Guard recognizes New Zealand diocese for Antarctic duty

  • Published
  • By Office of the Command Chaplain
  • Office of the Command Chaplain, Pacific Air Forces
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  The National Guard Bureau presented the Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand, a painting on Jan. 27 in recognition of 50 years of dedicated service to military members and civilians working in Antarctica.

The National Guard Heritage Painting by Mort Kunstler is entitled "Guardians of the North" and features an LC-130 Hercules, similar to those flown by the Department of Defense forces supporting the U.S. Antarctic Program as part of Operation Deep Freeze.

Col. William Ziegler, a chaplain who serves as Air National Guard assistant to the Pacific Air Forces Chaplain, presented the painting in a small ceremony at Christchurch. The colonel previously deployed to Antarctica for two months in 2005 to serve as chaplain to the personnel there.

"The painting depicts the National Guard whose dedicated members respond with real spirit and resilience wherever and whenever they are needed -- very often in harsh climates and hostile environments," Colonel Ziegler said. "The spiritual guidance provided by the diocese also exemplifies that spirit.

"This recognition is overdue, but I'm happy it's finally happening," the colonel said.

Rev. Ron O'Gorman of the Christchurch Diocese traveled via icebreaker to Antarctica to become the first "Kiwi priest" to celebrate mass on the ice on Dec. 25, 1957. Since that time, many from the diocese have followed in his footsteps serving U.S. military, National Science Foundation, and Raytheon employees stationed in Christchurch, as well as at McMurdo and South Pole Stations in Antarctica. 

In 1999, when the U.S. Navy officially turned most of its support operations to the U.S. Antarctic Program over to the National Science Foundation and its civilian contractor, Raytheon, the Christchurch Diocese joined forces with the Air National Guard Chaplain Corps to provide ministry to the men and women serving with Operation Deep Freeze.
Each season, the diocese provides a total of six priests who leave their civilian parishes for a parish defined by ice and snow. 

"The environment is harsh, but the spirit is warm," said Fr. Dan Doyle, coordinator of the program. 

The heritage painting is from a collection commissioned by the National Guard Bureau. Colonel Ziegler presented the painting to the Most Rev. Barry Jones, Bishop of Christchurch. Many of the New Zealand priests who have served in this program were present. 

"And in the best Guard tradition each was ready to leave his 'plow' and serve this country again," Colonel Ziegler said.