulated Rev. Fr. Traian in his new function among Canadian soldiers and their families.
Rev. Fr. Traian will occupy the rank of captain chaplain (military priest in reserve in rnak of captain) of the military base of Saint-Hyacinthe 6th Regal Regiment 22th Battalion.
The ceremony was attended by Rev. Fr. Daniel Sandu who also became a military chaplain priest in reserve shortly before.
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The role of military priests / chaplains
Chaplains are responsible for providing religious and pastoral care to members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and their families, regardless of their religious denomination.
They have privileged access to CAF members of all grades, do not have command and are not allowed to carry weapons under the Geneva Conventions.
Theirs mains responsibilities are:
- Presides special events, religious services and ceremonies
- Advises the commanding officer on issues of religious accommodation, ethical dilemmas, and moral and ethical issues of military unit
- Ensure liaison with civil confessional groups and religious / spiritual leaders
- Guide the military to other health care providers, such as social workers, psychologists or healthcare professionals
- Provides appropriate care after a serious incident
- Informs the nearest military member when the situation asks for it
- Puts into practice knowledge of the general military administration and policies specific to the chaplain branch
