One of our Diocesan seminarians, Joel M. Bridge from Annunciation Church in Brick, New Jersey, has been selected for the Chaplain Candidate Program in the New Jersey National Guard. Joel, who is pursuing his theological studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, was recently administered the oath for commissioning, after being selected for the Chaplaincy program by the U.S. Army Chaplain Accessions Board.

The Army Chaplain Accessions Board carefully considers every applicant to the Chaplain Candidate Program and advances select qualified persons to that program. Joel was one of 16 individuals determined to be fully qualified for Federal recognition in the Army Reserve National Guard as Chaplain Candidates.

His Eminence Archbishop Michael offers his congratulations to Joel, on behalf of all the clergy and faithful of our Diocesan family, as Joel begins this journey of formation and training. Please keep Joel, and those whom he will serve in our Armed Forces, in your prayers. May God grant them all many blessed years!