Keeping the faith with Padre Federico
By Michelle Minnoch

Padre Federico, a major with 32 Brigade in Toronto, is one of three padres stationed in Wainwright. Although she has a catholic background, she says she is here for the soldiers and prays for them.

"The liturgy and religious rites are a part of my job, but I am also here to provide counsel," she said. "I have not been overseas myself, but I am presently spending a lot of time with a soldier here whose buddy was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan."

She said part of her job when a soldier is to be deployed overseas is to meet with them, and if possible their families before, and if needed during, their deployment. She said it is important to provide that third party support if need be.

Before soldiers are deployed overseas, she said they talk to them about any concerns they have before leaving; more often then not, it is concern about a current relationship and the effects their deployment, or time away, may have on it.

With 31, 32, and 33 Brigade taking part in Exercise Maple Defender, she said there is one Chaplin per brigade on site. And if the Chaplin's are in need of support, she said they have each other to lean on.

With news of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan, she said she wanted to get out that night to visit with a few of the soldiers who knew him and may need someone to speak with.

Regarding the various denominations represented by the troops at Wainwright, she relies on an old saying; "There's no atheist in a foxhole."

The chapel is equipped with Old and New Testaments, Jewish Prayer books, the Koran and prayer mats, Book of Mormon, Buddhist text, copies of oriental religious texts, and an arrow on a piece of paper on the floor indicates the direction of Mecca for those in need.

Although she does not take part in the various religious rituals, she said it is her job to have the materials ready and set them up for the soldiers if needed.

On Sunday, the padre performs three services for soldiers coming in from the front lines.

"We had about five or six soldiers per service," she says. "But all the soldiers know we pray for them."