The Mission

Mission Capodanno is a 501.c.3 organization that serves those who serve, offering U.S. Armed Forces personnel spiritual truths of military life in light of the Catholic Faith. Paragraph 2310 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honorably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace."

Its four-fold mission is:
-to build spiritual resiliency within military personnel, military families, and military communities
-to promote vocations to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard Chaplain Corps
-to provide needed and requested Catholic supplies to military chaplains of all faiths currently ministering to those serving in the U.S. armed forces
-to make known the life and sacrifice of Maryknoll Father Vincent Robert Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR

How We Started
Recognizing the precious few Catholic resources available to those serving in today's US military, the idea for what is today known as Mission Capodanno was first conceived in 1998. A pilgrimage to the Holy Land that same year facilitated discerning and establishing an organizational entity for the spiritual edification of military personnel and by mid 1999 and into 2000 a small group of military families banded together. With Jeff Cavins' introduction of AF Reserve Chaplain Fr. John Paul Echert to founder Judy McCloskey, an entity slowly emerged. In 2000, then AMS Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien, now Cardinal O'OBrien, responded with his blessing and prayerful support. With  the terrorist attack of 9-11, efforts increased to launch the initial web presence. The Phase I website launched Christmas Eve 2001. Now in our twelfth year as a non-profit corporation, Team Capodanno continues to support active duty and reserve US military personnel and chaplains stationed around the world. Acknowledging "war is hell", Mission Capodanno likewise affirms the warriors home is Heaven. Mission Capodanno provides US military families spiritual edification through the teachings of the Catholic Church, specifically paragraph 2310 of the Catechism, the writings of Fulton J. Sheen and St. Jose Marie Escriva, the lives of saints in time of war through the work of biographer James Monti (Magnificat!), the witness of today's mlitary chaplains and families, and the exemplary life and sacrifice of Servant of God Fr. Vincent R. Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR. 

Board of Directors
COL. JAY BUTLER: Colonel (Ret) Butler holds a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; a Master of Science Degree in Management with emphasis in Information Management Systems from the University of Central Texas, in Killeen, Texas; and a Bachelor of Science Degree with emphasis in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy, at West Point, New York. He is also an Army Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Jay is married to the former Julia Fister from Georgetown, Kentucky. They live in Front Royal, Virginia with their 4 children: Emma (15); Katie (13); Julianna (11); and Jerome Knox Jr. (5). Jay currently works for CALIBRE as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt supporting the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) in the Pentagon.

USAFR CHAPLAIN FR JOHN PAUL ECHERT is a priest of the Archdiocese of St.Paul-Minneapolis and currently serves as Catholic chaplain for the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard. He is professor of Sacred Scripture at the Saint Paul Seminary and University of St. Thomas--both of the Twin Cities--and serves as the Scripture forum expert for EWTN. He has also served as a military chaplain for the AFRC and was prior service active duty as an electronics and communications technician in the 1970's. His total service in various Air Force capacities spans nineteen years.

MRS. JUDY L. MCCLOSKEY is the daughter of a WWII Army combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient who served as regimental photographer with the 104^th infantry Division, 414th Regiment, HQ Company that liberated the Nazi concentration camp Nordhausen. She is the wife of a career US Navy Surface Warfare Officer, and mother of six children, two of whom enlisted in the military. Mrs. Judy L. McCloskey is the founder of Mission Capodanno.

MR. HARRY W. CROCKER, III is the author of Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church, A 2,000-Year History; and Don't Tread on Me: A 400 Year History of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting. Harry Crocker also served as co-host of EWTN's "Great Moment's in Church History" with Fr. C. John McCloskey and currently works at a conservative publishing house in Washington DC.

Mission Capodanno's Board of Advisors is listed here.

How to Help

• Pray for this work and financially support it. Donations can be mailed to: Mission Capodanno, PO Box 1757, Front Royal, VA 22630.
• Host an event with Mission Capodanno materials. Contact us today: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
• Order This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for distribution.
• This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it a speaker, write articles, conduct interviews
• This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Mission Capodanno in your estate planning
• Bring Mission Capodanno's presence to your military base, COB, FOB, installation or military academy through the Free to Chaplains or CCP Program

Mission Capodanno is a non-profit 501.c.3 corporation.
Combined Federal Campaign Number: 31113.