Navy Chaplains Reunite for First Time Since Seminary

During the week of 09-16 April 2021 in Bahrain, an island nation in the Arabian Gulf, the small community of Orthodox Christians worshipping aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, was privileged to host Fr. David Hostetler (HCHC ’11). Fr. David’s visit was all the more blessed as it facilitated his reunion of classmate and fellow Navy Chaplain and GOA priest, Fr. Andrew Kearns (HCHC ’08, ’11). During this time, the two celebrated the Mysteries together for the first time since seminary, a decade ago. More importantly, the life of an Orthodox Chaplain on deployment overseas is often liturgically lonesome; so it was a spiritual boon to both priests and the community to come together, in offering praise to our Lord. This happy meeting was facilitated when the guided missile destroyer aboard which Fr. David minister to the souls of our nation’s Sailors completed a re-supply port call to NSA Bahrain, where Fr. Andrew cares for the spiritual and religious needs of a squadron of Minesweeper.