The Chaplain's Calling with Bishop Ann Ritonia

The military chaplain is one of the few people trained to stand close to war without becoming part of the fight, and that tension can change everything. 

In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Bishop Ann Ritonia, Bishop Suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, about what spiritual care looks like in deployed units, VA health care facilities, and federal prisons, and why chaplains exist to help people stay whole in the middle of experiences most of us will never face.

They get practical about the day-to-day reality: providing Episcopal worship, facilitating religious support for other traditions when no clergy are available, advising commanders on the human needs inside a unit, and showing up for service members and veterans who carry trauma, grief, and moral injury. Bishop Ritonia also shares why Episcopal chaplains are formed as priests first, and how that priestly identity helps them care for all, including people who may be turned away elsewhere. Listen in for the full conversation.

The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia served parishes of all sizes for more than 19 years before her election as the eighth bishop suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries of The Episcopal Church. She served 17 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve, holding a range of leadership and executive roles. 

Ritonia’s military honors include two Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendations, and the Recruit Honor Graduate Award. She served seven years on the Chaplain Selection Committee for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries and provided spiritual direction and pastoral care to chaplains.

Mother to four adults and grandmother to Eva, Adaline, Leo, and Polly, Ritonia and her husband, Mike, live in Ellicott City, Maryland, with their two English bulldogs and golden retriever, Phoebe, Gemma and Louie.

Transcript

Spiritual Care Amid War

Bishop Ritonia 0:00

If we think of our job as spiritual caregivers, we want to make sure that we can help people stay whole in the midst of some awful things that they might have to do in our place. If we think about the freedoms that we enjoy, people are taking responsibilities so that we don't have to go and fight. Our chaplains, their job is not to be in the fight. They're all non-combatant. They are there to care and to provide that spiritual nourishment and succor for all of our military folks.

Meet Bishop Ann Ritonia

Bishop Wright 0:40

Hi everyone, and welcome to For People with Bishop Rob Wright. Uh, a special treat today. Uh, we're on with Bishop Ann Ritonia. Bishop Ann, welcome.

Bishop Ritonia 0:51

Thank you. It's great to be here.

What A Chaplain Actually Does

Bishop Wright 0:54

Bishop Ann is uh presently serving as the Bishop Suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries. And she was consecrated to this good work uh in 2023. Uh she uh grew up as a Roman Catholic in uh in Massachusetts, is a gifted musician uh and was a Marine uh for 17 years. So you got a you got a Marine talking to uh talking to a Navy guy, but we wanted to get you on because of the work that you're called to do right now, which is to support our chaplains, uh both in the military as well as uh to our federal prisons. So say a little bit about the work you do.

Bishop Ritonia 1:42

Well, right now, um I'm the pastor to the pastors who are chaplains who are serving our uh men and women in the military as well as our veterans at VA healthcare facilities, uh the Bureau of Prisons. Um we've got chaplains there in federal prisons. And then we actually have uh chaplains that are volunteer that work for the FBI that we endorse, as well as some other federal agencies that I can't name at this time, or I will get in trouble. Right. So uh it's it's really wonderful work. And now we're also endorsing our healthcare chaplains through our office. So for those chaplains that are looking to be board certified, uh they require uh an endorsement through my office as well. Um but the majority of my work uh is um doing pastoral visits to our um active duty chaplains as well as our reserve chaplains, uh, seeing them in their context, praying with them, praying with their supervisors, which has been really remarkable work, is to be able to listen to our commanders and uh gain an understanding of the challenges that they're facing and the opportunity to pray with them and to bring um the love of Christ into those spaces. So it's really beautiful and meaningful work.

Bishop Wright 2:59

So, so uh how would you distill concisely what is the work of a chaplain in these uh in these settings?

Bishop Ritonia 3:07

Right. So a chaplain in all of these settings, they're called to uh provide uh religious services for those that are Christian or say or episcopal in particular.

Bishop Wright 3:18

Yeah.

Bishop Ritonia 3:19

Um they are to facilitate worship for those who might be of a different tradition. And so if there uh if there's no Jewish chaplain available, they would have to find somebody out in the community that they could bring in uh in order to help with like the high holy days. Same for for anything. Um uh one of our chaplains uh was kind of like the sponsor for a Norse pagan group. And so she was asked to get a um fire pit uh so that they could conduct their worship. Uh so it, I mean, it's all sorts of things. They're also called to advise commanders um on what's kind of going on with the uh uh military folks in their care. Uh, and they're called to care for all, yeah. All military. And that is um what is so beautiful about the Episcopal Church is that some denominations are not allowed to um uh provide certain kinds of care for particularly uh the gay and lesbian community or the trans community, which right now we don't have um that's very problematic with our military. We don't have any trans folks uh right now uh serving. So uh but our chaplains can do all of that work, they can take care of everybody. So it's really uh really wonderful uh that they're able to do that. And and they're really appreciated by commanders because they don't have those kinds of restrictions. Uh and our chaplains are really uh well educated and well prepared, uh, and they're formed as priests first. And that's I think something that's interesting about and makes our chaplains quite different. They have a priestly identity and they're living out their vocation as chaplains. And so they're not working, uh, we don't work for the government. They certainly do work for uh the government, the military, because they they obviously get their salaries. But um, you know, our their job is not to push any kind of policies, but it's to care, to care for all.

Bishop Wright 5:19

So this this is really an important intersection because um not long ago we celebrated uh Christmas, uh, where we proclaimed uh that God had come among us. Uh and one of the titles that that we gave God coming among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth uh is Prince of Peace. Uh you and I both served in the military. Right. So so so how do we do this, walk this tightrope where where we we claim the Prince of Peace as Lord? Uh and at the same time we're attached uh and in community with people who are uh uh you know uh fighting wars and uh preparing to fight wars and uh all those sorts of things. How do we walk that line?

Bishop Ritonia 6:00

Well, it is a really fine line to walk because if we think of our job as um uh as spiritual caregivers, we want to make sure that we can help people stay whole in the midst of some awful things that they might have to do in our place. I mean, if we think about the the freedoms that we enjoy, um the people are taking responsibilities for for us so that we don't have to go and and fight. And so uh our chaplains, their job is not to be in the fight. They're all non-combatants. None of our chaplains, any military chaplain carries a weapon. They are there to care and to provide that spiritual nourishment and succor for all of our uh military folks. And the same with the VA, uh, you know, those chaplains care for our warriors when they come back and they have been seriously injured. And so um it really is a fine, fine line. It's uh, you know, there's ambiguity in the role, and that's something that our chaplains wrestle with is am I supporting this war machine or am I caring for those uh who are doing this work um in such a way that I can be um true to myself and my calling as a follower of the Prince of Peace? And so what we try to do is to create space for peace in the lives of those that may not have it. Um you know, I think of the uh the amount of counseling that our um uh our chaplains do and uh and the lives that they save because of the injuries that people sustain, particularly uh morally. Um the as you all know, the the suicide uh risk in the military and with our veterans is uh really high. And that's something that our chaplains are helping reduce. Uh and so uh you know, I see it as holistic care. Again, we're not we're not um uh doing propaganda for a particular uh political agenda. It's we're caring for folks as Jesus called us to do. And so I see that as following the Prince of Peace.

Bishop Wright 8:13

That's a wonderful answer. And so you've been in the job a little while, but uh, you know, you you you know military folks and you know military families, you yourself are a wife and a mom. Uh we're watching um, you know, a lot of conversation right now about deploying our military. What keeps you up at night thinking about um where we are right now and your chaplain corps, et cetera?

Bishop Ritonia 8:58

Uh I I worry about my chaplains that are deployed, that um they are non-combatants. They uh they are in harm's way. Uh and and they have made peace with that. They've they've decided that I can do this, I'm gonna be there for those that I serve with. And so I do worry about them, and and particularly I worry about their families. Um I think oftentimes military families uh are overlooked. And you see it sometimes with clergy families as well, whether they're serving in the military or not. Um, we ask an awful lot of our clergy, and we ask a lot of our chaplains. And they're, you know, they can be away from home for nine or ten months uh at a time, they have to come back and reintegrate. And during those times, families really need to be able to be strong and to operate on their own. Um, and so you know, I I do worry about our families and our chaplains, particularly when they're deployed and they're in in harm's way, and also when they're struggling with some of the policies um that are coming out of our government right now. I mean, it it's really stressful. Um, I've got a chaplain uh right now who is serving in a deployed location. His wife is from Venezuela. Um and while a citizen, you know, she's worrying about her family and he's deployed, and it's just the amount of stress uh on our military and the families is just really hard. So I do that's something that keeps me up at night when I think about all they have to do, which is why I want to be able to care for them and to provide them the safe space that they need in order to um decompress to be able to talk about what they're experiencing. So some of the things we do in our ministry is I make sure that all of our chaplains um are, if they don't have a spiritual director, have access to spiritual direction so they can talk out some of these things, that they belong to a episcopal community. And if they're in a deployed situation, if they're not part of an episcopal community, that they are celebrating Eucharist regularly. And uh it's easier in the Navy than it is in the other branches of the service because we're kind of lumped in as Protestants as opposed to liturgical episcopal uh chaplains.

Bishop Wright 11:09

Yeah. You know, uh I was in uh I was in the Navy a thousand years ago. It feels like, and uh, I think back, um uh and I'm so grateful now uh for people um who held that space um and who did not shy away from conversation around the tension of being uh uh you know a member of the armed forces for deployed, um uh and the fact that uh Jesus is Prince of Peace and Lord of all. And uh I I think what they helped me to do was begin to form a mature faith. Um a faith that is not a panacea, uh is not a bedtime story, but a faith for a real world that is that is messy uh and and has bad actors in it, um uh and at the same time holds out a hope for a day when we won't need bigger guns than other people.

Bishop Ritonia 12:09

Oh, and I pray for that day to come.

Bishop Wright 12:12

Yeah.

Bishop Ritonia 12:13

You know, you talk about holding that space, Rob. And in the um uh chaplain corps, the only place where a service member has a hundred percent confidentiality is with a military chaplain. Um, even their uh healthcare providers, behavioral health, all those records belong to the commander who has access to any of that at any time. Um think that they don't abuse that. Yeah, but it really is the only place uh uh our military chaplains are not mandatory reporters, which you know, we know as clergy we are mandatory reporters in our in our diocese, but that's not the case for a military chaplain when they're working with uh those that they serve.

Bishop Wright 12:54

What a resource and what a gift to give to somebody who's really trying to get through stickier parts of life. Absolutely and just needs a space where they can be heard and not judged for a minute, you know?

Bishop Ritonia 13:06

That it really is holy and it's sacramental. It's it really is um, you know, I think about the sacrament of reconciliation, which we don't as Episcopalians make as much use of as I think we should. Uh and that's just my personal opinion there. But those encounters really are holy and sacramental if you think about it, because they are places where reconciliation can be offered. Um so that's something that we talk about uh with chaplains. I do annual training with them every year, which you're coming to this year, and I'm really excited about that to you to talk about Christian nationalism. Um, but we're we're looking at um trauma and the sacramental life and how the rituals that we have in the Episcopal Church um really are healing and they they they are like medicine for uh those that serve and those who have served.

Recruiting And Forming Future Chaplains

Bishop Wright 13:59

You know, I'm looking forward to being with you too and being in the in the room where we have those kinds of conversations. Um two things really before we wrap up, and and you know, you're gonna you're gonna have some folks who are gonna be in uh in Atlanta real soon to talk to some college folks and and and others about a life uh of service uh as a chaplain. Uh say a little bit about that.

Bishop Ritonia 14:25

you know, right now uh we need more chaplains and we need more priests in the church uh than ever. We live in such a complicated world. And uh something that um, you know, I get calls all the time from folks, hey, I want to be a military chaplain. I say, hey, that's great. Have you talked to your parish priest? Are you confirmed? Are you called to the priesthood? So um, you know, for those folks that are on federal installations uh that don't have a diocese, they work through me and then I work through um the diocese of the Rio Grande right now to help with their formation. Um, but all of our Episcopal chaplains are priests first. They are formed in a with the priestly identity, and they live out that vocation as a chaplain. And so uh that's something that we really need to make clear. And so as I'm sending out uh our recruiter and and missioner, um, we're looking for priests, priests who want to serve in this capacity, but we're also um looking to help all of our dioceses in this work so that we can help identify folks who might have a calling to the priesthood. And uh we're directing them to uh our you know diocesan teams and their local parishes to start those processes. So um don't just I would I would really encourage folks not to discourage conversations about chaplaincy, but to uh make a bridge between what it means to be a priest who's living out of vocation as a chaplain.

Bishop Wright 15:51

I love it. And uh I pray that uh God will make uh that trip uh and that recruiting effort fruitful. Uh Lord knows we need uh, excuse me, people sitting uh with others at these intersections. I I suppose the last thing that that that I you know from time to time will ask a guest, um, especially who does this kind of work, who who is pouring out um, you know, continually to people who are pouring out. Um you know, is there uh a Bible image, a Bible verse or something in our life with Christ that continues to hold you up and inspire you? Uh, because what we need is you filled up and and ready to go. We don't need you depleted. So, so where what's your go-to that strengthens you?

The Practices That Keep Her Grounded

Speaker 2 16:42

Well, first of all, prayer. Um, and that's something I'm very attentive to. Um, in the mornings I start with gratitude, and then I do the office, and uh in the evenings I do an ignition examine. Um, I work with the spiritual director. But I think a verse that really sticks with me, it's from uh one John, and I don't know the exact number. Um, but we love because God first loved us.

Bishop Wright 17:04

Yes.

Bishop Ritonia 17:05

And that's something that uh keeps me grounded and secure because I know who I am and who I belong to. And so that's something that really holds me up is that I know God loves me and that uh I'm able to do the work that I can because I'm supported through that love.

Bishop Wright 17:24

Yeah. Friends, we've been on with Bishop uh Ann Ritonia, uh, who is a Bishop Suffragan for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries. Bishop Ann, thank you.

Bishop Ritonia 17:35

Oh, it's a delight to have spent this time with you. Rob, thanks an awful lot. I really appreciate it.

Bishop Wright 17:40

Absolutely. God bless you.