It is not
really a large place as far as footage goes; not very many
square acres. But there are about 3,000 men assigned to the
Station. The Naval Air Station, Imperial Beach, the Helicopter
Capital of the World, is not the largest Navy installation in
the world, but we here know it is one of the best.
There are
no quarters for dependent families on the Station, the married
men and their families live in civilian housing in the
neighboring communities. The permanent residents living on the
Station are the single enlisted men. The ground has just been
broken for a Bachelor Officers’ Quarters which are now under
construction.
There is a
small Chapel aboard the Station. Our little Winchester
Cathedral here accommodates a total of 111 persons (seated).
But the truth of the matter is the place is usually bulging at
the seams and one expects either the siding to spring loose, the
roof to pop off or the floor to fall through with the usual
Sunday attendance.
After each
of the two Sunday Masses, there is a coffee social at which
those attending the Mass may visit with one another.
Fortunately, there is a building with adequate space close to
the Chapel for these gatherings.
We are
fortunate to have a very good guitarist to lead our Folk-Song
Masses each Sunday (11:15AM Mass). The congregation is much
more inclined to join in the singing of Folk-hymns than they
were to sing the former hymns-type.
Although
our space is very limited, we do have the Offertory procession
and the Entrance processions. On Sundays, extra chairs are
placed in the Sanctuary to help accommodate some of the extra
people. Of course the Chapel is used for Protestant Services
too, so the Sanctuary must be adaptable for more than Catholic
needs.
During the
11:15AM Mass there is a Katechism [Sic]
Kindergarten for preschool children and a nursery for the
tiny-tots.
Private
instructions, counseling and interviews keep the week days
filled. Attending meetings of various types and groups add
various textures to the usual schedule. Some of the meetings
are Navy sponsored, others are within the Community framework.
Just recently, I have been selected to serve on the Board of
Directors of the Imperial Beach Community Economic Opportunity
Center as the representative of the Imperial Beach Ministerial
Society. I am sure this will prove most educational and
enlightening.
One of the
occupational dangers of a military Chaplain is that he can lose
contact with the realities of a community through being
sheltered, in a certain way, within the military milieu.
(People may have to skimp and budget in the Service, but there
is no poverty in the military.)
You could
say the set-up here is similar to a small parish. The daily and
Sunday Masses, the instructions, counseling, hospital visits are
similar to those of a community situation.
