San Diego is blessed by a large military presence. The Diocese of San Diego welcomes all recently relocated families and hopes that your transition into our diocesan and parish communities will be a source of Christ’s light in your family life.
Addressing the diverse needs of Catholic military families requires programs and interventions in collaboration between military authorities and civilian communities. There are unique challenges that military families may face stemming from frequent moves, deployments, and the struggle to maintain community. Military families often need support in areas such as spousal employment, childcare, mental health, and evangelization.
Resources for the Military Families
- Military OneSource is an official Defense Department website that provides 24/7 access to free and confidential help. This assistance includes confidential counseling, relationship support, parenting resources, spouse education and career opportunities, financial and legal support and relocation services.
- Navy- Marine Corps Relief Society provides several programs and services to assist active duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their families in financial need. This includes financial assistance with everyday living expenses, emergency travel funds upon illness or death of an immediate family member, and disaster relief assistance.
- Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) works to improve financial wellness to combat food insecurity, homelessness, mental health conditions, suicide and other crises through counseling, education and financial support for enlisted service member, veterans and their families.
- Fleet & Family Support Centers (San Diego Metro) provides services such as relocation assistance, new parent support, deployment services, clinical counseling, financial counseling, family employment services, family advocacy and transition assistance programs.
- VA San Diego health care provides a comprehensive behavioral health program that specializes in Veteran-focused mental health care. Also, see the diocesan Mental Health webpage for additional resources.
- Find a Parish: The Diocese of San Diego has 96 parishes and 13 missions across 9,000 square miles of San Diego and Imperial Counties. Find your new home in a community ready to walk with your family throughout your faith journey.
- Kids’ Turn San Diego offers a Military Family parenting course that teaches resilience skills for children. The Peak Performance Military Family Group instructs parents in crucial strategies that help their children navigate the challenges and impact of military deployment.
- Our Military Kids offers extracurricular activity grants to children and teens of deployed National Guard, deployed Reserve or post-9/11 combat wounded, or ill and injured Veterans. Activity grants serve to build self-confidence, enhance family wellness and strengthen community.
Archdiocese of Military Service, U.S.A.
- The Archdiocese for the Military Services was created by Saint John Paul II to provide the Catholic Church’s full range of pastoral ministries and spiritual services to those in the United States Armed Forces. This includes more than 220 installations in 29 countries, patients in 153 V.A. Medical Centers, and federal employees serving outside the United States in 134 countries.
- Catholic Military Apostolate of the United States is a lay apostolate of Catholic service members, veterans, families and military supporters. Their mission is to promote Catholic culture within the ranks of the U.S. military and support Catholic service members in the sanctification of military life.
Pastoral Resources
- Armed Forces Jubilee Mass (February 2025): Pope Francis implored the assembled Armed Forces, military Ordinaries, and chaplains to, “Be courageous witnesses of the love of God our Father.” Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis’ asked militaries to commit to prioritizing diplomacy and deescalating conflict in the hope of promoting global peace and justice.
- A broken soldier can become a saint (Southern Cross): Fr. Ed McKenzie, OFM, leads retreats for military veterans and their families at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside.
- Pope Francis’ Address to Catholic Military Chaplains on International Humanitarian Law
- Of Medal of Honor Winners and Saints: Since the Civil War, five Catholic priests have been awarded the Medal of Honor. These are their stories. Venerable Emil Kapun and Servant of God Vincent Capodanno are on the road to sainthood.
- Pope Leo XIV’s Father Served in the Navy During World War II
- Prayer for Our Troops (USCCB)
- Prayers for the Military (Archdiocese for Military Service)
Contact Information
Staff
- Director: John Prust
- Associate Director: Janelle Peregoy
- Associate Director: Wendy Baez