A new smartphone app has been released to help Catholics serving in the UK military to connect with their faith.
Production of the app has been supported by the Catholic Bishopric of the Forces in an effort to provide "spiritual first aid" to members of the UK Armed Forces. It will even offer personnel a direct link to a military chaplain, along with information and testimonies to "motivate and inspire".
The Catholic Military Connect app is a "single point of access for prayer, information, answers to questions and much-needed spiritual first aid," <a href="https://www.cbcew.org.uk/catholic-connect-military-app/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">says</mark></a> the website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
"It’s an app that helps you learn and pray, wherever you are."
The Bishops' Conference notes that there "are times, on active duty and at home, when life in the Forces can be very challenging. Often, it is one’s faith that provides vital support when under pressure."
Bishop Paul Mason, the Catholic Bishop of the Forces, explains that it is vital to harness technology to bring Christ to those serving in the military and to their families.
“So often in the Church we talk about ‘meeting people where they are’ and this app aims to do just that,” Bishop Mason says.
“Young people today are far more likely to access questions of faith via their smartphone rather than turn to books or libraries.
"In order to meet this reality, the Catholic Military Connect app offers users a range of possibilities: answers to military questions, prayers for the military, testimonies, inspiring quotes and spiritual first aid."<br><br>The app provides answers<strong> </strong>to hundreds of questions about God, and about the Catholic Faith, its saints, Catholic life and society, and also about matters related specifically to the intersection of faith and the military.
Bishop Mason says: “Users can contact a military chaplain and associations directly from the app. In addition, Catholic Military Connect gives access to hundreds of questions about life, faith, prayers and devotions in many languages, as well as a link to the Pope’s monthly prayer.”
The app contains a specific section that offers "Spiritual First Aid". Here users will find contact details for their national forces chaplaincy<strong> </strong>as well as for <a href="https://www.apostolatmilitaire.com/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Apostolat Militaire International</mark></a> (AMI), which is one of the partners involved in the initiative behind the app, alongside <em>Tweeting with GOD</em>, now known as <a href="https://www.deoquest.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">DeoQuest</mark></a>. <br><br>The app gives access to testimonies of serving personnel and inspirational quotes to boost morale and help users grow spiritually.
"The app also provides a bank of prayers which can help and inspire those in the Forces – whether alone or together, plus a repository of stories of military saints whose example can motivate and inspire," says the Bishops' Conference.
<em>Photo: Bishop Paul Mason, the Catholic Bishop of the Forces, speaks to members of hte UK Armed Forces. (Credit: cbcew.org.uk.)</em>
<em>The Catholic Military Connect app is available from the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/catholic-military-connect-cmc/id1583812184" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Apple Store</mark></a> and on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cmcami.app" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Google Play</mark></a> for Android phones.</em>
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