Priest Jumps from planes

NEWARK — The Rev. Carl Subler, 29, barely has had his feet on the ground since arriving at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, but he doesn’t plan on staying all that long.

Subler, currently an associate pastor, will serve at St. Francis for two years, with the possibility of a one-time renewal, for a maximum of four years. He will then go into the U.S. Army as a chaplain.

Subler took his basic airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga., this summer, completing five of the five required jumps. They equipped him with his Catholic Mass Kit, with which he can hold mass anywhere, from the hood of a Humvee to the farthest outpost.

"I wanted to be a priest to celebrate the sacraments for the salvation of the soul," Subler said. "I want to go where the soldiers have the toughest time. I would like to go to Iraq and Afghanistan so they know there is a priest out there with them."

Subler was one of six men ordained from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus in June. That number is up from the usual one or two who are ordained. But next year, only two will graduate.

"More men are entering the seminary and the average age is decreasing," Subler said. "I think young men are entering for they see the possibility of helping Christ, and they want to be a part of that." (source)

He also spent four years in the Navy but decided to become a Army chaplain because he got sea sick. I never got sea sick, sometimes sick of the sea after a couple of months into a deployment.