ST. JOSEPH'S APPRENTICE - Portable Altars

Over the years, I have built many portable altars for military chaplains using my Wilderness Portable Altar model.  One of the most requested components, is that the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel (either in Latin or in English), be included on the inner lid. St. Michael is revered as the protector of soldiers and is the patron saint of the military, police and other first responders.

Other options are the Chi Rho (either with an anchor at the bottom (NAVY) or without the anchor and also with the Alpha and the Omega inset into the outer lid.  I do not charge for either of these options for military orders.  I place great urgency in trying to get the military altars completed quickly, as I know how important it is to the military chaplains and soldiers.

We have dedicated the Military Altar in memory of three special military chaplains:  Fr. Willy Doyle, Fr. Emil Kapaun and Fr. Vincent Capodanno.

Fr Willy Doyle, Servant of God, was an Irish Catholic priest who was killed in action while serving as a military chaplain to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during the First World War. He died on August 16, 1917, his body was never found. He was last seen running back and forth across the battle fields giving absolution to dying men. He is a candidate for sainthood. One of his many encouragements:  "Try and remember that sanctification means daily, hourly, hard work, and this unflinchingly, when weariness comes."

Fr. Emil Kapaun was a Catholic priest-martyr and US Army Captain during WWII and the Korean War. He died in a prisoner of war camp. One of his quotes, while chaplain in Pilsen Kansas is:  "John the Baptist was a strong character - he was not a reed shaken with the wind.  He stood up for the truth; he did not change his mind as the days went along, and he proved his caliber later by giving his life because he dared to stick to the truth."

Fr. Vincent Capodanno was a Catholic priest and Maryknoll missionary who served as a US Navy chaplain during the Vietnam War. He was killed in action at the age of 38 on September 4, 1967 while ministering to wounded and dying Marines. He is a Servant of God.   "Stay quiet marine. You will be ok. God is with us all this day.: - Fr. Capodanno's last words while speaking to a wounded marine on a battlefield in Vietnam in 1967.

NOTE:  My recent model "The Traveler" can also be used for Military Chaplains.